THE Canal and River Trust is carrying out essential repairs to Diglis Small Lock on the River Severn in Worcester.
The top and bottom oak gates of the 180-year-old lock are being repaired as part of ongoing work to maintain and improve the structure for boaters navigating the river.
Conservation work to the lock’s Victorian brick chamber is being undertaken and new safety ladders installed to enhance safety for boaters using the lock.
The lock has been drained of water so the work can be carried out over an eight-week period. The work is being carried out by the UK’s largest waterway charity which has had to raise £355,000 to fund the improvements.
Diglis Small Lock is one of two locks on Diglis Island on the River Severn. The site was formerly a Victorian lock gate workshop and is now home to the Diglis Fish Pass – an underwater viewing gallery built in 2020 to restore connectivity for migratory fish on the UK’s longest river.
The lock was constructed in 1844 alongside the larger Diglis Lock, making them the only paired locks on the River Severn. It controlled the movement of smaller craft while the larger lock allowed ship movements to the former oil depot in the city.
The work is part of a wider programme to keep the river navigable for boaters travelling between Stourport and Gloucester, where the river connects to the docks via Gloucester Lock.
Mark Abraham, construction manager at Canal and River Trust, said: “The repairs to Diglis Small Lock are important. Not only will they help maintain the historic structure, but they will also deliver improvements for boaters using the lock for years to come.
“The lock is nearly 200 years old, so with its age, the impact of rising costs, and the pressures of climate change and more extreme weather, it’s vital that we keep it in good condition so it can continue to serve navigation on the river.”
Visit canalrivertrust.org.uk for more information.
