Friday 30 August 2013

Getting locked in



Yesterday I went with my daughter to Bingley in West Yorkshire.  It's on the Leeds to Liverpool canal and has quite a few locks, which I wanted to see.  We went for a walk along the River Aire and back along the canal.



First there is a flight of two locks




A three rise


and further along, a five rise.  



It doesn't look as good in a photo as real life, but that is quite a drop, apparently the steepest flight of locks in the UK.  A barge was just coming out of the bottom lock,and it takes quite a while to get through.  
I was quite overcome, my daughter said "Oh you're not going to cry are you?"!
Call me strange but I just love locks..

On the way back another barge was starting to go through.  This is it in the top lock.

Once it's in, and the gates shut behind it, the water can then be let out of the front gates into the next lock.  As the water level goes down the barge is lowered down to the next level

and when it's full the gates can be opened to let the barge through

and repeated through all the locks until it reaches the bottom



I absolutely loved it and could have stayed all day



9 comments:

  1. It is an amazing place, I used to live near Bingley.

    Helenxx

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  2. Love your pics and how the locks work. We have a canal running through Welshpool and they often have the barges passing through. The water where you are looks a lot cleaner than ours. I walked along the tow path the other day. The water just looks like a dumping ground for people's rubbish - makes me so cross. I wish they would take their litter home with them.

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  3. I'm always fascinated by locks, we often visit one near by, sitting watching the boats with an ice cream, fab! :) x

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  4. I love the five rise locks too. We used to visit quite often when I was a child. My Dad was from Bingley.
    Thanks for sharing your great photos.
    Jacquie x

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  5. What a great system, I would love to see it working.

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  6. Oh I love locks! I find the whole idea of them quite amazing! We did a project on canals a little while ago and ended up visiting the Falkirk Wheel. It replaced a previous series of 11 locks that connected the two canals there. I find the idea of that determination to get the canals to connect up, even in difficult conditions, just fantastic.
    Your pictures are fab, I must visit one day soon, the children would love it x

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  7. Beautiful photos! I love locks too. We had a boat up on Georgian Bay when I was growing up, and we frequently went through locks. I think they are amazing. Yours are fanatstic!

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  8. Amazing bit of engineering......great pics Georgia.
    I'm sure it's so much more impressive in real life, but even so.
    On the crying thing, I find as I get a little more mature (won't use the 'o' word) I find
    myself tearing up at odd times and occasions.

    Claire x

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  9. I know what you mean about locks, I love them too. Walking along a tow path is one of my greatest delights.
    Patricia x

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