Sea Lock
Sea Lock and the canal basin which are currently being restored by the present owners. The lock was large enough to allow river barges and small seagoing craft that could pass under Bideford Long Bridge to enter the canal basin and remain there for unloading or repairs.
What is a Sea Lock?
The Sea Lock is a masonry structure similar in layout to a lock on an inland canal, and serves to enable boats to pass between the canal basin and the tidal reaches of the river Torridge. As in the case of the Bude Canal, which was built just a few years earlier by the same engineer, James Green, the sea lock allowed sea-going cargo boats to enter the large canal basin for unloading and transshipment of goods. At Bude the sea lock opened directly into the sea, sheltered only by a breakwater, whereas the Rolle Canal sea lock opened into the tidal waters of the Torridge some three miles upstream of Bideford Bridge. Some say that it does not therefore warrant the term ‘sea lock’, but it does share the essential feature that it can only be used for a few hours either side of high tide while there is sufficient water in the river below the lock.
The Sea Lock is a masonry structure similar in layout to a lock on an inland canal, and serves to enable boats to pass between the canal basin and the tidal reaches of the river Torridge. As in the case of the Bude Canal, which was built just a few years earlier by the same engineer, James Green, the sea lock allowed sea-going cargo boats to enter the large canal basin for unloading and transshipment of goods. At Bude the sea lock opened directly into the sea, sheltered only by a breakwater, whereas the Rolle Canal sea lock opened into the tidal waters of the Torridge some three miles upstream of Bideford Bridge. Some say that it does not therefore warrant the term ‘sea lock’, but it does share the essential feature that it can only be used for a few hours either side of high tide while there is sufficient water in the river below the lock.
In its heyday there was a substantial shipbuilding industry here forming an industrial settlement historically known as ‘Sea Lock’. Constrained by the small arches of Bideford Long Bridge, sea going craft built at Sea Lock would be floated down the Torridge to below Bideford before having their superstructure fitted. For the same reason there was no need for the lock to be any wider than the largest arch of Bideford Bridge so, at 20 feet wide by 84 feet long, it is smaller than that at Bude. There is documentation available of all the ships built in this yard but no trace remains on the ground since it was obliterated by the railway embankment and spoil from the tunnel.
When was it built?
The Rolle Canal was built between 1823 and 1827. It operated until 1872 when its route was used to accommodate the new railway between Bideford and Torrington. The shipyard had reached the end of its economic life by that time and, with all goods being carried by rail, there was no more use for the sea lock and canal basin which soon fell into disrepair.
The Rolle Canal was built between 1823 and 1827. It operated until 1872 when its route was used to accommodate the new railway between Bideford and Torrington. The shipyard had reached the end of its economic life by that time and, with all goods being carried by rail, there was no more use for the sea lock and canal basin which soon fell into disrepair.
Why was there a Lock?
The Torridge estuary has a large tidal range and upstream of Bideford there is no navigable channel when the tide is out.
The village wharves and lime kilns at Weare Giffard were served by barges that could float up on the rising tide, returning to Bideford on the ebb. Further upstream to Torrington there was no access for goods traffic except by pack horse trails, and later turnpike roads, over the hills. because the steep sided, marshy bottomed, densely wooded valley of the Torridge was effectively impassable.
Lord Rolle’s canal was a revolution in transport, enabling heavy goods such as limestone and coal for burning in kilns to be transshipped at Sea Lock from coasters into tub-boats that could be hauled five at a time along the canal by a horse on the towpath.
The canal had to be above the highest tide level to avoid flooding by sea water, so a lock was required to enable ships to enter the canal basin whenever there was enough water in the river.
The Torridge estuary has a large tidal range and upstream of Bideford there is no navigable channel when the tide is out.
The village wharves and lime kilns at Weare Giffard were served by barges that could float up on the rising tide, returning to Bideford on the ebb. Further upstream to Torrington there was no access for goods traffic except by pack horse trails, and later turnpike roads, over the hills. because the steep sided, marshy bottomed, densely wooded valley of the Torridge was effectively impassable.
