Cadley Lock
Savernake, Wiltshire KAC38.03
KandAC mile 38
Sluice gear for the towpath side ground paddle; heavy cast iron dentition.
The lock is 38 miles 3 chains from Reading.
fall 8ft0ins
depth of water, full 5ft10ins
depth of water, empty 5ft9ins
length 74ft6ins
width 14ft1ins
This lock starts the descent of the canal towards the River Avon, far away in Bath, Somerset. There are 47 locks to go down.
Sluice gear for the ground paddles at the top of the lock.
Ground paddles control the flow of water through a tunnel from the top pound into the lock chamber through the canal bank. The sluice gear winds up, or down, a flat board - the paddle, sliding against the face of the tunnel in the canal bank. The paddle is underwater, out of sight.
Sluice gear for the gate paddles on the bottom gates of the lock; this gear includes a reduction gear to ease the labour.
Water is let out of the lock chamber through a hole in the gate, controlled by a paddle.
Cadley Lock from the east.
The lock chamber at Cadley Lock, empty.
A bottom gate, swung into its recess in the lock wall.
The bottom gates usually have a walkway to make it easier to cross, and a railing. Top gates usually have a railing, but no walkway - they're much more fun to cross!
Step up onto the balance beam of a top gate, and the cast iron fitting for the railing; also notice the quoin clamp holding the rounded vertical gate shaft into the quoin in the side of the lock.
Cadley Lock Cottage.
Stop planks at Cadley lock; notice the chamfered ends, and the iron spikes by which you are expected to handle the planks into position? I've also noticed navvies using the spikes as steps to climb down into the drained canal.

Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000