A series of approximately 20 black lock gates with white ends to the paddle arms and wooden railings, each slightly higher than the one below. On the right is a path and on both sides grass and vegetation.
The flight of 16 locks at Caen Hill, Devizes, forming part of locks 22-50

The Kennet and Avon Canal is a canal in southern England. The name may refer to either the route of the original Kennet and Avon Canal Company, which linked the River Kennet at Newbury to the River Avon at Bath, or to the entire navigation between the River Thames at Reading and the Floating Harbour at Bristol, including the earlier improved river navigations of the River Kennet between Reading and Newbury and the River Avon between Bath and Bristol.[1]

The River Kennet was made navigable to Newbury in 1723, and the River Avon to Bath in 1727. The Kennet and Avon Canal between Newbury and Bath was built between 1794 and 1810 by John Rennie, to convey commercial barges carrying a variety of cargoes,[2] and is 57 miles (92 km) long. The two river navigations and the canal total 87 miles (140 km) in length.[1] The section from Bristol to Bath is the course of the River Avon, which flows through a wide valley and has been made navigable by a series of locks and weirs. In the later 19th century and early 20th century the canal fell into disuse following competition from the Great Western Railway, who owned the canal. Between 1970 and 1990 the canal was restored,[3] largely by volunteers, and today is a popular heritage tourism destination, for boating, canoeing, fishing, walking and cycling.[4] It is also important for wildlife conservation.

There are 105 locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bristol to the River Thames, including six on the navigable section of the River Avon from Bristol to Bath and nine on the navigable section of the River Kennet to its confluence with the Thames near Reading. The remaining 90 locks lie along the 57 miles (92 km) of canal.[1] In Bath the canal separates from the river but follows its valley as far as Bradford on Avon. The ornate Bath Locks lead to a stretch through Limpley Stoke valley with few locks. The flight of locks at Devizes, including the Caen Hill Locks, raises the canal to its longest pound, which then ascends the four Wootton Rivers locks to the short summit pound which includes the Bruce Tunnel. Pumping stations are used to supply the canal with water. The canal continues through the rural landscape of Wiltshire and Berkshire before joining the River Kennet at Newbury and becoming a navigable river to Reading, where it flows into the River Thames.

Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Locks

A weir with water flowing from right to left, surrounded by trees and vegetation.
Weir at Swineford Lock
Weston Lock, Bath
Bath Deep Lock
Lock keeper's cottage at Semington Locks
Canal flowing away from the photographer divides into two channels with the right hand one arriving at lock gates. To the is a building and to the right a footpath and a pub.
Newbury Lock
Narrow boat (named Toad) emerging from lock with black gates and white ends of the gate arms. Around the lock is a grassy area.
Tyle Mill Lock, Sulhamstead
County Lock in the centre of Reading

The following list numbers the locks from the River Avon in Bristol to the River Thames. It includes one lock that has been removed (98, Ufton Lock[5]) and two that have been combined to form a single deep lock (8 and 9, now Bath Deep Lock).[6][7] Travelling from Bristol to Reading, locks 1 to 54 are uphill, and locks 55 to 107 are downhill.

