John H Luxton Photography

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  2. Canals of England and Wales

Exeter Canal

The Exeter Canal is probably the oldest canal in England having been completed by early 1567. The canal had three locks with vertical gates – the first pound locks to be built in Britain. It ran one and three and a quarter miles (5.2 km) from just below the Countess Weir to the centre of Exeter. In 1677 the canal was extended and the entrance was moved downstream to Topsham. In 1701 the canal was deepened and widened to allow the passage of ocean-going ships. At the same time the number of locks on the canal was reduced to one. The canal is owned by Exeter City Council.
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  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    View up the canal towards Exeter. Exeter Cathedral can be seen on the skyline.

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Swing bridge north of Double Locks Hotel which can be seen in the distance.

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    The basin at Double Locks with the Double Locks Hotel.

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Double Locks Basin looking north towards Exeter.

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Double Locks Hotel. Built in 1701, as a lock keepers cottage, at the time of great improvements to Trew's original canal, it functioned as both a lock keepers house and inn from the late eighteenth century. Construction is of small Dutch bricks which were imported as ballast when Exeter was exporting serge to Holland

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 02, 1984

    Double Locks Hotel. Built in 1701, as a lock keepers cottage, at the time of great improvements to Trew's original canal, it functioned as both a lock keepers house and inn from the late eighteenth century. Construction is of small Dutch bricks which were imported as ballast when Exeter was exporting serge to Holland

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Turf Lock where the Exeter Canal connects with the River Exe. The canal was extended in 1824 by James Green and in 1827, the Turf Locks Hotel was built to provide accommodation for the lock keeper and the crews of vessels using the canal. The hotel had stabling for the horses that were used to tow the barges up and down the waterway. However, its isolated location meant that it did not receive a mains electricity supply until 1965 and had relied on oil lamps until 1957!

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Turf Lock where the Exeter Canal connects with the River Exe. The canal was extended in 1824 by James Green and in 1827, the Turf Locks Hotel was built to provide accommodation for the lock keeper and the crews of vessels using the canal. The hotel had stabling for the horses that were used to tow the barges up and down the waterway. However, its isolated location meant that it did not receive a mains electricity supply until 1965 and had relied on oil lamps until 1957!

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Turf Lock where the Exeter Canal connects with the River Exe.

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Approach channel to Turf Lock at the entrance to the Exeter Canal. Larger ships would discharge cargo into lighters here for conveyance to Exeter up the canal.

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Turf Lock Basin - view north to Exeter. The tug is the TID tug BONCHURCH which is still extant in 2020 at Fiddler's Ferry.

  • Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Exeter Canal, Devon - September 05, 1986

    Turf Lock Basin - view south to the lock. The tug is the TID tug BONCHURCH which is still extant in 2020 at Fiddler's Ferry.

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