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The Rickmansworth Waterways Trust
Canal Centre,
Batchworth Lock,
Grand Union Canal,
Rickmansworth,
Hertfordshire WD3 1JD
Batchworth Lock Centre, Batchworth Lock
at Rickmansworth still remains as
a thriving section of the Grand Union Canal with many boats passing through on
their steady progress along.
Entrance charges apply.
Within this historic setting is the Batchworth Lock Visitor Centre, located
to the side of the two locks just above Batchworth Bridge.
The Batchworth 'Ferry'
carries fare paying passengers to and from Stocker's Lock to the south-west,
a quiet half hour canal round-trip.
Batchworth Lock was an important stopping point on the Grand Union Canal,
which was the main waterway for trade between the Industrial Midlands and London
and its ports. Almost 100 miles long, the GUC originally called the Grand Junction
Canal was an mind-boggling feat of engineering. A gang of 100 men took
almost a month to dig out a mile stretch of canal with only pickaxe, shovel and
wheelbarrow at their disposal!
The Rickmansworth Waterways Trust Canal Centre at Batchworth Lock is a modern
education and recreational facility, attracting around 15,000 visitors each
year. With some financial assistance and guidance from the local Three Valleys
Water Company, a comprehensive educational programme has been developed, with
a series of worksheets for children that are geared towards the National Curriculum.
This new programme embraces: the history of the canals, literacy, and numeracy
and of course the waterways environment. Since the launch in June 2000 it has
been extremely well received by the many schools who have visited the Batchworth
Lock Canal Centre. The programme is run mainly by volunteers.
Narrowboat 'Roger'
situated at the centre was probably the last wooden motorised narrowboat to trade
on the Grand Union Canal and has been restored by the Trust, with the help of
lottery funding. Roger is the sole surviving example of a narrowboat built by
Bushell Brothers of Tring, who constructed wooden boats between 1850 and 1950.
NB Roger was built to transport coal, towing a non-motorised butty boat and was
operated by the Bray family. Roger is also probably the most photographed historic
narrowboat in existence!
The information centre (and shop) is housed in former
stables where draw-horses were rested overnight, whilst the canal boatmen refreshed
themselves in the Boat Inn public house.
The centre is open on Saturday and Sunday and visitors
are welcome to browse and gain more detailed information on the Lock from one
of the many volunteers.
Tel: 01923 778382
Fax: 01923 710903