Lord Rolle’s canal was a revolution in transport, enabling heavy goods such as limestone and coal for burning in kilns to be transshipped at Sea Lock from coasters into tub-boats that could be hauled five at a time along the canal by a horse on the towpath.
The canal had to be above the highest tide level to avoid flooding by sea water, so a lock was required to enable ships to enter the canal basin whenever there was enough water in the river.
How does a Lock work?
A lock has a pair of watertight gates at each end and sluice valves to allow water to enter and leave the lock chamber as required while the gates are shut. A ship coming up river from Bideford on the rising tide would hope to find the bottom gates of the lock open so she could sail in. The gates would then be closed and the top sluices opened to fill the lock slowly with water from the canal. Filling the lock chamber would float the ship up to the level of the canal when the top gates would be opened and she could be pulled into the canal basin for loading or unloading. If they were quick enough they might be in time to lock back into the river before the tide had ebbed too far for them to sail back to Bideford, but more likely they would have to wait to return on the next tide.
A lock has a pair of watertight gates at each end and sluice valves to allow water to enter and leave the lock chamber as required while the gates are shut. A ship coming up river from Bideford on the rising tide would hope to find the bottom gates of the lock open so she could sail in. The gates would then be closed and the top sluices opened to fill the lock slowly with water from the canal. Filling the lock chamber would float the ship up to the level of the canal when the top gates would be opened and she could be pulled into the canal basin for loading or unloading. If they were quick enough they might be in time to lock back into the river before the tide had ebbed too far for them to sail back to Bideford, but more likely they would have to wait to return on the next tide.
Where is the Lock?
Going upstream from Bideford, after passing the mouth of the river Yeo, the Torridge makes a wide loop enclosing most of the parish of Landcross. Just south of Landcross Hill, on the parish boundary with Weare Giffard, where the river makes another sharp turn to the east, is the opening to the Sea Lock on the west bank. Another half mile upstream is Halfpenny Bridge on the road to Weare Giffard. This was the effective head of navigation for boats of any size and here cargoes were unloaded for the important limekilns and pottery at Annery Kiln.
Going upstream from Bideford, after passing the mouth of the river Yeo, the Torridge makes a wide loop enclosing most of the parish of Landcross. Just south of Landcross Hill, on the parish boundary with Weare Giffard, where the river makes another sharp turn to the east, is the opening to the Sea Lock on the west bank. Another half mile upstream is Halfpenny Bridge on the road to Weare Giffard. This was the effective head of navigation for boats of any size and here cargoes were unloaded for the important limekilns and pottery at Annery Kiln.
What can we see now?
The site of the sea lock, canal basin and adjoining length of canal are all on private land. When the present owners took over there was little to be seen but marshy depressions and outcrops of masonry in the riverside meadows, but it was enough to arouse their interest in industrial archaeology and led to extensive research and excavation over a number of years.
The canal basin has been cleared of over a century’s accumulation of silt and vegetation, and many tons of mud have been dug out from the lock chamber. Clearance of scrub and trees from the masonry of the lock chamber has revealed the stonework in surprisingly good condition although on the west side, nearest the railway, most of the coping stones and the tops of the walls are missing or have been displaced. There is virtually no evidence of the shipyard remaining on the ground, although accounts of the ships built there in the 19th century can be found in the archives.
The site of the sea lock, canal basin and adjoining length of canal are all on private land. When the present owners took over there was little to be seen but marshy depressions and outcrops of masonry in the riverside meadows, but it was enough to arouse their interest in industrial archaeology and led to extensive research and excavation over a number of years.
The canal basin has been cleared of over a century’s accumulation of silt and vegetation, and many tons of mud have been dug out from the lock chamber. Clearance of scrub and trees from the masonry of the lock chamber has revealed the stonework in surprisingly good condition although on the west side, nearest the railway, most of the coping stones and the tops of the walls are missing or have been displaced. There is virtually no evidence of the shipyard remaining on the ground, although accounts of the ships built there in the 19th century can be found in the archives.
The Sea Lock can be seen from the Tarka Trail just south of Landcross Tunnel. There is a viewing platform from where you can look down to the lock and canal basin.