Francis Herne Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 (edited) I've just found that, with Kegworth shallow flood lock closed but only a couple of inches rise, the back channel bypassing it is still navigable. So I can work down the lock as many times as I like without ever going up one! Where else is (or was) this possible in a narrowboat? Most back channels have hazardous weirs, are too shallow or are obstructed by bridges/trees/booms. I can't think of any other examples that don't require extreme flood conditions submerging a weir. Tidal locks where the direction changes don't count. Edited April 22, 2023 by Francis Herne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 Is this the lock you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Herne Posted April 22, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 (edited) Yes. In normal conditions the lock is chained open and both channels are navigable on the level (although the non-lock one is twisty and a bit overgrown). With more water coming down the lock is in use, the flow down the back channel is rapid but currently still quite safe going upstream. Edited April 22, 2023 by Francis Herne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 Butchersfield Locks on the Mersey & Irwell Navigation cut off a long loop and had a drop of about two feet. I believe some boats still went round the loop to avoid the toll. Long time gone - once the ship canal opened trade dropped dramatically and I think traffic fairly quickly reverted to going round the loop. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noddyboater Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 Didn't I read that empty barges would go down the deep end of Averham Weir to avoid Newark town and Nether locks? Does sound a bit unlikely to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBiscuits Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 21 minutes ago, noddyboater said: Didn't I read that empty barges would go down the deep end of Averham Weir to avoid Newark town and Nether locks? Does sound a bit unlikely to be honest. Certainly empty boats went backwards over Crown Point Weir at Leeds on a Monday morning if there was enough fresh on the Aire. Backwards so that if it wasn't quite enough water the prop was in the wet stuff and could drag the nose off the shelf! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted April 22, 2023 Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 (edited) Spon Lane and Smethwick (according to the OS) If tidal waters are allowable you can loop forever round the New Bedford River, Old West River and Great Ouse, only ever passing through Hermitage and Denver Sluices in the same direction. Edited April 22, 2023 by David Mack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted April 23, 2023 Report Share Posted April 23, 2023 It used to be possible to bypass a lock on the Thames using the Shiplake Stream - you'd need a small cruiser such as a Shetland 535 and a powerful engine if going upstream. 13 hours ago, magpie patrick said: Butchersfield Locks on the Mersey & Irwell Navigation cut off a long loop and had a drop of about two feet. I believe some boats still went round the loop to avoid the toll. Long time gone - once the ship canal opened trade dropped dramatically and I think traffic fairly quickly reverted to going round the loop. Having checked on the map, the ship canal considerably shortened the loop that the locks bypassed, thus changing the gradient and rendering the locks redundant. The Butchersfield cut remained in use but the locks were removed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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