Marple Locks Number 6 and Adjoining Footbridge on Peak Forest Canal

Marple Locks Number 6 and the adjoining footbridge were built between 1803 and 1805 by engineers Benjamin Outram and Thomas Brown, financed by S. Oldknow and R. Arkwright, and constructed by James and Fox. The lock features dressed stone and ashlar materials, with a single upper gate and a double lower gate, positioned at the lower end. It has a 4-meter pound-to-pound level to accommodate the steepness of the 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 arch with a rusticated keystone, an ashlar band, and parapet walls that have been rebuilt. One end of the footbridge is terminated by a battered square pier with a small flight of steps, while the other end slopes down to the level of the pound.