Watford Flight (Locks)

Photo by David Stowell 

They are one end of a high level or summit canal that runs from near Foxton to another similar flight at the other end known as the Watford Flight. The Foxton end is  better known with 2 staircases each of 5 locks and the remains of an inclined plane with plans to restore it. See Foxton inclined plane and locks for more information on these and the history of the canals.

The Watford Flight is near the village of Watford in Northamptonshire. It consists of two single locks, a staircase of 4, and a single lock, a distance up of just over 52ft.

The locks were built to carry narrowboats, and the system was opened in 1814. Later in the early 20th century there were plans to build an inclined plane similar to that at Foxton as part of a scheme to allow the passage of barges, but the plan was abandoned and the inclined plane at Foxton then became uneconomic.

When the Grand Union Canal was formed in 1929, there were further proposals to widen the flight as part of the modernisation going on elsewhere on the Grand Union's network, but these plans did not develop further.

Down the locks  by Bill Sibley

Location: Watford Staircase Flight, Daventry, Northamptonshire Grid Reference: SP592688 Ceremonial County: Northamptonshire Map Link: Multimap Aerial photo: Multimap Getting there: Situated between the A5 and M1. Going northbound along the A5, parking can be found on a hard standing outside a large Caravan sales shop situated on public land, between two turnings that are signposted as going to Watford. The locks can be found by walking across a frontage following signposts for the Jurassic Way Footpath. Access: The locks can be reached by crossing over a stile. Website: Other Useful Websites: Wikipedia         Geograph        Canal Guide Email: Address: Watford Staircase Flight, Daventry, Northamptonshire Postcode: Telephone: Opening Times: Open at all times Charges: FREE Nearby Locations: Other Location Pages:  Foxton Inclined Plane and locks Other Relevant Pages:  Canals              Canals for photographers   Major Canals and Waterways               Major Canal Features   Canal Tunnels                                        Lock Flights and Staircases   Canals in England                                  Non Navigable and Lost Canals   Further information - canals   Notes:

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By: Keith Park	Section: Canal and Waterway Section	Key:
Page Ref: Watford_flight	Topic: Canals & Waterways	Last Updated: 05/2009

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