The Caen Hill Locks are a flight of 16 locks and thought to be the most impressive anywhere on the UK's waterways. They were engineer John Rennie's solution to climbing the very steep hill on The Kennet And Avon Canal near to Devizes in Wiltshire. The Caen Hill Locks are part of a longer 29-lock flight all packed into just over two miles.
£1million is being spent on an extensive maintenance programme and a Winter Works Open Day is being held on 12th February to give the public a chance to find out what has been done and why.
British Waterways is inviting members of the public to take a behind-the-scenes look at some of
the work being carried out. You can take a look in a lock that has been drained and watch a lock gate being lifted into place. The new lock gates themselves are made of oak and have been handmade in a British Waterways workshop and will last for about 20 years Nothing goes to waste and the old gates will be recycled in fact in 2010 old lock gate were used at Glastonbury Festival as bridges and gateways.
The Caen Hill Lock Flight is classified as a scheduled ancient monument so any work has to be in keeping with the 200 year old site. Latest technology is interwoven with traditional skills such as using lime-mortar for the brickwork and oak for the timber gates.
In December 2010 the Caen Hill Lock Flight celebrated its 200th birthday and by carrying out these
work programmes means that we can all enjoy them for another 200 years.
The Caen Hill Locks are a flight of 16 locks and thought to be the most impressive anywhere on the UK's waterways. |