What’s this (on Huddersfield Narrow)

[nicknorman]

Seen a few of these on the Huddersfield Narrow, what are they for? 

 

 

[Rob-M]

Looks like a roller for launching a canoe.

[dogless]

Four?

 

Rog

[Robbo]

Think they were used to pull up a drain plug.

[NB Esk]

This is hearsay but was once told that these are sited above culverts and, literally, pulled a plug in the canal bed to drain a pound.  No doubt for when they couldn't wait for school holidays to come around, could be true or complete tosh.

2 minutes ago, Robbo said:

Think they were used to pull up a drain plug.

Great minds...

[Robbo]

 

[NB Esk]

36 minutes ago, nicknorman said:

Seen a few of these on the Huddersfield Narrow, what are they for? 

 

 

Wonder what those odd shapes are, around the front fixings, could they be nail gun nails?

 

 

[nicknorman]

Thanks. I did think they looked like something to winch something, and even had a look for an obvious culvert below, but couldn’t see anything (the one I looked at from the towpath was fairly overgrown down the bank).

[Theo]

22 minutes ago, Robbo said:

 

That's me.  We had been living aboard for seven months then.  I am now on the bank in Kington which is a very lovely place.  I would love to live aboard again...

 

Nick

[Sea Dog]

They're what northern lasses use for getting big rabbits out of the canal. Known locally Hare Rollers.

[billh]

If you want to use this drain you have to fish around for the plug chain first. Not so easy if there's three foot of mud  and shopping trolleys in the way. When found wrap it on the drum and bar it round to pull the plug. One of those near here is covered by a moveable capping stone at the towpath edge, you can't see it from the path, only from a boat, unless you happen know where it is. One on the Rochdale 9 is marked by an arrow carved in the coping stone adjacent , but that doesn't have a winding drum, drains into the River Tib.

[Pluto]

This is Stan Waite, who worked at Apperley Bridge, holding open one on the L&LC. Not all had rollers on the towpath edge.

[mayalld]

As others have said, the rollers are there to pull the plug out.

 

Strictly speaking, it isn't a plug, but rather a flat hinged door that sits flat on the canal bed, blocking an opening into a culvert.

 

never the worlds best idea, as they get covered in silt etc. and weren't that easy to use, plus after use there is a lot of effort to clear the mating face to allow the door to close again.

 

They are called "Bed Valves", and the majority on the HNC were abandoned a few years ago.

 

A small number do still operate. most notably on a certain aqueduct (and on a much smaller aqueduct in Stalybridge)

 

There is a famous story of accidental operation of one;

 

https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/memories-of-pulling-the-plug-on-canal-1-624620

[Ray T]

23 minutes ago, mayalld said:

As others have said, the rollers are there to pull the plug out.

 

Strictly speaking, it isn't a plug, but rather a flat hinged door that sits flat on the canal bed, blocking an opening into a culvert.

 

never the worlds best idea, as they get covered in silt etc. and weren't that easy to use, plus after use there is a lot of effort to clear the mating face to allow the door to close again.

 

They are called "Bed Valves", and the majority on the HNC were abandoned a few years ago.

 

A small number do still operate. most notably on a certain aqueduct (and on a much smaller aqueduct in Stalybridge)

 

There is a famous story of accidental operation of one;

 

https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/memories-of-pulling-the-plug-on-canal-1-624620

 

"Who can ever forget the day in 1978 that Bill Thorpe "pulled the plug" and drained the canal? C&RT are remembering that fateful day with a fun day with lots of activities on 11th August in Retford, near Grove Mill."

 

• 

Edited July 22, 2018 by Ray T

[Pluto]

14 hours ago, mayalld said:

As others have said, the rollers are there to pull the plug out.

 

Strictly speaking, it isn't a plug, but rather a flat hinged door that sits flat on the canal bed, blocking an opening into a culvert.

 

never the worlds best idea, as they get covered in silt etc. and weren't that easy to use, plus after use there is a lot of effort to clear the mating face to allow the door to close again.

 

They are called "Bed Valves", and the majority on the HNC were abandoned a few years ago.

 

A small number do still operate. most notably on a certain aqueduct (and on a much smaller aqueduct in Stalybridge)

 

There is a famous story of accidental operation of one;

 

https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/memories-of-pulling-the-plug-on-canal-1-624620

On the L&LC they were called 'let off trunks', while on the Lancaster just 'valves'.The LNWR survey (c1890?) of the Huddersfield does not identify them precisely, but places where there are drains are marked 'sluice', a term used fairly generally for water controls on the survey. There was no unified terminology used on canal engineering, and even on a single canal, a word like 'sill' could also be written 'cill'.