Tyle Mill Lock facts for kids

Tyle Mill Lock is a special kind of water elevator called a lock. It's found near Tyle Mill and the village of Sulhamstead in England. This lock is part of the famous Kennet and Avon Canal.

What is Tyle Mill Lock?

Tyle Mill Lock helps boats travel up or down the canal. It was built a long time ago, between 1718 and 1723. An engineer named John Hore from Newbury helped build it. Today, the Canal & River Trust looks after this part of the canal. It's known as the Kennet Navigation.

This lock can raise or lower boats by about 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters). That's like going up or down a small flight of stairs for boats!

History of the Lock

In the 1950s, Tyle Mill Lock stopped being used. It became "derelict," meaning it was no longer working. At that time, it was the highest point boats could reach from the River Thames.

Later, the people who managed the waterways, British Waterways, made some changes. They created a "winding hole" near the lock. A winding hole is a wider part of the canal where boats can turn around. They also put a "sanitary station" in an old "pillbox" below the lock. A pillbox was a small, strong building used for defense, like a mini-fort. The sanitary station was a place for boats to empty their waste.

The lock was fixed up in 1973. But it didn't open for boats until 1976. This was because other locks further west also needed repairs.

Nearby Features

Close to Tyle Mill Lock, you can find a wharf and a swing bridge. A wharf is a place where boats can load or unload goods. A swing bridge is a special bridge that can swing open. This allows boats to pass through the canal underneath it.

Swing Bridge Gallery

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  This is the Sulhamstead Tyle Mill swing bridge when cars are driving on it.

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  Here you can see the swing bridge opening up to let boats pass.

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  The swing bridge is open, and a boat is traveling through the canal.