Foxton Locks

{{Infobox historic site

| name = Foxton Locks and Inclined Plane

| native_name =

| native_language =

| image = FoxtonLocks.jpg

| caption = Upper staircase of Foxton Locks

| locmapin = United Kingdom Leicestershire

| coordinates = {{coord|52.4998|-0.9830|region:GB|display=inline,title}}

| location = Leicestershire, UK

| area =

| built = 1813 and 1900

| architect = Benjamin Bevan (Canal & Locks), Gordon Cale Thomas (Inclined Plane)

| architecture =

| governing_body = Canal & River Trust{{cite web|url=http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/all-press-releases/display/id/3318|title= British Waterways Press release|date= 4 April 2012|access-date= 19 April 2012}}

| designation1 = Grade II*

| designation1_offname = Foxton Locks, Grand Union Canal Leicester line

| designation1_date = 7 December 1966{{National Heritage List for England|num=1360753|desc=Foxton Locks|accessdate=19 April 2012}}

| designation1_number = 1360753

| designation2 = Grade II

| designation2_offname = Lock-Keeper's Cottage adjacent to Foxton Top Lock

| designation2_date = 9 March 1989{{National Heritage List for England|num=1360774|desc=Top Lock cottage|fewer-links=yes|accessdate=19 April 2012}}

| designation2_number = 1360774

| designation3 = Grade II

| designation3_offname = Lock-Keeper's Cottage with adjoining stable block and Foxton Canal Craft Shop, adjacent to Foxton Bottom Lock, Grand Union Canal

| designation3_date = 9 March 1989{{National Heritage List for England|num=1061459|desc=Bottom Lock cottage|fewer-links=yes|accessdate=19 April 2012}}

| designation3_number = 1061459

| designation4 = Scheduled monument

| designation4_offname = Inclined Plane immediately east of Foxton Locks

| designation4_date = 24 January 1973{{National Heritage List for England|num=1018832|desc=Inclined Plane|fewer-links=yes|accessdate=19 April 2012}}

| designation4_number = 1018832

| designation5 =

| designation5_offname =

| designation5_date =

| designation5_number =

}}

Foxton Locks ({{gbmapping|SP691895}}) are ten canal locks consisting of two "staircases" each of five locks, located on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal about {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} west of the Leicestershire town of Market Harborough. They are named after the nearby village of Foxton.

They form the northern terminus of a {{convert|20|mi|km|adj=on}} summit level that passes Husbands Bosworth, Crick and ends with the Watford flight

Alongside the locks is the site of the Foxton Inclined Plane, built in 1900 to resolve the operational restrictions imposed by the lock flight. It was not a commercial success and only remained in full-time operation for ten years.{{cite web |url=https://www.fipt.org.uk/lift |title=The Foxton Boat Lift: A Brief History |publisher=Foxton Inclined Plane Trust |access-date=21 May 2020}} It was dismantled in 1926, but a project to re-create it commenced in the 2000s, since the locks remain a bottleneck for boat traffic.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

Description

Staircase locks are used where a canal needs to climb a steep hill, and consist of a group of locks where each lock opens directly into the next, that is, where the bottom gates of one lock form the top gates of the next. Foxton Locks are the largest flight of such staircase locks on the English canal system.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} The locks are equipped with side pounds, with white paddles emptying a lock into a side pound, and red paddles filling the next lock downstream from the pound. This saves water compared to the more common riser staircases, since changing the direction of traffic does not require emptying/filling almost all the locks.{{rp|44}}

File:Foxtonlocks-bottom.jpg

Building work on the locks started in 1810 and took four years.{{cite book |title=Foxton Locks and Inclined Plane: A Detailed History|year=1988 |publisher=Department of Planning and Transportation, Leicestershire County Council | isbn=0-85022-191-9}}{{rp|3}} The locks were opened on 1 October 1813.{{cite news |author= |title=Extract of a Letter from Market Haborough |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000082/18131008/012/0004 |newspaper=Morning Chronicle |location=England |date=8 October 1813 |access-date=28 May 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}

Little changed until the building of the inclined plane resulted in the reduction in size of some of the side pounds. While the inclined plane was in operation the locks were allowed to fall into decline to an extent and in 1908 the committee released £1,000 to bring the locks back into full (nightly) operation.{{rp|35}}{{Cite book|title=The Shell Book of Inland Waterways|first=Hugh |last=McKnight|publisher=David & Charles|year=1987|isbn=0-7153-8239-X|pages=46–49}}

In 2008, the locks became part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage, a network which seeks to recognize the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.waterscape.com/features-and-articles/news/2317/foxton-locks-achieves-european-recognition|title=Foxton Locks achieves European recognition|publisher=Waterscape|date=2008-11-25|access-date=2009-08-09}}

The locks are usually staffed during the cruising season from Easter to October and padlocked outside operating hours. This is done to prevent water shortages due to misuse and to ensure a balance between those wishing to ascend and descend. There can be lengthy delays at busy times but the actual transit should take approximately 45 minutes to one hour to complete; it is made quicker by the fact that the locks are narrow beam and the gates are light.

File:Foxton Upper Staircase Panorama.JPG

Tourism

The Grade II* listed locks are a popular tourist attraction and the county council has created a country park at the top. At the bottom, where the junction with the arm to Market Harborough is located, there are two public houses, a shop, trip boat and other facilities. The area is popular with ramblers, interested enthusiasts and similar.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

The Foxton Canal Museum is located in the former boiler house for the plane's steam engine. The museum covers the history of the locks and the plane, the lives of the canal workers, and other aspects of the local canal. There is also a collection of Measham pottery. The museum opened in 1989 and is accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fipt.org.uk/Museum.html |title=Welcome to Foxton Canal Museum |access-date=21 May 2020 |publisher=Foxton Inclined Plane Trust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502161657/http://www.fipt.org.uk/museum.html |archive-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}