Ageing lock gates replaced on Rochdale Canal

It is investing £50,000 to refurbish the lock. The lock chamber will be emptied of water to allow the removal of the 20 year old lock gate and for a new top gate to be lifted in using a 100 tonne crane. Engineers will also inspect the lock chamber and re-point the brickwork.

New lock gates are made in specialist workshops at Bradley in the West Midlands and Stanley Ferry in Yorkshire. Each lock gate is hand crafted by a skilled team of carpenters and made from sustainably sourced British oak. A single lock gate weighs on average 3.6 tonnes, can take up to 20 days to make and has a working life of 25-30 years.