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View from the road bridge looking down stream. The
foam from the turbulence of the water can bee clearly seen.
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On Sunday February 1st. Diana and I decided to
visit the North Walsham and Dilham Canal again in slightly different
weather conditions.
This time we visited Briggate Lock. This is the second lock going up
the canal and stands just above the road bridge that carries the North
Walsham to Honing road.
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The road bridge crossing the tail of the lock with a good flow on.
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The canal above the lock has recently been
dredged and the dredgings can be seen in this photograph spread
along the towpath. I understand this work was carried out by the owner of
Briggate Mill to improve the water storage capacity of this section of the
canal. I don't know to what depth this work has been carried out. In the distance
a bridge can bee seen crossing the canal, this is a foot bridge carrying
the Weavers Way footpath on the route of the old railway line.
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The notice points out the danger of the mud that has been spread on the
towpath
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This was taken from the head of the lock. Note the
orange safety fence
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The lock its self has some damage to the north
wall just downstream from the top cill. Here the water has undermined
the wall taking out a fair amount of brick work. The ground behind the
lock wall has subsided leaving a hole down to the water and now has the orange safety fencing round it.
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The fallen brickwork is plain to see
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Vegetation growing in the woodwork
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Both the bottom lock gates are still standing but obviously
in a very sorry state and after many years of neglect with much plant life
growing from the north side one, where as on the south side the balance
beam has come completely adrift from the end of the gate.
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Metal balance beams |
Bottom gate paddle mechanism mounted on metal balance beam |
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On the bottom gates the balance beams are iron
with metal platforms mounted on them to operate the gate paddles. The
actual paddle mechanism is the same as can be found on many locks on the
main UK canal system. On the north side the platform has been broken some
time in its life and rather than replacing it straps have been bolted on
to hold it all together
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Cast iron foot plate repairs |
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