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Kennet Lock |
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Devizes, Wiltshire KAC54.03 |
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KandAC mile 54
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Approaching lock 50 from the east; everything is recently repaired and
in good order.
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Kennet Lock, newly named, it used just to be lock 50, begins the
descent of the canal from Fifteen Mile Pound down into the Avon
Valley.
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The lock is 54 miles 3 chains from Reading.
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fall |
8ft2ins |
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depth of water, full |
6ft0ins |
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depth of water, empty |
5ft10ins |
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length |
74ft2ins |
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width |
14ft3ins |
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Part of the new works, early 2000, are brick walkways for the boatman
pushing open the gates.
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Lock 50 from lower end.
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Lower gates; brand new, built in Holland? 1999.
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The lock has ground paddles at the top, the water goes through a
tunnel in the ground around the top gates; the bottom sluices are gate
paddles, the water goes out through a hole in the bottom gate.
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Cast iron teeth, simply rounded shapes, with a ratchet, work the upper
sluices which are ground paddles.
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The sluice gear for the locks are industrial sculpture.
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There is a stop groove, a slot for stop planks, above the lock; the
stop planks are stored on a rack made out of old fishbelly rail by the
side of the lock. There's also a lifebelt here, but rather hidden by
the planks.
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Stop planks on a rack made from fishbelly rail. These are pretty new
and have just been removed from use while the lock was being repaired.
The iron spikes sticking from the planks can be used to lift them, and
make handy steps (pace HSE) by which to climb into the lock.
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A navvy working the pump keeping the lock empty during repair, the
water from above held back by a stank.
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Stop planks; and fishbelly rail.
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On the offside wall above the lock is a depth gauge.
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The cast iron quoin clamp set in the stonework holds the gate's
upright.
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Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000
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