SP6989 : Foxton Locks
taken 13 years ago, near to Foxton, Leicestershire, England
Foxton Locks are two sets of staircase locks on the junction of the Market Harborough Arm of the Grand Union Canal, just to the west of the village of Foxton.
Built in 1810, both sets of 5 locks raises boats up 75ft to join back to the main route of the Grand Union. It would take an experienced boatman about 45 minutes to travel through all ten locks.
In 1900 an inclined boat plane boat lift (known as the 'Thomas Lift') was built, to lift up boats the whole height of the hill in just 12 minutes, and it could carry two narrowboats at a time, and reduced the wastage of water. It was closed only 10 years later under financial pressures. The remains can still be seen.
The site is now a popular visitor attraction Link
The Grand Union is a 137 mile (220km), 166 lock, 2 tunnel canal running between Brentford in London and Birmingham. It is the longest canal in Britain, and has 11 main arms and junctions. It takes over a week to navigate.
The Leicester arm branches off at Norton Junction and runs 66 miles long through 59 locks (including 2 staircase locks at Foxton) and 2 tunnels to Leicester where it continues into the River Soar.
Read more at Wikipedia Link