Hardmead Lock facts for kids
Hardmead Lock
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| Waterway | River Lee Navigation |
|---|---|
| County | Hertfordshire |
| Maintained by | British Waterways |
| Operation | Manual |
| Length | 85 feet (25.9 m) |
| Width | 16 feet (4.9 m) |
| Fall | 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m) |
| Distance to Bow Creek |
22.5 miles (36.2 km) |
| Distance to Hertford Castle Weir |
3.8 miles (6.1 km) |
| Coordinates | 51°48′07″N 0°00′52″W / 51.801911°N 0.014371°W |
Hardmead Lock (No. 3) is a special kind of gate system on the River Lee Navigation. It's located near Great Amwell, close to the town of Ware. Locks like Hardmead help boats travel up and down rivers where the water level changes. This particular lock is known for being a bit tricky for boaters to use!
Contents
What is Hardmead Lock?
Hardmead Lock is a structure that helps boats move between different water levels on the River Lee Navigation. Imagine a giant elevator for boats! When a boat wants to go up, the lock fills with water. When it wants to go down, the water drains out. This lock is 85 feet (about 26 meters) long and 16 feet (about 5 meters) wide. It can raise or lower boats by about 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters).
Where is Hardmead Lock?
The lock-keeper's cottage, where the person who manages the lock lives, is on an island. This island is formed by a part of the Lee Flood Relief Channel. This channel helps control water levels and has an automatic gate, called a sluice gate, right next to the lock.
Exploring the Area Around the Lock
To the east of Hardmead Lock, you'll find the Amwell Quarry nature reserve. This area is so special for its wildlife and geology that it's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It means the area is protected because it's important for nature.
Also nearby is a section of the Old River Lea. This part is known as the Amwell Magna Fishery, a popular spot for fishing. Here, a smaller river called the River Ash flows into the River Lea. The New River also flows close by, to the west of the lock.
How to Visit Hardmead Lock
You can easily reach Hardmead Lock by following the Lea Valley Walk. This walking path runs along the towpath of the River Lee Navigation. A towpath is a path originally used by horses to pull barges along the canal.
Public Transport to Hardmead Lock
The closest train station is Ware railway station. From there, you can walk to the lock.
| Next lock upstream | River Lee Navigation | Next lock downstream |
| Ware Lock 2.5 miles |
Hardmead Lock Grid reference: TL3689513388 |
Stanstead Lock 1.0 mile |
