Description

ST 76 SW SOUTH STOKE

6/222 Flight of 5 Locks on the Former
Somersetshire Coal Canal
-
II

Five disused locks. Circa 1805. The surveyor for the Canal Company was
William Smith, 'Father of British Geology'. Engineer for this flight originally
of 19 locks (four are now buried or destroyed and ten are in the adjoining parish
of Combe Hay) was probably William Bennet. The locks are of standard dimensions,
approximately 70 feet long by 7 feet wide. Ashlar retaining walls survive to
about 10-12 feet high (some are in a poor condition); the entrance and exit walls
are battered and splayed. Some remains of sluices and culverts. The fourth
lock from the west retains a milestone on the north-west side; a cast iron plate
(now missing) read 4/MILES. These five locks, as part of the original flight of
19, represent the final, successful attempt to achieve the change in level on the
Paulton branch of the canal. Two former attempts - a caisson lock, and an
inclined plane with 3 lower locks - had failed. (K.R. Clew, The Somersetshire
Coal Canal and Railways, Country Life, 6.IV.1951.).

Listing NGR: ST7442060595

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26526134

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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