Hard work on the Lapworth Lock Flight

Saturday, 07 January 2012 22:15

The Lapworth Flight of locks on the North Stratford Canal is 18 locks (from Lock 19 to 2). The South Stratford Canal below Kingswood Junction has the bottom 7 locks (27 - 21). Lock 20 is the "rogue" lock on the linking arm to the Grand Union Canal.

Junction with South Stratford under the split bridge and Lock 20 to the left

We cruised the southern section many years ago on a hire boat and one day we will do it on narrowboat Epiphany. Today we hoped we would get to the top of the flight ...... 

Lock 14 was our first lock after our overnight stop above Bridge 34. The Canal Shop beside Lock 13 was closed - they would not expect much custom from winter cruisers and we did not see a narrowboat on the move all day.

Lock 13 and shop from Lock 14

The locks up to Lock 6 are all very close together so John was able to set the lock (or two) above, ready for me. It was a good job he did, as there was so much water coming down the by-washes, I had to "power" into all the locks. Add to this a stiff breeze and it would have been hard to hang around in the pounds and hard to get off the lock landings if I had pulled in to wait. 

Looking down from Lock 11

Looking up from Lock 11

By-wash at Lock 9

Once in the locks I had to keep the throttle down to stay against the top gate; at one point I checked the revs - they were above 1200, just to stay there without the paddles open. What was happening? Once Epiphany had settled down and we had risen in the locks, I would get off and close the paddles and open the gate - well, some of the time I did! 

John warned me that I would not like the experience of getting from Lock 9 into Lock 8 and I went to have a look.

A short bendy pound - that will be fun!

New tactics were called for - a slow exit and a push of the bows from John - and I made it without too much hassle. Thank goodness for only 57 feet of narrowboat and a responsive Epiphany! My left arm is not used to so much hard work on the tiller. Unlike most narrowboats we have our throttle on the right with all the instruments and so to be most efficient we have learned to use our left arms to steer. The reason why she was built like this is lost to me in the mists of time! 

Lock 7-8 pound

Lock 8 to 7 is not much better; however, the pound is slightly longer and it was no problem. Lock 7 is an interesting one. A cottage stands right alongside it and the split bridge has been well preserved. There is even a storyboard explaining the "heritage".

John points out the "cotton reel" and split

Can you see the damaged brickwork on the side of the pound in the photos above? A number of narrowboats have bashed it, methinks.

Here is the "cotton reel" story (click on photo to open)

Lock 6 is the last of the close-together locks and I will return to it, as it is now time to get off this machine and cook dinner!