List of locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal
Lock number[D] Lock name Grid ref[C] Listed building grade[F] Rise / fall
imperial (metres)
1 Hanham Lock[A] ST646700 II[8] ?
2 Keynsham Lock[A] ST658690   6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m)[9]
3 Swineford Lock[A] ST691689   4 feet 4 inches (1.32 m)[10]
4 Saltford Lock[A] ST692679   3 feet 10 inches (1.17 m)[11]
5 Kelston Lock[A] ST688669   3 feet 1 inch (0.94 m)[12]
6 Weston Lock[A] ST725648   9 feet 3 inches (2.82 m)[13]
7 Bath Bottom Lock ST756643 II[14] 9 feet 3 inches (2.82 m)[15]
8/9 Bath Deep Lock ST756643 II[6] 19 feet 5 inches (5.92 m)[7]
10 Wash House Lock ST756643 II[16] 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m)[17]
11 Abbey View Lock ST756643 II[18] 9 feet 0 inches (2.74 m)[19]
12 Pulteney Lock ST756643 II[18] 9 feet 5 inches (2.87 m)[20]
13 Bath Top Lock ST756643 II[21] 9 feet 0 inches (2.74 m)[22]
14 Bradford Lock ST825602   10 feet 3 inches (3.12 m)[23]
15 Buckley's Lock ST900609   8 feet 0 inches (2.44 m)[24]
16 Barrett's Lock ST900609   7 feet 10 inches (2.39 m)[25]
17–21 Seend Locks ST933613   38 feet 4 inches (11.68 m)[26]
22–50 Caen Hill Locks ST978614 II[27] 237 feet 0 inches (72.24 m)[26]
51 Wootton Rivers Lock SU198629 II[28] 8 feet 0 inches (2.44 m)[26]
52 Heathy Close Lock SU201631   8 feet 1 inch (2.46 m)[26]
53 Brimslade Lock SU209634 II[29] 8 feet 0 inches (2.44 m)[26]
54 Wootton Top Lock SU212634   8 feet 0 inches (2.44 m)[26]
  Summit of the canal
55–63 Crofton Locks SU254622 II[30][31][32] 61 feet 0 inches (18.59 m)[26]
64 Bedwyn Church Lock SU278641 II[33] 7 feet 11 inches (2.41 m)[26]
65 Burnt Mill Lock SU283649   7 feet 9 inches (2.36 m)[26]
66 Potter's Lock SU288654   7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m)[26]
67 Little Bedwyn Lock SU290659   6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m)[26]
68 Oakhill Down Lock SU299671 II[34] 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m)[26]
69 Froxfield Middle Lock SU301674   6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m)[26]
70 Froxfield Bottom Lock SU303676   7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m)[26]
71 Picketfield Lock SU315680   7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m)[26]
72 Cobbler's Lock SU321684   8 feet 3 inches (2.51 m)[26]
73 Hungerford Marsh Lock SU326685   8 feet 1 inch (2.46 m)[26]
74 Hungerford Lock SU336687   8 feet 0 inches (2.44 m)[26]
75 Dun Mill Lock SU352683 II[35] 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)[26]
76 Wire Lock SU363681 II[36] 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m)[37]
77 Brunsden Lock SU372676 II[38] 4 feet 11 inches (1.50 m)[26]
78 Kintbury Lock SU386671   5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)[26]
79 Dreweatt's Lock SU411673 II[39] 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)[26]
80 Copse Lock SU416670   6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m)[26]
81 Hamstead Lock SU424671 II[40] 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m)[26]
82 Benham Lock SU438665   6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m)[26]
83 Higg's Lock SU447667   5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m)[26]
84 Guyer's Lock SU453669 II[41] 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m)[26]
85 Newbury Lock SU470671 II[42] 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m)[26]
86 Greenham Lock[B] SU480673   8 feet 11 inches (2.72 m)[26]
87 Ham Lock[B] SU487672   4 feet 2 inches (1.27 m)[26]
88 Bull's Lock[B] SU499667   5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)[26]
89 Widmead Lock[B] SU508663   3 feet 7 inches (1.09 m)[26]
90 Monkey Marsh Lock[B] SU522662   8 feet 8 inches (2.64 m)[26]
91 Colthrop Lock[B] SU538663   7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m)[26]
92 Midgham Lock[B] SU548662   7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m)[26]
93 Heale's Lock[B] SU562663   8 feet 11 inches (2.72 m)[26]
94 Woolhampton Lock[B] SU571665   8 feet 11 inches (2.72 m)[26]
95 Aldermaston Lock[B] SU601671 II[43] 8 feet 11 inches (2.72 m)[26]
96 Padworth Lock[B] SU606672   5 feet 1 inch (1.55 m)[26]
97 Towney Lock[B] SU610680   9 feet 8 inches (2.95 m)[26]
98 Site of Ufton Lock (ungated)[B][G] SU617686    
99 Tyle Mill Lock[B] SU626691   6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m)[26]
100 Sulhamstead Lock[B] SU637698   4 feet 1 inch (1.24 m)[26]
101 Sheffield Lock[B] SU648706 II*[44][E] 2 feet 2 inches (0.66 m)[26]
102 Garston Lock[B] SU655707 II*[45] 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m)[26]
103 Burghfield Lock[B] SU674709   7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m)[26]
104 Southcote Lock[B] SU693712   5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m)[26]
105 Fobney Lock[B] SU705710   7 feet 8 inches (2.34 m)[26]
106 County Lock[B] SU713729   1 foot 2 inches (0.36 m)[26]
107 Blake's Lock[H] SU727735   3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m)[26]

