Sluice, Channel And Sluice A Swing-Bridges At Vale Royal Locks

The sluice, channel, and sluice swing-bridges at Vale Royal Locks were built around 1860 as a lock and converted to a sluice channel around 1890. The structure features red sandstone ashlar walls for the channel, with a wooden sluice gate suspended from a bridge made of rusticated red sandstone and limestone ashlar dressings. The design includes a wood and iron swing-bridge, a rectangular channel with a sluice gate and bridge at the south end, and a swing bridge located south of the center. The channel's red sandstone walls are complemented by rusticated sandstone piers supporting the bridge, which has semi-circular piers at both the front and rear, along with flights of steps on either side. A central cast iron round-arched support for the bridge features open circles in the spandrels, a wooden walkway, and a tubular iron handrail. The piers include limestone springers for the iron support and ashlar dressings at the lower level and top of the bridge parapet. Originally, the sluice channel functioned as a small lock until its conversion in the late 19th century, when the sluice and sluice bridge were constructed.