Stratford On Avon Canal – Lock 25, Dick's Lane Lock – Lapworth, UK
Posted by: ntpayne
N 52° 19.667 W 001° 43.643
30U E 586724 N 5798258
This is lock 25 on the Stratford On Avon Canal.
Waymark Code: WMVDFN
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/05/2017
Views: 0
This is lock 25 on the Stratford On Avon Canal known as Dick's Lane lock. It is the 24th lock of the 26 lock Lapworth flight which rises 158’ 6 ½”.
It is known as Dick's Lane lock because Dick's Lane, now an unclassified county road, crosses the lock tail on a split bridge. Dick's lane was renamed in the 19th century after a suicide called DIck who was buried at the crossroads a little further west up the lane. Suicides used to be buried at crossroads with stakes through their hearts so that if they escaped they would not know which way to go. Christians at the time believed suicide was a sin. The custome was outlawed by an Act of Parliament in 1815.
The Stratford On Avon Canal runs for 25 ½ miles through 54 locks from Kings Norton in the south of Birmingham to the River Avon at Stratford On Avon. All the locks are single width, narrow beam locks of approximately 7’ 6” width.
The northern part of the canal (Kings Norton to Lapworth) opened in 1803; the southern stretch was opened in 1815. Once at Stratford On Avon freight could get onto the River Avon and hence down to the River Severn at Tewkesbusry.
In 1856 the canal was sold to the GWR and many of the GWR mileposts can still be seen fashioned out of railway lines. The weight limit signs on many bridges are also on posts made out of GWR rails.
The GWR mileposts have been supplemented by more modern ones donated by the Stratford On Avon Canal Society (SONACS). These have been placed at every mile interval but I believe three are missing as I have been unable to locate them. There is also a 12 ½ mile marker at Lapworth. It seems the original GWR markers were placed every ¼ mile and many can still be found in the undergrowth.
When the canal was restored in 1964 it was reopened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Waterway Name: Stratford On Avon Canal
Connected Points: The Stratford On Avon Canal runs from Kings Norton junction where it meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to the River Avon at Stratford On Avon. On the way it links to the Grand Union Main Line at Lapworth Junction via the Lapworth Link, a short stretch of canal joining the two.
Type: Lock
Date Opened: 01/01/1815
Elevation Difference (meters): 2.00
Site Status: Operational
Web Site: [Web Link]
Date Closed (if applicable): Not listed
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