Hatton Locks facts for kids
The Hatton Locks, also known as the Hatton Flight, are a cool series of 21 locks found on the Grand Union Canal in Hatton, England. Imagine a giant staircase for boats! These locks help boats travel up or down a big hill. The whole flight stretches for less than 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) and lifts boats a total of 45 meters (about 148 feet) – that's like going up a 15-story building!
Contents
A Journey Through Time: The History of Hatton Locks
Building the Watery Staircase
The Hatton Locks first opened way back in December 1799. They were part of what was then called the Warwick and Birmingham Canal. Canals were like the highways of the past, used to move goods all across the country.
Making Way for Bigger Boats
Later, in 1929, many canal companies joined together, and the canal became known as the Grand Union Canal. Around this time, a big decision was made: the Hatton stretch of the canal needed to be much wider.
Why wider? Because traders needed to move heavy loads of coal, sugar, tea, and spices. Wider locks meant bigger boats could pass through. They could even fit two single narrowboats side-by-side!
The widening project was finished in the mid-1930s. About 1,000 workers helped build the new, strong concrete lock system. A special guest, Prince George, Duke of Kent, officially opened the improved locks. Prince George was a member of the British Royal Family, the son of King George V.
The "Stairway to Heaven"
The Hatton Flight became known as the "stairway to heaven." This nickname came about because it was a really tough part of the journey for boat crews. Once they made it through all 21 locks, the rest of the trip to Camp Hill was much easier. Camp Hill was also where the workers would get their wages, making the end of the difficult journey even sweeter!
.jpg)
