Garston Lock at Su 656708

Garston Lock is a lock located on the Kennet and Avon Canal, with early 18th century origins, enlarged in the mid-18th century, and altered in the 20th century. It features a turf-sided chamber, with sides reinforced by a framework of Great Western Railway broad gauge brick rails, which also support a solid lower wall made of Welsh slate. The chamber transitions to brick at the gates and continues into brick wing walls topped with brick coping. There are two sets of double wooden gates; the top gates are equipped with mechanical gate paddle gearing, while the bottom gates utilize hydraulic gate paddle gearing. The Kennet Navigation was established by 1724 and was acquired by the Kennet & Avon Canal Company in 1812, with John Hore serving as the engineer for the Navigation and John Rennie as the engineer for the Canal.