Old Ford Lock facts for kids
Old Ford Lock, Lee Navigation
|
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| Waterway | River Lee Navigation |
|---|---|
| County | Tower Hamlets Greater London |
| Maintained by | Canal & River Trust |
| Operation | Mechanical/Manual |
| Length | 88 feet (27 m) |
| Width | 19 feet 6 inches (5.9 m) |
| Fall | 9 feet 5 inches (2.9 m) |
| Distance to Bow Creek |
1.25 miles (2 km) |
| Distance to Hertford Castle Weir |
26.75 miles (43 km) |
| Coordinates | 51°32′17″N 0°01′15″W / 51.53808°N 0.02092°W |
Old Ford Lock is a special water gate system on the River Lee Navigation in London, England. It's located in an area called Fish Island in Old Ford. The lock gets its name from an old natural crossing point, or ford, that used to be here across the River Lea.
Contents
Understanding Old Ford Lock
Old Ford Lock is actually a paired lock and a weir. A lock is like a water elevator that helps boats move between different water levels. A weir is a small dam that controls the flow of water. Together, they help manage the River Lee Navigation, which is a waterway used by boats.
The River Lee Navigation is a mix of natural river sections and man-made channels. Old Ford Lock is important because it marks where a special artificial channel, called the Hackney Cut, begins. This channel was built a long time ago, in the 1700s, to make the river straighter and easier for boats to travel.
The natural part of the River Lea flows for about 2 miles (3.2 km) before it meets the Navigation again below the lock. This natural river section also connects with other waterways like the River Lee Flood Relief Channel and Dagenham Brook. These all eventually join the Bow Back Rivers, which then flow into the tidal Bow Creek.
Controlling Water Levels
For many years, the water levels in this part of the river were affected by the tides. There were even special gates that only let boats through when the water levels were the same. But after the 1930s, new locks and flood controls were built.
In the year 2000, the Bow Locks were changed to keep the tide out completely. This was a big improvement! It stopped mud from building up in the canal and made the water level fully controlled. This makes it much easier and safer for boats to use the waterway.
Old Ford Lock on TV
For ten years, the old cottages next to Old Ford Lock were famous! They were used as the set for The Big Breakfast, a popular morning TV show on Channel 4. The three cottages were joined together to make one big house for the show.
These cottages were later bought by the government for the 2012 Summer Olympics development. Even though they were very close to the London Stadium, the cottages are still standing today.
Local Businesses Near the Lock
On the other side of the river from the TV cottages, there used to be a factory. This factory belonged to Percy Dalton, a company famous for processing peanuts. They started their business here in the 1930s. Today, the company is based in a different part of England, in Suffolk.
Old Ford Lock in Movies
An old factory building right next to the "Big Breakfast" house was also used for filming! It was a main location for the movie Breaking and Entering. This film was directed by Anthony Minghella and starred famous actors like Jude Law and Juliette Binoche.
Visiting Old Ford Lock
You can easily visit Old Ford Lock! There's a special path called a towpath that runs alongside the water. This path is great for both walking and cycling. It's part of the longer Lea Valley Walk, which lets you explore a lot of the beautiful river area.
