Sandhill lock

Sandhill Lock is the most derelict of the three locks that remain to be restored. The brickwork is in poor condition and, as this picture shows, there is a large crack in one of the walls.

Tree roots can cause remarkable damage and British Waterways have recently removed trees that were growing in the structure of the lock.

The stone copings and quoins (in which the lock gates pivoted) have survived better than the bricks and it is likely that the brickwork below water level will be in reasonable condition.

 

Satellite image of Silburn Lock, from Flash Earth (www.flashearth.com).

In addition to the large crack in the offside wing-wall, the chamber wall on the towpath side is bulging. Test pits will be dug to investigate the problem. We hope that a Waterway Recovery Group Canal Camp can be arranged during the 2010 season to make a start on the major work needed to restore this lock.

Sandhill Lock is a Grade 2 Listed Structure and all work must be approved by English Heritage. English Heritage and British Waterways' engineers have examined the lock and will be investigating how best to stabilise the structure in the short term, before restoration starts. PCAS is opposed to infilling the chamber with aggregate because this would add to the difficulty and expense of future restoration.