Swineford Lock, Canal lock in Bath and North East Somerset, England
Swineford Lock is a canal lock on the Bristol Avon Navigation that helps boats move between different water levels. The structure connects the Kennet and Avon Canal to the river system, allowing vessels to pass through sloped sections of the waterway.
The lock was constructed in the early 1720s as part of an ambitious project to improve navigation on the Bristol Avon. The waterway later supported factories and mills that depended on water power for their operations.
The lock remains visible as a working part of the waterway system that locals and visitors encounter along the towpath. It shows how water transport shaped commerce and daily life in this area for centuries.
You can watch the lock operate from the towpath, which is part of a regional walking and cycling route. The path is flat and easy to walk, making it suitable for a leisurely stroll or a break during longer journeys.
In its early years, the site supported brass and copper crafts that relied on water power for processing. This industrial link made the lock a vital part of the local economy until the 1800s.
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