Trent And Mersey Canal, Church Locks Number 48

The Church Locks Number 48 are a pair of narrow locks located on the Trent and Mersey Canal. The towpath side lock was constructed around 1772-75 by James Brindley and Hugh Henshall, while the off-side lock was added in the early 1830s, likely by Thomas Telford. Both locks feature brick chambers with stone coping and quoins, and a central island cutwater. The locks have undergone some replacement of materials and movable parts over time. The late 20th-century gates include a single wooden top gate and double wooden bottom gates for the towpath side lock, and a single steel top gate with double steel bottom gates for the off-side lock. Each lock has stone steps leading to a lower level and a wooden plank footbridge across each tail. There is also an off-side weir. The Trent and Mersey Canal was built between 1766 and 1777 by James Brindley and Hugh Henshall. The locks are listed for their group value with the adjacent bridge.