Wigan Album
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
12 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 34205
As usual, this scene is mis-captioned as 'Top Lock' - I think the second lock down was often included because you can actually get a clear view of the lock itself - whereas the bridge gets in the way at the actual top lock.
Both the Top Lock Inn and the stables etc in the building beside the Kirklees Hall Inn have since disappeared. The stables were a kind of relay station where company horses would be exchanged, but they later also housed the 'bank' horses which were used to haul the unpowered butty of a pair of barges through the locks, while its motored barge made its own way.
As you have mentioned before about the Hawkley Hall saga. It's easier to tell Its readers where it actually is, so I can understand why it says/reads "Top Lock".
Another great photo, thanks Rev Long.
The area is known as Top Lock.
The photo is taken on Cale Lane Bridge.
The paper is describing the Top Lock area taken from the advantage point on the Cale Lane road bridge next to the Commercial Inn. A cracking picture.
The photographer taking the image is right, the lens view is indeed top lock, I don't think for one minute he means the lock in front of the last lock.
Basically it is Top Lock.
Take a photo is the same spot, little has changed.
Read the caption - it says the last of 21 locks, when what is in view are the last two locks. The ordinary reader, not knowing the area, and not knowing enough about canal architecture, would suppose that the lock which is fully visible in front of them is the top lock. Yes, the area is known as 'Top Lock' - but the caption is specifically about the 21st lock, after which there are 9 lock-free miles before the next lock at Johnson's Hillock.
I think Top Lock is exactly where the camera man is concentrating on. I know people who prefer Top Lock where they live instead of Newsprings.
After saying that, does it really matter. Beautiful photo.
The last lock until Coppull, well after negotiating 21 locks you'd need a rest. That must take some time and hard work...21 locks not too far apart from each other.
Cheers Rev Long, another great photo from the 1960s were little has changed, even today.
Many say there's 21 locks in Wigan Flight, although Wigan Council claim there's 23.
I tend to agree with Wigan Council on that, although there's only five sets of locks in Wigan and only three of those are part of the Wigan Flight.
The 'top lock' isn't actually the last. It's the first. Or, so it is to those who built them, but what do they know? They even classed it as being Aspull.
I always thought it was new springs.
Bruce, it’s the last if your going uphill.