2010
SO8690 : Filling Marsh Lock near Swindon, Staffordshire
taken 14 years ago, near to Swindon, Staffordshire, England
Filling Marsh Lock near Swindon, Staffordshire
Not all locks have gate paddles as well as ground paddles like here at Marsh Lock near Wombourne.
It is accepted practice to open the ground paddles (which allow water in through an underground culvert), before the gate paddles (which allow water through a sluice in the gate). Especially when the lock is deep and a boat is in the lock, reversing this procedure introduces the danger of a torrent entering the front of the boat, possibly causing sinking. Gate paddles are only to be opened, carefully, when the level has risen to a safe level. Both are open in this image, and the ingress of water is rapid and fierce.
The precautions above are less important when filling a lock in preparation for a descending vessel, when no boat is in the chamber. Marsh Lock provides a rise (or fall) of 9ft 9in (about three metres).
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.
Geographical Context:
Canals
other tags:
Lock
Lock Gate
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