Tuesday 9th
October 2018
We breakfasted on kippers and poached egg. Lovely start to the day
kippers, until they come back on you.
Phil and Michelle called in for a cuppa. They are on their way to
Market Harborough but are aiming to get back to Foxton this afternoon and we
are planning a get-together. That must be the main difference between hiring
and living aboard. We spent 3 days in Market Harborough and explored the place.
Phil and Michelle will be on a timetable to return their boat and so can only
afford to spend an hour or so. How many places had we been to when hiring when
we said we would like more time to explore or, worse still, not had time to
stop at all.
We walked up to Foxton Locks. We had been here before when we had our
shares in the Challenger boat, Empire, ten years ago. But this is the first
time in this present life.
Foxton is a fascinating place for anybody interested in canals. It has
a junction, two 5-flight staircase locks, an abandoned inclined plane and lots
of old canal infrastructure and buildings.
The original canal route was supposed to run from Leicester to
Northampton via Market Harborough but the company ran out of money. It was only
when the Grand Union Canal connected London to Braunston that a link was made
in 1814, connecting the Leicester Line at Foxton with the Grand Union at Napton
Junction.
The junction at Foxton is where the Market Harborough Arm turns off
from what is now the main line
Leicester Section. The junction is right at the foot of the
locks.
Foxton Locks, built in 1814, comprise of two sets of 5 staircase
locks with just a very short pound in between them. A staircase lock is where
the top gate of the lower lock is also the bottom gate of the upper lock. The
levels in each lock are equalised and the boat passes from one lock to the
other with no pound in between. Foxton Locks are unique in that there are two
immediate staircase locks and they also have side pounds. A side pound is an
arrangement whereby, rather than, when emptying a lock, all the water is run
down into the next lock, half the water is run into a side pound and the other
half into the next lock down to equalise the levels and so save water
consumption. The whole complex is simple yet an amazing feat of early
engineering. Very clever people working at the cutting edge of their
contemporary technology.
The locks drop the canal 75 feet and the views over the
Leicestershire countryside from the top are quite stunning.
The locks however, were slow and created a bottleneck, so the
inclined plane was constructed. The inclined plane is another fascinating piece
of engineering. Two caissons move up and down a slope, the caissons holding the
boats and the whole operation controlled by wire running on pulleys which
themselves, are driven by steam power operating the wire drums through geared
wheels. The inclined plane was opened in 1900 but only used until 1911 and
eventually sold for scrap in 1928. So a short life, but it is surprising how
much of the plane is left. There are plans to restore it to working order but
apparently, the Health and Safety people would require the complete replacement
of the wires every two years at a cost of £30,000, which would be prohibitive.
It would be some sight and some experience if it ever was restored.
The building that originally housed the boilers is now a museum,
only small but full of interest and artefacts.
The locks on the left,
and the inclined plane top of centre.
The remains of the Inclined Plane
We called into the Bridge 61 pub on the way back. This is a
thriving business with the bar that also does food, a cafe, shop and small chandlery.
Back at the boat we had showers and dinner. Phil and Michelle have
just turned up and we are going on their boat for the evening.
Weather: a lovely day.
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