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

ST 76 SW 8/30 5.5.82

COMBE HAY COURSE OF DISUSED SOMERSET COAL CANAL Flight of 10 locks, to north and south of Caisson House,

G.V. II

Flight of 10 disused locks; originally part of a flight of 19 locks four of which have been destroyed and five of which are in the Civil Parish of South Stoke. Circa 1805 for the Somerset Coal Canal Company. The Surveyor was William Smith, "the Father of British Geology" and the engineer for this flight was probably William Bennet. Remains of 10 locks of standard dimensions approximately 70 feet long and 7 feet wide. Ashlar retaining walls survive to about 10-12 feet high; the entrance and exit walls are battered and splayed. Some remains of sluices and culverts; many locks retain lower gates and some retain the upper gates. The fourth lock from the west has a milestone on its north side and an affixed cast iron plate reads: "4/MILES". This flight of locks represents the final and successful attempt to achieve the change in level on the Paulton branch of the canal. The site of the caisson lock (the first attempt) is to the west of the fifth lock from the west - and the site of the inclined plane (the second attempt) is also in the same area. (K.R. Clew The Somersetshire Coal Canal and Railways).

Listing NGR: ST7413860252