Ryeford Double Lock

MATERIALS: red brick with limestone and granite dressings.

PLAN: a double lock with widening entrances at the west and east ends, that was divided into two chambers by a central pair of gates, making this a double lock without a separating pound.

DESCRIPTION: the retaining walls to the chambers are of brick with large limestone ashlar coping stones; part of the offside (north) wall was rebuilt following flood damage in the 1980s. There are granite dressings at the gate positions and the iron restraining straps that formerly attached to the timber gate posts remain in situ. In addition there are some paddle windlasses, but those on the offside have been renewed. The former pairs of gates are now missing, although there are traces of ground paddles above the position of the middle and upper gates. On the south side of the lock is a flight of stone steps that lead from the lower to the middle level, and some of the setts for one of the quadrants remain visible.