Staffs and Worcs Canal at Debdale Bridge

WOLVERLEY AND COOKLEY

Lock, circular weir and cave at Debdale forming part of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal,which opened to traffic in 1772 and was designed by James Brindley (1716-72).

LOCK: Narrow lock, built to the design of James Brindley in around 1770. The lock chamber is rockcut and brick faced with a replacement engineering brick coping. The eastern (upper) wooden gate has a timber balance beam and ground paddle gears. The western (lower) end is denoted by a pair of wooden lock gates with gate paddles and timber balance beams. The rock cliff face adjacent to both lock gates has been roughly quarried to accommodate the moving balance beams. The surfaces adjacent to the balance beams are of modern brick, but original sandstone surfaces may survive below. A small upright pillar situated a short distance to the south of the lock may be a mile post or bollard. Rubbing marks formed by ropes are visible on its surface.