Geograph - photograph every grid square

With a lift of 3.4m, Tardebigge top lock is the deepest on the British canal network. After the Worcester & Birmingham Canal had reached Tardebigge on the level from Birmingham in 1807, work began on the descent towards Worcester and the River Severn. An experimental boat lift was installed on the site of the present top lock in 1808. While this was very efficient, it turned out to be too fragile for routine operation, so the rest of the descent was built as a traditional flight of locks by 1815, and the boat lift was replaced by a conventional lock. Deep locks are problematic because of the much larger amount of water lost downstream each time the lock is operated. Chris Allen's photo Link shows the inside of the lock while it was drained for repairs - it's interesting to see the brick floor of the lock.