Somerset Coal Canal
Lower end of Combe Hay Locks
February 2014
When I refer to the lower end of the Combe Hay site I an really talking about the elements below the road, the three buried locks to the incline junction, the incline arm and finally the bottom three locks which are the oldest of the flight, having been built before the incline was operational.
At the time of my visit the path immediately below the road was an absolute quagmire, soggy with rain and slick with clay.
Lock 19 - junction with the incline arm
Incline channel and end wharf
Alongside this path the path of the canal fell in distinct terraces so its reasonable to assume that the chambers lie buried beneath the grass.
Chambers 21 and 22 of the Combe Hay flight
Then, below the third lock with its filled chamber you find the old junction to the incline, a dry saucer like depression which snakes along the side a meadow and with a stone quay which probably marks the start of the incline.
Continuing on the locks space out a bit, but the chambers are clear of rubbish and easy to explore.
Really interesting posts Captain...and from a part of England one doesn't tend to associate with canals. Those locks , esp the one with the rotting gates still in situ look fantastic...reminds me of the BCN Slough Arm off the W&E with its long abandoned lock in a wooded clearing with a trace of the rotting gates. Great stuff. As always.
ReplyDeleteCraig
I stumbled across your site by accident as I have been studying the SCC for a few months now. I have walked from Paulton Basin to Camerton and from Dunkerton to Midford and have enjoyed finding the remains of the canal which are pretty plentiful in parts. Whilst walking the footpath from the Combe Hay-Midford road towards Midford I noticed a stone structure in a wooded area above the canal bed.It is about 6-8 feet high and maybe the same width and juts out of a bank. I can find nothing about this on the SCC website . Was it relevant to the canal?
ReplyDeleteHad heard of the SCC while at school in the late 70's (in Midsomer Norton) so it's good to hear that people are once more taking an interest in it. Remember seeing something about the railway GWR if I remember rightly using part of the branch in Radstock. Thanks Captain as I only came across your site by accident while brushing up on my history of Bath before taking some friends on a walk around that city in a few weeks time.
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