Tardebigge Locks, Lock system on Worcester and Birmingham Canal, England
Tardebigge Locks is a flight of 30 individual lock chambers on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal in Worcestershire. The system extends over approximately 2.25 miles and raises boats roughly 220 feet through rolling countryside.
The lock flight was constructed between 1810 and 1815 to replace an earlier experimental vertical lift system for boats. This engineering solution allowed efficient passage through the rising terrain of the surrounding region.
This stretch holds significance as a gathering place where canal preservation advocates met in the 1940s to organize efforts to protect waterways from abandonment. The site remains a symbol of community commitment to keeping these historic routes alive.
Plan for approximately four hours to navigate through all 30 locks, with each lock taking around 10 minutes to operate. It is wise to arrive with plenty of daylight remaining and check water conditions beforehand, especially during drier months.
Near lock 57 stands an engine house containing remnants of a historic water pump system that supplied the canal from a lower reservoir. This installation reveals the engineering ingenuity required to maintain water levels throughout the flight.
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