We've been gated!

Chris Symonds

As many of you will be aware, the gates of Cosgrove lock have not enjoyed good health for a while, but now thanks to BW we can now look forwards to working Cosgrove with less of a struggle.

BW imposed a stoppage from January 21st until February 8th and managed to complete a lot of essential maintenance as well as some preventative for the future.

Those old highly unattractive steel gates to the bottom of the lock are now history and once again, we have traditional oak gates, with new paddle gear. They look fantastic, they don't leak, and it really does look a first class job. The top gates have also received attention, by way of being re-mitered. The ground paddles, above the top gates, have also been overhauled. Is there no stopping these maintenance gangs! We have new posts and paddle gear to the ground paddles and those who have worked these paddles in recent years will, I'm sure, be pleased to hear this!

The quoins to the top gates still leak slightly, but I think we can live with that. Cosgrove lock has also very quietly joined the 21st century, by way of remote water level sensors having been installed. This is to aid back pumping, to save water. Eventually, remote sensors will be active on every pound so at the push of a button; from a remote control centre, water levels will be able to be stabilised without the need for physical presence to determine individual requirements.

The previous stoppage at Cosgrove was in the early nineties, and it was at this time that BW's senior management decided to improve all top gates. This involved all top gates that had ground paddles only to be upgraded and have gate paddles with baffles fitted. Cosgrove lock was one of the first to be included in this programme.

Whilst the lock chamber and winding hole were empty, it was interesting to see the bed of the canal. Thankfully apart from that old bicycle that is always found in the bottom of every canal (Mr. Raleigh has got a lot to answer for!) there was very little rubbish. What was interesting was that in the winding hole, evidence of the old locks was clearly visible. It was possible to see the entrance to the top lock. These were the locks that were first used to cross the River Great Ouse below the Iron Trunk. These locks had been designed as a temporary feature whilst the masonry aqueduct was built. These particular locks were built entirely of timber, as their life was anticipated as a short one. The locks bed had only been out of use for a few short years, when the winter storm during 1808 caused the original aqueduct to be washed away. A temporary wooden structure was quickly erected, but it is believed that few boatmen trusted it as it leaked somewhat, and that, as a result, the old locks were opened up again and stayed in use until 1811 when our old friend, the Iron Trunk was completed.