Sunday 22 December 2013 – Knowle Locks

Whilst visiting Sue’s family in Solihull, we managed a short walk along the Grand Union Canal towpath with Helen and Jacob, on one of the lovely sunny mornings that have been interspersed between short bouts of wet and windy weather of late.

I have to say that the southerly wind is so much warmer than the cold easterlies that we suffered from at length earlier in the year, that in my book it’s well worth the occasional accompanying shower.

Here are a few images from the 5 km stroll past Knowle Locks to Bakers Lane and back.

Originally Knowle Locks were a series of six narrow locks, but one lock was removed and the remaining five were modernised into wide locks during the 1930 Grand Union Canal Improvement. The remains of the old narrow locks are still evident. Knowle Locks are the northernmost wide locks on the Grand Union Canal - from here going north into Birmingham, all of the Grand Union Canal Locks are narrow.