Carpenters Road Lock restoration complete
The restoration of Carpenters Road Lock included new gates. Image courtesy of Roger Squires/The Inland Waterways Association
A £1.8m project to restore Carpenters Road Lock incorporates new gates that are a replica of the original unique design. Managed by the Canal & River Trust, the work for the Olympic Park-located lock in London also encompassed restoration of the lock structure and counter balance weights that enable the gates to open.
“The lifting locks are a unique piece of engineering history with links back to the patented ‘Stoney Sluice,’ the forerunner to the modern sluice gates and an early iteration before the switch to modern horizontal radial gates,” explained a spokesman from the Canal & River Trust.
Built in the 1930s, the lock design included two vertical lift double radial convex gates that lifted up vertically and were the only set of their kind.
The new gates and lifting mechanism are a direct copy of the originals. First designed by Ransome & Rapier in Ipswich, this time around they are designed in conjunction with ARCADIS & KGAL.
Originally riveted together, the approximately 14t new steel gates have bolted connections.
Each gate lifts on wire ropes and pulleys via an overhead gantry with the two counter balance weights either side.
The lock gates are now automated to control floodwater and allow it to be distributed to channels within the Bow Back Rivers.
Weathering Steel will be used for the redesigned gantry, creating a rust effect, designed to contrast with the overhead stainless steel bridge.
The project includes £680,000 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £100,000 from the London Legacy Development Corporation.
