Seend Locks
Seend Locks is a series of five locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire that raise and lower boats between different water levels. The locks are arranged in a straight line and overcome a height difference of about 38 feet, with a back pump supplying water during dry periods.
In the 19th century, these locks played a key role in transporting goods, with wharves serving the local iron works. The locks were built as part of a wider canal network designed to connect settlements and support commerce before railways and roads became the primary transport routes.
The locks remain a gathering point where walkers and boaters pause to observe the quiet rhythm of water and vessels passing through. The site reflects how this waterway continues to connect people to the area's working past and present leisure traditions.
You can walk freely along the towpath and visit the locks at any time without charge. Park near Seend Wharf Bridge where small and larger parking spaces are available, and note that a pub nearby offers refreshments and a convenient stopping point.
A back pump system automatically supplies water to the locks, an innovative system especially important during dry periods. This technology allows boats to continue moving through regardless of rainfall, a feature many visitors overlook.
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