Garston Lock

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Garston Lock (grid reference SU655707) is a lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal. It is near the M4 motorway and near Reading, England.

Garston Lock was built between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury, and this stretch of the river is now administered by British Waterways and known as the Kennet Navigation. It has a rise/fall of 7ft 7ins (2.29m).[1]

This is the only remaining example of a working turf sided lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal, the others being removed because of safety fears[2] and one of only two surviving turf-sided locks in Britain. This early lock design was most often used on river navigations in the early 1700s, before the advent of canals. As one source puts it: "The sides of the turf-lock are sloping so, when full, the lock is quite wide. Consequently, this type of lock needs more water to operate than the now more common brick or stone-sided variety."[3]

The two sets of lock gates work differently: the upper set operates via a mechanical system, while the lower gates are hydraulic.[4] The top part of the lock chamber has sloping banks which are covered by vegetation of various types rather than by turf. An arrangement of steel rails ensure that boats stay in the centre of the lock[5] during the rise/fall of 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m).

The lock is a grade II* listed building.[6]

Two pillboxes dating from World War II at the northwest[7] and southeast[8]corners of the lock, which were built as anti tank defences, are also listed buildings.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pearson, Michael (2003). Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's Canal Companion. Rugby: Central Waterways Supplies. ISBN 0-907864-97-X. 
  2. ^ Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath: Millstream Book. ISBN 0-948975-15-6. 
  3. ^ Garston Lock. Waterscape.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  4. ^ Garston Lock. English Heritage, Viewfinder. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  5. ^ All change for the K&A. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  6. ^ Garston Lock. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  7. ^ Pillbox at NW Corner of Garston GV Lock. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  8. ^ Pillbox at SE Corner of Garston GV Lock. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.

[edit] See also

Next lock upstream River Kennet / Kennet and Avon Canal Next lock downstream
Sheffield Lock Garston Lock
Grid reference: SU655707		 Burghfield Lock

Coordinates: 51.43153° N 1.05919° W

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