Wey & Arun Lock reopens

IT WAS 200 years ago that Southland Lock was constructed on the Wey & Arun Canal. It was demolished in 1930, but is again rebuilt by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust (WACT) and is in use once again.

The official opening of the restored lock was marked by a special event organised by the Trust on Saturday 21st June to celebrate completion of the three years project. More than 150 people attended the event to see Simon Carter officially open the lock and hear music from the Friary Guildford Brass Band before celebrating with a barbecue lunch.

Bricks used for building

The lock was originally built between 1813 and 1816 but was demolished in the 1930s when the canal had fallen into disuse, and many of the bricks were reused on other local building projects. The photograph shows boats using the newly open section of the waterway.

Reconstruction of the lock was a major challenge for the Trust, not just financially but also logistically as the site is located more than a mile from the nearest public road. WACT chairman Sally Schupke said that the Trust is very grateful for the help of the local landowners in easing the logistics of the work, explaining:

"None of this would have been possible without the enthusiasm of the adjacent landowners. Their support made all the difference."

Volunteers saved £125,000

More than £125,000 was reduced from the cost of the £0.5M reconstruction work thanks to the Trust's workforce of volunteers led by Project Manager Eric Walker. Nonetheless, the project still called for the engineering expertise of others including Burras Piling, the main contractor for the piling behind the new lock walls and Hargreaves Foundry in Halifax who made and fitted the lock gates.

With Southland lock completed, the focus of the restoration work will now move northwards. WACT is working on major restoration schemes near Bramley at the northern end of the canal and near Dunsfold at the summit of the waterway.