About Canal Locks. The first European canal locks were designed in The Netherlands where there was a requirement to move boats between the drainage dykes and rivers however these were more about controlling the water. Leonardo da Vinci ultimately designed a system which could be used to move boats up and down gradients - this featured mitred lock gates which were angled upstream against the current and thus created a water tight seal due to the water pressure. This remains the basic design for lockgates still today. The first canal to use this system in England was the Exeter Canal which was built between 1564 and 1567.
The series of twin locks at Hillmorton are in a really nice spot - and also have the added benefit of several bench seats so you can rest your achy feet for a while. The original locks were modernised during the 19th century to create more commercial canal boat throughput.
Useful Books about our English Canals:-
Anatomy of Canals
Nicholson Guide to the Waterways
British Canals: The Standard History
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Our Oxford Canal Photos with every bridge and lock are split through several pages as follows:-
A photo record of all the canal's locks (this page)
The northern end of the canal - Sutton Stop
to the Braunston Turn
Braunston going on south to Banbury in Oxfordshire
From Banbury into the City of Oxford and the
end of the Oxford Canal
More English Canal Pictures including a photo record of the whole of the Grand Union Canal plus several Canal Arms can be found via our English Topics.
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Reccommended External Resources.
The Cotswold Canals - A Photographic Survey
Canalside Camera A selection of photographs featuring the inland waterways of Great Britain.