Sea Lock
Sea Lock and the canal basins are currently being restored by the present owner with help from the Rolle Canal Society and the A.I. A. (the Association for Industrial Archaeology). 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.
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The Torridge estuary has a large tidal range and upstream of Bideford there is no navigable channel when the tide is out. 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. |
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The lock and canal basin is on private property but can be seen from a viewing platform on the Tarka Trail. This is just past the tunnel at Landcross when travelling from Bideford to Torrington. |
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Sea Lock - March 2025
Click here to find out a more detailed account of the Sea Lock
More photos of the Sea Lock HERE