Notes

A Hanham Lock, Keynsham Lock, Swineford Lock, Saltford Lock, Kelston Lock and Weston Lock are technically on the Avon Navigation rather than being truly part of the Kennet and Avon Canal
B Locks below Newbury and above High Bridge in Reading are technically on the Kennet Navigation rather than being truly part of the Kennet and Avon Canal
C Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.[46]
D Lock numbers are as given in the Pearsons Guide[26] and as numbered on the lock paddles.
E Sheffield Lock is also a scheduled monument.
F Listed building status is given to buildings (including locks) in the United Kingdom which are designated by English Heritage on behalf of the government, as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance. There are three types of listed status (in descending order of importance and difficulty to obtain planning permission; Grade I: buildings of exceptional interest, Grade II*: particularly important buildings of special interest, Grade II: buildings of special interest.
G Ufton Lock is still extant, but the gates have been removed so that boats go straight through. The next lock above, Towney Lock, was deepened when rebuilt to allow for the lower downstream water level.
H Blake's Lock is on the part of the River Kennet, below High Bridge in Reading, that has been navigable since at least the medieval period and now administered by the Environment Agency as part of the River Thames navigation.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Kennet and Avon Museum, Devizes". Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. Archived from the original on 25 April 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2006.
  2. ↑ Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath: Millstream Book. p. 5. ISBN 0-948975-15-6.
  3. ↑ "Kennet & Avon Canal Museum". Interactive Presentations. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Kennet & Avon Canal Trust". Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Ufton". Mike Stevens UK Inland Waterways pages. Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2006.
  6. 1 2 "Second Lock". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  7. 1 2 "Bath Deep Lock Nos 8 and 9". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  8. ↑ Historic England. "Picnic House (1116829)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Keynsham Lock No 2". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  10. ↑ "Swineford Lock No 3". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  11. ↑ "Saltford Lock No 4". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  12. ↑ "Kelston Lock No 5". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  13. ↑ "Weston Lock No 6". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  14. ↑ "Bath Bottom Lock". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  15. ↑ "Bath Bottom Lock No 7". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  16. ↑ "Wash House Lock". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  17. ↑ "Wash House Lock No 10". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  18. 1 2 "Abbey View Lock". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  19. ↑ "Abbey View Lock No 11". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  20. ↑ "Pulteney Lock No 12". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  21. ↑ "Top Lock". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  22. ↑ "Bath Top Lock No 13". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  23. ↑ "Bradford on Avon Lock No 14". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  24. ↑ "Semington Bottom Lock No 15". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  25. ↑ "Semington Top Lock No 16". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Pearson, Michael (2003). Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's Canal Companion. Rugby: Central Waterways Supplies. ISBN 0-907864-97-X.
  27. ↑ Historic England. "Kennet Lock (1252431)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  28. ↑ Historic England. "Wootton Rivers Lock (1035769)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  29. ↑ Historic England. "Brimslade and Cadley locks (1286307)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  30. ↑ Historic England. "Crofton Crossing Lock (1034084)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  31. ↑ Historic England. "Beech Grove Lock (1034051)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  32. ↑ Historic England. "Crofton Top Lock (1365509)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  33. ↑ Historic England. "Bedwyn Church Lock (1034040)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  34. ↑ Historic England. "Oakhill Down Lock (1183543)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  35. ↑ Historic England. "Dun Mill Lock (1212487)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  36. ↑ Historic England. "Wire Lock (1117211)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  37. ↑ "Wire Lock No 76". Canalplan AC Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
  38. ↑ Historic England. "Brunsden Lock (1319566)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  39. ↑ Historic England. "Dreweatt's Lock (1117230)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  40. ↑ Historic England. "Hamstead Lock (1136141)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  41. ↑ Historic England. "Guyer's Lock (1221070)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  42. ↑ Historic England. "Newbury Lock (1211989)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  43. ↑ Historic England. "Aldermaston Lock (1319515)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  44. ↑ Historic England. "Sheffield Lock (1319599)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  45. ↑ Historic England. "Garston Lock (1117125)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  46. ↑ "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2006.

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