BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE

THE DEEPCUT FLIGHT

Looking from locks 16 to 17 ( Cowshot Manor Locks)

The bottom lock of the Deepcut flight is no.16. As it goes it is rather an ordinary lock devoid of any features such as an overbridge. Lock 17, seen from the top gates of lock 16 in the above view, is the first real important lock on the Deepcut flight. Restoration of the flight began here at the lock by Cowshot Manor bridge in 1975, before the main thrust of work that was known as the 'Deepcut Dig.' Cowshot Manor bridge itself was rebuilt in 1982, so it is a replica of the original one. It is also called just Cowshot bridge, and I have seen a reference to it being called Goal bridge, but whether that is a fact I do not know.

Above: Lock Twenty (as opposed to 20) and a view looking towards lock 21. At this point the canal is quite close to the army camps situated along this stretch. It may well be noticed that the sides of the canal are brick lined in places. This was done by the army in order to provide a survival skills course where cadets had to learn to wade across the canal. There is talk of shutting the camps down - after a series of scandals that have recieved widespread attention in the media.

View of Deepcut lock 23 (and 24 in the far distance)

Two views of lock 24. Compared to other Basingstoke locks, no.24 unusually has its number situated offside. The right hand picture shows railings and brickwork installed by the army as part of a training course incorprating the canal as a 'swimming pool.' The same situation also exists above lock 22.

Looking from Lock 24 to 25 (and Curzon Bridge)

Lock 25 is one of only two locks on the canal that do not have numbers. The other is 26. Lock 25 is unusual in that it has a bridge directly across its chamber. One of the few other examples on the UK canals is at Kings Norton stop lock on the Stratford Canal. The bridge is known as Curzon bridge and was built in (appropriately) 1925. It crosses the adjacent railway as well and once constituted an access road to one of the army camps. The bridge is owned by the army. The remainder of the scenes of the Deepcut flight on this page cover the surroundings rather than the actual locks themselves.

An old South West slam-door stock service on the down fast by Curzon Bridge. The Basingstoke canal is behind the retaining wal. Its partially visible just above the roof of the train in the exact centre of the picture.

At the top of the Deepcut flight is an onside weir, and rather unusual in terms of what is found on the canals. This one has a wooden sluice post that can either be wedged or pegged. Below: A general view of Deepcut top lock and cottage. Boats wishing to ascend or descned the canal to/from the junction with the River Wey are advised to allow two days for the trip because of restrictions. The break in jouney can be made between the bottom of Brookwood and the top of St. Johns locks. This means that Deepcut & Brookwood must be done in a single day, and the same applies to the St. Johns to Woodham (River Wey) section.

General view at Deepcut top lock

BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE:

R. Wey - Scotland Bridge    Scotland Br - Woodham Top    Woodham - Chertsey Rd    Woking    St. Johns - Hermitage    Brookwood - Pirbright    Deepcut Locks   Deepcut - Frimley Aqueduct    Frimley - The Canal Centre    Through Ash Vale    Ash Aqueduct - Eelmoor    Eelmoor - Norris Hill    Norris Hill - Reading Road    Fleet - Chequers Bridge     Chequers - Double Bridge    Double Bridge - Dogsmerfield    Barley Mow - Broad Oak Bridge    Colt Hill - North Warnborough    N. Warnborough - Greywell    Main Page