This shows the wharf as it was in 1977 when derelict, but the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust have now restored it and it no longer presents the above neglected appearance.

The bridge in the background carries the B3109 Frome Road over the canal. The canal is lower to the west than it is to the east so the lock provides for boats to climb up the incline. The change in height is about 3 metres or perhaps a little more. A relatively small boat is about to enter the lock from the west. Next image: Link

As canal boats go this is a fairly small one. Here it is passing through the gates into the lock from the canal to the west. Next image: Link

The canal boat is now firmly in the lock, all gates have been closed and the sluices opened to fill the lock. It doesn't take long given the large volume of water needed. The rise is in the order of 4 metres. Next image: Link

The lock is now almost full and in a couple of minutes the gates can be opened allowing the boat to move out of it. Next image: Link

The lock is now full and the boat, which entered from the west, will be on its way any minute now. The process of closing and opening gates and sluices and passing a boat from one side of the lock to another takes about ten minutes. First image: Link

I missed the very beginning of the manoeuvre to turn this boat round. Never mind. This is a very large boat and is being used to carry a coach party down the canal to the west. The boatmen are very skilled and can turn the boat round in its own length across the canal basin. Next image: Link

The large canal boat with its crew and passengers is being turned round in its own length so that it can proceed on its journey to the west via a nearby lock. Next image: Link

The large boat is being turned round to face into the lock out of shot to the right so that it can carry its passengers on a pleasure trip down the canal. The 'Barbara McLellan' was built in 1982 and moved to the K&A from Cambridgeshire in 1999. Next image: Link

The large pleasure boat 'Barbara McLellan' is almost hidden by a smaller boat. It is on its way to the lock so that it can drop down to the level of the canal to the west. Next image: Link

The large canal boat 'Barbara McLellan' is now safely in the lock and the sluices have been opened to empty the lock so that the boat can be on its way west. Next image: Link

The sluices having been opened, the level of water in the lock is falling quite fast. Compare with the previous image Link Next image: Link

The top of the 'Barbara McLellan' is now well below the top of the lock and in a short while the gates at the far end can be opened to allow the quite large boat out. Next image: Link

The lock is about empty now and the 'Barbara McLellan' is now well down in the lock. Next image: Link

The lock is empty and the gates at the far end are being opened to allow the 'Barbara McLellan' to pass into the canal. Next image: Link

The 'Barbara McLellan' is now able to leave the lock with its complement of crew and passengers for a leisurely cruise along the canal to the west. First image: Link