Wyre Piddle diamond shaped lock

[landroversforever]

Just found a picture of this in the Gallery. Why is the lock Diamond shaped?

 

Anyone got any more info?

Cheers

 

EDIT for pic:

Edited September 21, 2010 by landroversforever

[luctor et emergo]

Similar discussion here.

[RLWP]

Similar discussion here.

 

Yes, but...

 

Funny shaped locks to balance water usage make sense on a canal. They don't mean anything on a river

 

I don't know why it's that shape either

 

Richard

[STIG]

Just found a picture of this in the Gallery. Why is the lock Diamond shaped?

 

Anyone got any more info?

Cheers

 

EDIT for pic:

Hi, we came through there in the summer while doin the Avon ring, really awkward to moor whilst navigating the lock - very interesting though.

 

Now according to my pearsons book many of the original Avon locks were of unusual configuration to reduce erosion of the chambers by the force of water from the sluices.

 

Hope this helps all

[Naughty Cal]

Why would you want to moor in a lock?

[STIG]

Why would you want to moor in a lock?

Didn`t I just know you`d pick up on that one , silly mare

[magpie patrick]

because it's very, very old...

 

The Avon, like the other Avon (the one that runs through Bath) was made navigable way back, before "modern" technology like making lock sides straight was established. most of the locks were originally earth sided, and these were round...ish, two pairs of gates seperated by a bit of canal cut that was somewhat ad hoc and prone to erosion.

 

When improvements like masonry came along in many cases they just built walls around the original shape, dead easy, not much back fill needed.

 

Over the years most locks have needed major repair, or been replaced completely. You can just about make out the old round chamber in the land to one side of Luddington Lock, and both Evesham and Pershore locks are still slightly crooked, but Wyre has never needed such remodelling, and is now preserved in this shape...

 

not so much "why" as, in the early 18th century, "why not"

[Bobbybass]

Hi..I came through there today...and we put my 60 foot boat...and 2x 45 footers in at once....

 

Bob