Description and History of Site:-
Louth Canal, or more correctly Navigation as it follows and utilises the course of River Ludd, was originally surveyed by John Grundy (1719 - 1783) in 1756.   In 1760 there was sufficient interest in proceeding to open a subscription list and John Smeaton was asked to review Grundy's proposals. Smeaton substantially confirmed Grundy's proposals and an Act authorising the navigation received Royal Assent on 24th March 1763.
 
Construction commenced on 13th February 1765 and the first section between the sea lock at Tetney and Fire Beacon Lane was opened on 18th May 1767. The navigation which is 11.75 miles long with 8 locks was opened in May 1770 and thus became of the earliest canals. Of the 8 locks, 7 are in the uppermost 4 miles of the canal. The final 9th lock authorised, under the act, was not constructed and the navigation terminated 1/2 a mile east of the town centre.
 
The six uppermost locks including those at Keddington and Alvingham are of unusual design and were built with timber floored lock chambers and curved (scalloped) walls. Vertical timber posts were also provided at the intersections of the arches are connected by tie bars to ground anchors to resist lateral earth pressures. Only one other lock is this design, on the waterway between Sibsey and Stickney is known.
 
The navigation, which was abandoned in 1924, is still in use for land drainage purposes. Since 1968 the lower part of the canal has been used to supply water to Covenham Reservoir.

For the 6 uppermost of the 8 locks on the Louth Canal John Grundy used an almost unique design, incorporating a series of ellipses in the brick chamber walls to the lock probably as a precaution against failure due to the ground pressure on the wall.

From the canal basin in Louth the locks are:-

Top Lock - TF 34024 88172 - now use for flow control

Keddington - TF 35027 88935 - in poor condition and cabions have been installed to support the lock walls

Ticklepenny - TF 34565 88475 - Listed II - 1063048
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLI92948&resourceID=1006

Willows (also known as Carrot's) - TF 35859 90313 - Listed II - 1063049
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLI92949&resourceID=1006

Saltern Fen - TF 35290 89451 - Listed II - 1063081
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLI89034&resourceID=1006

Alvingham - TF 36522 90896 - Listed II - 1063080
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MLI89033&resourceID=1006

Out Fen - TF 37452 92757 - conventional lock design

Tetney - TA 34223 02153 - The original lock was at the location the modern road bridge.

Further Reading and References:-
Wright, Neil R. 'A guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Lincolnshire and South Humberside'. 1983, AIA and The Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology
Labrum E A, Civil Engineering Heritage - Eastern and Central England, Thomas Telford, 1994
Skempton A W, The engineering works of John Grundy (1719-1783), Soc for Lincs History and Archaeology, 1985
Wright N R, Lincolnshire's Industrial Heritage - A Guide, Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, 2004

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Key Words :- louth navigation canal lock inverted syphon

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public road or canal footpath

Address :- Lock Road, Alvingham, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 7EU
Grid Ref :- TF 36528 90893
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.397217 , Long 0.051875
Local Authority :- East Lindsey District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Lincolnshire - Lindsey
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1063080, 1063081, 1063048, 1063049,
Site Condition :- Site derelict - some buildings remaining
Site Dates :- 1770 - 1924
Contributor :- John Suter - 31 July 2014

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter