Nestled near the starting point of the Rochdale Canal in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, lies an impressive feat of engineering: Tuel Lane Lock and Tunnel. Opened in May 1996, this lock isn't just a vital part of the canal's navigation; it's also the deepest lock in the entire United Kingdom, boasting an astounding fall of 19 feet 8 inches!
But the story of Tuel Lane goes much deeper than its modern marvel. Originally, the canal flowed beneath a charming canal bridge, still visible just inside the mouth of the present-day Tuel Lane Tunnel. From there, it continued openly to Lock 3, situated alongside Christ Church and the local pub where Tuel Lane Road and the car park entrance now meet. Lock 4 was then located between this original lock and Bridge 1a at Tower Hill.
Sadly, these earlier sections of the canal and its locks were lost sometime in the 1940s or 50s. Tuel Lane was diverted and widened to its current configuration, and the canal and its locks were infilled to create the car park we see today.
Thankfully, the dream of a fully restored Rochdale Canal never truly faded. The formation of the Rochdale Canal Society in 1974 brought the canal's future into sharper focus. A pivotal 1991 report highlighting the benefits of restoration eventually led to a significant grant of £2.5 million from derelict land grants, paving the way for the reopening of Tuel Lane Lock and Tunnel.
For those eager to delve further into the history of this remarkable section of the canal, I highly recommend checking out my previous blog post from November 19, 2017. That post features a fascinating collection of pictures of the lock, canal, and tunnel from before their closure and prior to their reopening. These images, though not my own and credited where possible to the copyright holder, offer an incredible glimpse into the canal's past.
The pictures accompanying this post, however, are my own, captured in June 2014 using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera. They showcase the section of the Rochdale Canal between Bridge 1a Tower Hill and Lock 2, passing by the impressive Tuel Lane Tunnel and Lock. I hope they inspire you to explore this historically rich and visually stunning part of our local waterways!
Clicking any of the images below should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.
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| Rochdale Canal towards Tuel Lane Lock and Tunnel, pictured from under Bridge 1a Tower Hill. |
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| The Rochdale Canal close to where Lock 4 was originally sighted. |
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| Tuel Lane Lock |
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| Rochdale Canal away from Tuel Lane Lock towards Bridge 1a Tower Hill. Lock 4 was sighted somewhere along this stretch. |
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| Tuel Lane Lock, the lock keepers office is sighted to the right of the picture. |
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| Tuel Lane Tunnel looking down from the lock. |
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| The lock gates give an idea of the depth of the lock. |
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| Tuel Lane Tunnel from the other side, the original bridge that carried Wharf Street is just inside the tunnel mouth and the same shape and style as it's modern entrance. |
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| Lock 2 towards Tuel Lane Tunnel entrance. |
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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.
