Marple Locks Number 7 and Adjoining Footbridge on Peak Forest Canal

Marple Locks Number 7 and the adjoining footbridge are located on the Peak Forest Canal and were constructed between 1803 and 1805. The engineers for this project were Benjamin Outram and Thomas Brown, with financing from S. Oldknow and R. Arkwright, and built by James and Fox. The structure is made of dressed stone and ashlar. It features a single upper gate and a double lower gate, along with a footbridge at the lower end. The lock has a 4-meter pound-to-pound level to accommodate the steep slope. The lock walls are made of large coursed stone blocks with a rounded verge, and the mouth is grooved for stop planks. The gates have been overhauled and are fully functional. The footbridge has a segmental rusticated keystone arch, an ashlar band, and parapet walls with repaired copings. One end of the footbridge is terminated by a battered square pier with a small flight of steps, while the other end sweeps down to the level of the pound.