Lock Keepers Cottage
Lock keepers are responsible for operating and sometimes maintaining the lock mechanisms that allow boats to pass from one level to another on the canal. Locks overseen by British Waterways are operated manually, either by a lock keeper or by barge users to the canals.
A lock keeper's day starts with checking that the lock chambers and any life-saving equipment are in working order.
Some Lock Keepers are lucky enough to get use of these houses as part of their job... as you can imagine these jobs have lots of applicants.... 
11 comments:
We have one not so far from here and I like to watch it !
I LOVE this post, Tom. Later this spring I will post some canal lock posts from the Trent-Severn Waterway. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I enjoy yours. :)
It must be very interesting and and at the same time rewarding to be part of such living history.
PS Thank you for the comment! My spring has now returned to colour...
Interesting post. I can never get over how narrow the canals are there but then I guess I've never really seen a canal before. lol
Thanks for your funny comment today. It made my day brighter.
Wonderful post Tom.
That's neat. I have never seen this before, so you learned me somethin'! I like the photos very much. Seems like a very doable job.
Some good photos on your Blog - I really enjoyed looking at them ..
Neat post, and I love what you have done with your header!
I can understand why there are lots of applicants for lock keeper, I think I'd enjoy the job, myself!
Interesting set of posts on the barges and canal! It seems that a lot of the canal is too narrow for two boats to pass. The old C&O canal that ran from Washington to Cumberland, MD is now a long thin park. some of the locks and lcok keepers houses are still there, though the houses are not as large as yours. The railroads put an end to the C&O canal.
We have many locks in the area but not one has a cottage - just little station sheds.
I should have thought out my retirement. :)
It seems like a nice way to meet a lot of folks.
Great pictures but sadly there are not many lock keepers around now. They are generally found overseeing busy or difficult flights like the staircase at Foxton. The vast number of locks are operated by the boat crew.
By the way, the boats on narrow canals are very rarely 'barges' - the correct term is 'narrowboat' - barge is usually unpowered and used for transporting freight.
http://saveourwaterways.org
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