Continuing our ongoing series of articles on routes and places you can visit with your group whilst on our boats, in the first of a few articles LNBP’s Booking Officer Nigel Smith gives us an insight into the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal in Warwickshire.
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal runs from Birmingham’s suburbia to Shakespeare’s Stratford, covering some 25 miles long stretching from the Birmingham suburb of Kings Norton and the junction with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal descending 55 locks to the River Avon at Stratford Upon Avon.
There are many lovely little spots along this stretch of inland waterway, along with a few curious places to watch out for. Lock number 53 – otherwise known as The Maidenhead Road Lock (Bridge 67) – is one of them, located about a further 30 minutes cruising and two further locks before arriving at the Stratford Basin outside of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Lock 53 is similar to all locks on this canal in that it is a single boat lock but the strange feature being the right-angled metal balance beam. As a regular gongoozler at this lock watching other people trying to open it, be under no doubt this is a tough one! I often help people out opening the lock. Bent knees, effort and sweat required here, this is the toughest lock that I have encountered anywhere on the canal system!
The lock drops a boat about six feet from the higher to the lower pound. As the boat goes under the bridge, the lock workers can either walk across the road or take the tow path under the road as the horses would have done. However, here is a word of warning – anybody under 6 foot tall, then duck!
More little features on this delightful stretch of canal to come soon.
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