Canal Lock Pillows

The gate of an old lock in the middle of a meadow near Newport, South Wales. This is part of the Crumlin arm of the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal. This arm of the canal was opened in 1799, the nearby flight of fourteen locks being a major feat of engineering. Here the canal is at present unrestored and lies neglected in the undergrowth, wild flowers and grasses proliferating. But plans are in being to fully restore this section and rebuilding the locks is already in progress. The image has been given a textured finish as a coloured pencil drawing.

Two canal boats, a nerrowboat and a wide boat moored just above the top gates of Midgham Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. Further upstream we reach Thacham and Newbury whilst behind us the waterway takes us next to Woolhampton, Aldermaston and eventually Reading and the Thames.

Looking upstream from the top gate of Kintbury Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. The Lock is close to the centre of Kintbury village which lies between Newbury and Hungerford. Ahead of us the canal leads to Hungerford, Bath and Bristol while behind us are Newbury, Reading and the Thames. This image was captured on quite a busy autumn afternoon.

HDR image of a barge & one of the locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Leeds, Yorkshire (UK)

Again, a little help from Topaz Studio...

The footbridge over the River Kennet next to Greenham Lock near Newbury, Berkshire. The bridge forms the entrance to a boatyard and dry dock. This section of the canal - or navigation (combined river and canal) began its construction in 1718 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the section between Reading and Newbury was opened The remainder of the Kennet and Avon to join Bristol and Reading was built between 1794 and 1810. It was fully reopened in 1990.

Black and white photograph of the rusty remains of the historical lock gate opening and closing mechanism at Honing lock on the Honing and Dilham canal

Black and white photograph of the historical Honing lock on the disused Honing and Dilham canal in the Norfolk countryside

A narrow boat has just passed through Woolhampton lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Woolhampton in Berkshire, England. This lock was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury. It was part of the Kennet Navigation - that is part river and part canal. The Kennet and Avon canal was constructed to join Bristol and London via Reading making the transport of goods smoother. It closed due to the Great Western Railway but was reopened in 1990.

Black and white photograph of the historical Honing lock on the disused Honing and Dilham canal in the Norfolk countryside

Approaching Sulhamstead Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire. It was originally constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the direction of the engineer John Hore from nearby Newbury and has a rise and fall of 4ft 1 inch. The canal was designed to join the Avon and Kennet rivers allowing goods to be transported between Bristol and London via Reading. It fell into disuse in the early 20th century but was restored later in the century and is now busy with leisure boats.

A sudden flurry of activity on an autumn afternoon at Kintbury Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. A boat has just emerged from the lock to carry on travelling upstream towards Newbury, Bath and Bristol, passing moored boats on the way. The waterway passes through the village here - almost through the centre! Tranquil now but once a hive of industrial activity with working boats carrying such goods as Bath stone for the grand buildings in London.

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Are they opening or closing the lock?

Autumnal reflections in the waters of the Kennet and Avon Canal (Kennet Navigation) just above Midgham Lock in West Berkshire. Here a wide boat is moored next to the towpath. Follow the path and we reach Thatcham and Newbury before carrying on to Bath and Bristol. Behind us, below the lock, we reach Woolhampton and eventually Reading and the Thames.

The lock at Aldermaston on the Kennet and Avon Canal. This is the view from the wharf next to the swing bridge. The lock was built between 1718 and 1723 being supervised by John Hore a noted engineer from Newbury. It was originally turf sided but was enlarged in the mid 1700s and given scalloped brick walls. These were heightened in 1984 during restoration. The nearby building was once a brewery founded in 1770 and Its beer barrels would have been shipped from this busy wharf.

A digital pencil drawing from my original photograph of Guyers Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Newbury, Berkshire. The lock was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of local engineer John Hore. Behind the lock is Enborne Bridge, enabling the horses towing the boats to cross the canal as the towpath changed sides here. This image was captured one evening in early summer.

An artistic view of Padworth Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire in early February.. This lies just downstream from Aldermaston Wharf. It was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of local engineer John Hore of Newbury. Originally a turf sided lock, as many were on this stretch of the waterway, it was rebuilt with brick sides between 1982 and 1984 as part of the canal restoration project. It has a rise and fall of 5ft 1inch (1.55m). Kikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Tyle Mill Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire. It was originally built between 1718 and 1723 when the K & A was constructed. It has a rise and fall of 6ft 4 ins (1.93 m). The canal was made to link the two rivers, Kennet in the east and Avon in the west to enable goods to be carried from London to Bristol. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was restored in the late 1900s and is now a busy leisure waterway.

A pair of swans at Greenham Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Newbury, Berkshire. This section of the canal - or navigation (combined river and canal) began its construction in 1718 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the stretch between Reading and Newbury was opened. The entire canal joining the Avon Navigation from Bristol and the Kennet Navigation in Berkshire was completed in 1810 allowing goods to be transported smoothly from Bristol to London. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Canon EOS 6D Canon f2.8 70-200MM

Pensarn Cottage near Newport on the Crumlin branch of the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal. This cottage is situated just below Lock 13 of the Fourteen Locks flight at the point where the towpath changes sides. This arm of the canal was opened in 1799, the flights of locks being a major feat of engineering. Here the canal is at present unrestored and is awash with wild flowers and grasses but work has started on making this a working waterway again.

Blakes Lock is the first (or last) lock on the River Kennet - eventually becoming the Kennet and Avon Canal. It's situated at Kennetside just before the river joins the Thames, This stretch has been navigable since medieval times and was was an important supply route to mighty Reading Abbey - the abbot being the river's controller. Although on the Kennet, the lock is managed as part of the Thames system of locks although this one is still manually operated.

Black and white photograph of the rusty remains of the historical lock gate opening and closing mechanism at Honing lock on the Honing and Dilham canal

Brentford Lock, July 2018 Brentford is a town in Middlesex, England, part of the London Borough of Hounslow and the Greater London conurbation. It is built around the confluence of the rivers Thames and Brent, and its name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon 'Breguntford', meaning 'ford over the River Brent'. It is the first point on the tidal portion of the River Thames that would have been 'fordable', centuries before more recent dredging operations. The settlement was certainly in existence before the Roman invasion of Britain, and as such pre-dates the founding of the city of London. Brentford Dock was built in the 1850s by the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and linked the Great Western Railway to River Thames barge traffic. The...

Pretty riverside scene of DItchford Lock on the River Nene in Northamptonshire, UK. HDR Photography

The Town Lock at Newbury in West Berkshire on a sunny autumn day. This is the view as you join the towpath on the western side of Town Bridge (or The Water Bridge). Here the Kennet divides, the left fork heading to the old West Mills (now housing) whilst steer right to take you through the lock and onwards towards Bath and Bristol. The lock itself dates from 1796 and is Grade 2 listed. It has a rise/fall of 3ft 6in (0.07m).

Black and white photograph of the rusty remains of the historical lock gate opening and closing mechanism at Honing lock on the Honing and Dilham canal

A print of an original watercolour & ink painting from the 1986's by Colin Fifield. Unique in design, this is a perfect gift for someone who loves the canals, boats and Oxford, Oxfordshire, Great Britain.