Flight Of 10 Locks,To North And South Of Caisson House

The flight of 10 disused locks, located to the north and south of Caisson House, was originally part of a larger flight of 19 locks on the Somerset Coal Canal, constructed around 1805 for the Somerset Coal Canal Company. The surveyor for this project was William Smith, known as "the Father of British Geology," and the engineer was likely William Bennet. The remaining locks are of standard dimensions, approximately 70 feet long and 7 feet wide. The ashlar retaining walls still stand about 10 to 12 feet high, with the entrance and exit walls being battered and splayed. Some remnants of sluices and culverts are present, and many locks still have lower gates, with some retaining upper gates as well. Notably, the fourth lock from the west features a milestone on its north side, with a cast iron plate indicating "4/MILES." This flight of locks marks the final successful attempt to change the level on the Paulton branch of the canal. The sites of earlier attempts, including the caisson lock and the inclined plane, are located near the fifth lock from the west.