what is this?

[NickF]

I have just done the L and L and noticed in a couple of places a 4" high pieces of black metal supported by three or four little white bollards. I saw one just after a swing bridge and one just on the bank no where near a lock or a bridge. Does any one know what they are ... did they have some use in the commercial carrying days?

[bizzard]

I have just done the L and L and noticed in a couple of places a 4" high pieces of black metal supported by three or four little white bollards. I saw one just after a swing bridge and one just on the bank no where near a lock or a bridge. Does any one know what they are ... did they have some use in the commercial carrying days?

If the top edge is sharp it could be a bread slicer.

[ditchcrawler]

If the top edge is sharp it could be a bread slicer.

As Bizz has started, maybe it's to automatically cut your rope if you moor there

[carlt]

It's an early H&S attempt to stop cyclists falling in but, as happens so often, it actually introduced a trip hazard.

[RLWP]

Is it for grinding your skateboard along?

 

Richard

[Timleech]

Is it for grinding your skateboard along?

 

Richard

 

The only practical use I can imagine is to discourage you from driving mooring spikes behind the concrete coping, which by the look of that one would inevitably pull it away from the bank over time. It does look a bit of a hazard in other ways, & I'm quite sure there was nothing like that last time I was on the Leeds & Liverpool (40 years ago!)

 

Tim

[owen]

its a wind break for hedehogs for when they get to be beside the water in summer but up here its always windy

[Tesla]

Its a modesty screen for ducks.

[stagedamager]

It's a prison wall for Borrowers....

[RLWP]

It's a towing horse deflector. When the horse nods off and veers towards the cut, it's hoof strikes the bar, which clangs and wakes the horse up

 

Richard

[Mac of Cygnet]

If it's any comfort to you, Nick, I saw that very structure the other day and wondered the same thing, but knew better than to ask on here! FWIW, Tims's is the only sensible suggestion as far as I can see.

[PaulD]

To stop your wheelbarrow and tip it's load into the boat??

 

Really I don't know - just a guess.

 

Paul

[Grace and Favour]

I've found some of the previous suggestions most amusing . .

 

But, for the record - the bar is there to prevent minor landslip(s) - - - It is part of BW's 'prevention policy' (a sub-section of their H&S roll-out - which includes square bollards, and safety fences on lock-gates)

[carlt]

but knew better than to ask on here!

Why?

 

Somebody will be along at some stage who knows the answer but if it wasn't for the humorous suggestions it may well have fallen off the front page into obscurity by now.

 

More entertaining than "I don't know" or, even worse "bump!".

 

The only practical use I can imagine is to discourage you from driving mooring spikes behind the concrete coping, which by the look of that one would inevitably pull it away from the bank over time. It does look a bit of a hazard in other ways, & I'm quite sure there was nothing like that last time I was on the Leeds & Liverpool (40 years ago!)

 

Tim

Those finials look just about deep enough to tie off on, though, so no need for spikes.

[keble]

I've found some of the previous suggestions most amusing . .

 

But, for the record - the bar is there to prevent minor landslip(s) - - - It is part of BW's 'prevention policy' (a sub-section of their H&S roll-out - which includes square bollards, and safety fences on lock-gates)

... and safety rails on foot bridges on the S&W. We saw one at Wightwick, someone had attached a notice saying "200 years without a rail".

On the other hand SWMBO felt safer with the rails there.

[Jo_]

It's a boot scraper - a recently introduced addition to the towpath because of (a) the increase in dog owners not cleaning up and ( the increase in mud because of the rains. C&RT's trying to help boat owners in their efforts to have spotlessly clean boats inside and out.

[stagedamager]

ooh ooh i know!

Does it mark the top of the underground hideout of the upper management of G4S?

[NickF]

If it's any comfort to you, Nick, I saw that very structure the other day and wondered the same thing, but knew better than to ask on here! FWIW, Tims's is the only sensible suggestion as far as I can see.

 

May be I should have known better than to ask here but every reply has made me smile so it can't be that bad!

Nick

[Sanddancer]

It's to stop the ducks sitting on the edge and s....ng all over the place just like they do for pigeons on window sills!!

[RLWP]

May be I should have known better than to ask here but every reply has made me smile so it can't be that bad!

Nick

 

Nick, I'm very surprised that the proper answer hasn't turned up yet. Have you got any more pictures?

 

I want to know what it is now

 

Richard

[NickF]

Nick, I'm very surprised that the proper answer hasn't turned up yet. Have you got any more pictures?

 

I want to know what it is now

 

Richard

 

No I haven't Richard, The first one I saw I nearly tripped over while trying to get back on the boat after a swing bridge so no time for photography. The second one I saw is the picture I have posted which was taken on my phone while steering hence it's not lined up too well. I can't even quite remember where they were except I think it is somewhere between Skipton and Blackburn! (not very precise I know). I am surprised a sensible answer hasn't turned up yet but I am enjoying all the other suggestions!

Nick

[gaggle]

Are the marks on it old weld fixings ? maaybe other parts cut away in the past , when i went past them i wondered if a canoe club was close by .

[NickF]

Yes the marks are weld fixings ... they look like a later addition ... I am sure the first one I saw did not have those but was entirely supported by the little white bollards.

Nick

[ditchcrawler]

No I haven't Richard, The first one I saw I nearly tripped over while trying to get back on the boat after a swing bridge so no time for photography. The second one I saw is the picture I have posted which was taken on my phone while steering hence it's not lined up too well. I can't even quite remember where they were except I think it is somewhere between Skipton and Blackburn! (not very precise I know). I am surprised a sensible answer hasn't turned up yet but I am enjoying all the other suggestions!

Nick

I would like to know as well.

[carlt]

I would like to know as well.

Yes I can't imagine that they are very old, too many potential snags for working boat tow lines.