Ware Lock facts for kids
Ware Lock
|
|
| Waterway | River Lee Navigation |
|---|---|
| County | Hertfordshire |
| Maintained by | Environment Agency |
| Operation | Manual |
| First built | 1855 |
| Length | 85 feet (25.9 m) |
| Width | 16 feet (4.9 m) |
| Fall | 7 feet 6 inches (2.3 m) |
| Distance to Bow Creek |
25 miles (40 km) |
| Distance to Hertford Castle Weir |
1.3 miles (2.1 km) |
| Coordinates | 51°48′39″N 0°02′28″W / 51.810842°N 0.041049°W |
Ware Lock (No2) is a special kind of water gate called a lock. You can find it on the River Lee Navigation in a town called Ware. This lock helps boats move up and down the river.
Ware Lock is right next to something called Ware Weir. A weir is like a small dam that controls water levels. What makes Ware Lock unique is that it's the only lock on the River Lee Navigation looked after by the Environment Agency. They are a group that helps protect and improve the environment.
Exploring Ware Lock
Ware Lock is a great place to visit and learn about how rivers work. It's part of a long waterway that has been used for transport for many years. Locks are like elevators for boats, letting them travel between different water levels.
How Locks Work
A lock is a chamber with gates at both ends. When a boat wants to go up, water fills the chamber to lift the boat. When a boat wants to go down, water is let out to lower the boat. This clever system allows boats to travel smoothly along rivers and canals.
Visiting Ware Lock
You can easily get to Ware Lock by following the Lea Valley Walk. This walking path goes right along the River Lee Navigation towpath. A towpath is a path next to a river or canal, originally used by horses to pull boats. Today, it's a great place for walking or cycling.
When boats travel upstream (against the flow of the river), they usually moor (tie up) on the left side before entering a lock. However, at Ware Lock, boats moor on the right side both before and after going through the lock. This is a bit different from most other locks on the River Lee.
Getting to Ware Lock
It's easy to reach Ware Lock using public transport.
By Train
- Ware railway station is very close to the lock. You can take a train right to the town of Ware and then enjoy a short walk to the lock.
