River Lock And Retaining Walls To River Aire

LEEDS

SE2933SE CANAL WHARF 714-1/77/87 (North side (off)) 07/12/92 River Lock and retaining walls to River Aire

GV II*

Lock and retaining walls. 1770-1776. For the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company. Wooden gates with cast-iron fittings; coursed squared massive gritstone blocks to walls. 2 pairs of gates, the top pair fitted with probably original paddles ('jack' cloughs). The walling extends beyond the lower gates and under a footbridge with stone steps and replaced handrails to form the retaining walls on the River Aire, approximate length 15m. This was Lock No.1 on the canal and is one of only 5 sets of locks to retain original 'jack' cloughs at the Yorkshire end of the canal. HISTORICAL NOTE: at the opening of the 33-mile stretch of the canal from Leeds to Holmbridge, near Gargrave, in 1777 an opening ceremony was held here before a crowd of 20,000-30,000 people and a procession of boats passed through the lock. (Burt S & Grady K: The Merchants' Golden Age, Leeds 1700-1790: 1987-: 16).

Listing NGR: SE2984633044