Higher Maunsell Bridge At St 308294 Higher Maunsell Lock No 4 At St 308294

Higher Maunsell Lock No 4 and Higher Maunsell Bridge are located on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, built between 1824 and 1827, with restoration in the 20th century. The lock features a brick chamber and two sets of double wooden gates equipped with concrete balance beams. It has counterweighted ground paddle gearing at the top with metal ball weights and counterweighted gate paddle gearing at the bottom with metal cylinder weights. This type of paddle gearing is unique to the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. The bridge over the lock is made of brick and has a single horseshoe arch, a band, a solid parapet with brick coping, and piers with stone coping. The south parapet has been rebuilt in brick. The canal was constructed under the engineering supervision of James Hollinsworth.