Silburn Lock On The Pocklington Canal - Allethorpe, UK - Waterway Locks, Planes and Lifts on Waymarking.com

The Canal
"The Pocklington Canal runs for 9.5 miles between East Cottingwith and Canal Head at Pocklington. The Pocklington Canal Amenity Society have restored the section from the River Derwent to the Melbourne Arm back to navigation, approximately half the length of the canal. Together with the Amenity Society, we're currently working to extend the navigation to Bielby Arm, which will increase the navigable section by around two miles.

The majority of the canal is designated as SSSI for its wildlife value, with the lower reaches lying within the Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve. The towpath that runs along the canal is a great place for spotting the brilliant blue flash of a kingfisher or dragonflies darting above the reeds.

The canal architecture also adds interest to the scenery, with distinctive swing bridges, classic hump-backed bridges and restored and unrestored locks.

The Pocklington Canal history

The canal was one of the last to be built, and was promoted by prosperous local farmers who sought more effective means of transporting their goods to the fast-growing towns of West Yorkshire. Its Act was passed in 1815, and it opened three years later.

The Pocklington is one of the few canals in Britain that were completed for less than the original estimated cost, costing only £32,695. Coal, lime, fertiliser and industrial goods were carried to Pocklington, and agricultural produce was sent out to the West Riding.

It was taken over by the York & North Midlands Railway in 1848, after just thirty years of operation. During the middle part of the last century the canal fell into disuse and became unnavigable. Despite plans in the 1950s to turn it into a dumping ground for chalk sludge, the canal survived, thanks to an active restoration group." link

The Lock
This lock has had its gates removed but the chamber is still intact. It is fenced off for safety.

Although water is still flowing along the canal at this point the canal bed is very overgrown and a thick layer of reeds fills the chamber.

The lock is a Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"Lock. c1813 by George Leather for Pocklinqton Canal Company. Red brick with gritstone dressings. Parallel sides to lock chamber with rounded splays, stepped to lower end. Disused and derelict at time of resurvey." link

An information board next to Giles Lock, the next lock to the south, has the following information.

When did the locks stop being used

By 1921, the poor state of the locks prevented boats from travelling up to Canal Head. In 1932, the canal's last recorded commercial trade, a cargo of road stone, was taken as far as the Melbourne Arm.

Will these locks ever be restored?
The nine locks are historically important and some were actually Grade II listed in their derelict state.
They will have to be rebuilt in order to be used, but in their meantime their condition is being monitored.

Waterway Name: The Pocklington Canal Connected Points: Connects Canal Head 1 mile to the south of Pocklington and the River Derwent at East Stockwith Type: Lock Date Opened: 01/01/1818 Date Closed (if applicable): 12/31/1921 Elevation Difference (meters): 2.00 Site Status: Remnants Web Site: [Web Link]

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