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Why are RIver Stort locks 13ft wide?


MoominPapa

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Looking at lock sizes and widths is clearly a complicated study. The factors that determined the size included cost of construction. It has been inferred by Mike Clarke that as BCN locks were 7ft width, it was a logical progression of the wider and earlier river locks that handled the flats and keels and perhaps leading onto a a hypothesis that crafts adapted to the narrower canals were designed to fit into Northern Canal locks, side by side. The BCN has to be taken with the Staffordshire & Worcestershire/ Trent & Mersey which were also narrow canals and only at their extremities had wider locks. These were all Brindley Canals and it was his choice to recommend it.

An alternate viewpoint could include the point that there was no real guidelines as the canals were first made and local factors influenced the size of the locks. For the Brindley Canals the extent of the carriage, that is local and long distance, was suited by local dimensions of 7ft x 70ft and where local trade on a lock less section was as the Wolverhampton Level of the BCN, the length and perhaps width of craft might be varied to carry more cargo, which in the case of the Wolverhampton Level was coal.

Trade on these Midland canals interfaced with other carriers routes there was usually transhipment of goods into different sized craft, although the narrowboat proved to be quite versatile venturing on to wider waterways and river navigations.

As for the River Stort the width of the locks appears to be that which was originally designed.

Local demands have often influenced construction. The long turf sided locks on the Kennet had a very specialised type of craft that worked along it. The tub boat canals in East Shropshire had craft that suited the trade. Sir Nigel Gresley's Canal was another isolated section with special craft as had the Frwdd Canal in North Wales. Between Shrewsbury & Pool Quay on the Severn craft were clearly smaller and narrower in order to navigate the narrow and winding river there.

Canals that had their width altered after construction started included the Worcester & Birmingham and the Stratford Upon Avon. In fact, Lifford Lock, on the Stratford, was built originally to barge dimensions and had mitred gates.  

 

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