Five Rise Locks Get New Gates

by Mel Cook
(Emley, Yorkshire)

Bingley Five Rise Locks from the Towpath

Deep in the lock chamber

Mel Cook and Pal

The magnificent Bingley Five Rise Locks are being fitted with new gates. The 28th and 29th January 2012 were set aside as Open days - when visitors could go along and take a tour of the site.

My pal and I went along on Sunday morning and were at the lock around 9.40am. Excellent timing with the tours having started only minutes before we arrived.

We descended the various stairways and had excellent close up views of the work being carried out. We wore walking boots and they were just fine. Really no mudlarking necessary !!!

Everyone were most helpful and it was an enjoyable experience with no congestion. Very comfortable indeed especially with the "one way " walking system.

By 10.30am the queues were starting to form on the canal towpath (probably at least 100 yards plus by then and getting longer by the minute) and this, together with visitors stopping in the various narrow stairways to take photos' would really slow the whole process and lessen the experience.

We really enjoyed it.

Mel