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Bingley Five Rise Locks, 28-29 January


Bingley Five Rise Locks are the only Grade I Listed lock on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. They will be open for visitors to observe during the replacement of four of its gates (the other gates were changed in 2000 and 2006). There will be the chance to take a tour deep inside into the locks as well as chat to British Waterways’ experts about how this skilled operation takes place.

The gates have been in place for over 25 years now completing their working life and will be replaced by new ones that have been made of oak to exactly the same dimensions and design. The gates have been made at Stanley Ferry Workshop in Wakefield which is one of only two workshops in the country.

The water is kept out of the lock chamber using stop planks which are laid on top of each other to form a watertight seal. Whilst the lock is drained to remove the gates, the stoppage team will take the opportunity to carry out repairs to the lock chamber, carry out any repairs to the ground paddles that are required as well as any other repairs which need making.

Heritage skills

The team will also be using their heritage skills to repair the brickwork of the lock walls and ensure repairs are carried out as sympathetically as possible. The repairs will be carried out using lime mortar which is quite different from many modern cement mixes and which was commonly used on canal structures during the 1800s due to its durable and permeable properties.

Peter Carter, construction supervisor for the Bingley lock gate replacement project said: “These works usually happen on closed sites but we’re inviting local people to come and discover what’s going on at Bingley. The open day will allow people to walk down into the empty lock chamber, ask questions to members of the team and find out about how these lock gate replacements are carried out. It’s skillful work and the tours will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about what we do in winter to maintain good navigation for our boating customers.”

Bingley Five Rise Locks are one of the major landmarks of the national waterway network and are one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’. An 18th century engineering masterpiece built by John Longbotham, these five locks operate as a 'staircase' flight – in which the lower gate of one lock forms the upper gate of the next. When completed in 1774, thousands gathered to watch the first boats make the 60 foot descent. Now, over 200 years later, the flight is still in daily use providing access to 16 miles of lock-free cruising on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in the glorious scenery of the Yorkshire Dales.

Bingley Five Rise Cafe will be open all day serving hot food and drinks.

Time: 10am-3pm. Last entry strictly 3pm. Site closes 3.45pm.

Location: Bingley Five Rise Locks.

Parking: Please use public transport where possible as parking is limited in the area. Event parking is kindly provided by UKAR, Croft Road, BD16 2UA (off the A650, turn right onto Keighley Road, down to the roundabout, turn right and then first right onto Croft Road) – Bingley Five Rise Locks are then a pleasant 20 minute towpath walk along the canal. A shuttle bus service will also be provided - timetable TBC.

For those needing to travel by car, parking is also available in town centre car parks (free on Sundays). Residents-only access to Hall Bank Drive and Beck Lane.

From Bingley Bus Station: Turn right out of the station onto Wellington Street, and then turn right onto Park Road bridge. Walk over the canal and take the walkway to the left, walking towards Bingley Three Rise Locks. Cross over the Three Rise lock footbridge and continue walking up the canal to Bingley Five Rise locks.

Water bus: A water trip service will be running on board the Lady Rani - kindly provided by the Joint Activities Motor Education Service (JAMES) - from above the Three Rise Locks to the bottom of the Five Rise.


British Waterways’ Canal Open Days 2011/12 are sponsored by May Gurney. Find out more about the company by visiting www.maygurney.co.uk/

Last updated: 30/01/2012

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