Blakes Lock

[TrueBlue]

Not a lock that many Thames boaters use, but I thought a photo that shows work in progress (or mebe not a lot thereof) might interest some on here.
It's been a while since there's been a major refurbishment has happened - someone will correct me if not.

Thanks to Ken M on CanalWorld who posted the pic on that forum and who gave me permission to reproduce it here.

 

[oldgit]

Thanks for that, always something fascinating about any river bed sans H2O.
Nice selection of litter.
The usual examples of single use beer can,single use bottle and single use *cdonalds coffee cup.
Have missed anything ?

 

[Old Crusty]

Thanks for that, always something fascinating about any river bed sans H2O.
Nice selection of litter.
The usual examples of single use beer can,single use bottle and single use *cdonalds coffee cup.
Have missed anything ?

Yes, spectacles, mobile phones, cameras, shoes, false teeth and hypodermic needles.

 

[TrueBlue]

Yes, spectacles, mobile phones, cameras, shoes, false teeth and hypodermic needles.

It shows that working on a lock is/can be a hazardous place.
Bowing to your superior knowledge, kind Sir - do Thames locks have a brick (or other solid) bottom?
I can't remember from the last time the Greater Unwashed were permitted to vie serious lock works, at Benson thanks to P. Power (?) - whether it was just a bit of mud in the base or the same covering something more solid.

 

[Old Crusty]

It shows that working on a lock is/can be a hazardous place.
Bowing to your superior knowledge, kind Sir - do Thames locks have a brick (or other solid) bottom?
I can't remember from the last time the Greater Unwashed were permitted to vie serious lock works, at Benson thanks to P. Power (?) - whether it was just a bit of mud in the base or the same covering something more solid.

Lock chambers are perfectly safe until either a boat or member of the public arrives, then it can go awry. No bowing required TB, I don't know everything, really! I've seen only a couple of chamber bottoms once the silt was removed and they were concreted.

 

[oldgit]

Thought that every drain down would reveal at least 2 or 3 safes,the odd sawn off and the rusting remains of a mini.
Did not a side scan of West India recently produce a complete and intact mini ?

 

[TrueBlue]

Thought that every drain down would reveal at least 2 or 3 safes,the odd sawn off and the rusting remains of a mini.
Did not a side scan of West India recently produce a complete and intact mini ?

From what I remember - even being a WSOB, I don't often venture off the Thames onto the K&A - there's not a lot of opportunity to tip a safe or certainty a mini off anywhere near Blakes. Just as well 'cos it looks a bit shallow there!

 

[Old Crusty]

Thought that every drain down would reveal at least 2 or 3 safes,the odd sawn off and the rusting remains of a mini.
Did not a side scan of West India recently produce a complete and intact mini ?

I think you are confusing the Royal River Thames and its contents with the Slough arm of the Grand Union Canal!

 

[oldgit]

I think you are confusing the Royal River Thames and its contents with the Slough arm of the Grand Union Canal!

Back when Nelson was a young whipper snapper, remember doing the Cheshire Ring, approaching the desolate outskirts of one of the less favoured towns on the route , when the entire narrowboat sort of lurched to one side accompanied by an interesting graunchy scraping sound.
Peering over the stern a small car could clearly be seen under the usually clear water.
It was of course a mini with a nice selection of shopping trolleys to keep it company.

 

[Old Crusty]

Back when Nelson was a young whipper snapper, remember doing the Cheshire Ring, approaching the desolate outskirts of one of the less favoured towns on the route , when the entire narrowboat sort of lurched to one side accompanied by an interesting graunchy scraping sound.
Peering over the stern a small car could clearly be seen under the usually clear water.
It was of course a mini with a nice selection of shopping trolleys to keep it company.

During the flooding of the Somerset levels in winter 13/14, the locals complained bitterly that the drainage board and the EA weren't dredging frequently enough (the 'D' word was banned from use at the EA at the time, we had to call it 'river bed re-profiling' ). Later, when the River Parrett was dredged, first out came a selection of small cars that the great unwashed of Bridgwater and elsewhere locally had dumped in the river, creating a submerged weir and adding to the problem.

 

[Brayman]

From what I remember - even being a WSOB, I don't often venture off the Thames onto the K&A - there's not a lot of opportunity to tip a safe or certainty a mini off anywhere near Blakes. Just as well 'cos it looks a bit shallow there!

It certainly is shallow there. I used to touch bottom going into and out of the lock, I'm sure on one occasion I touched bottom while in the lock as well!!