Foxton Locks and the Market Harborough Arm

We arrived at the top of Foxton Locks, a fantastic feat of engineering opened in 1812.  After booking in with the Lock keeper, along with 3 other boats we started our descent.  There is a cafe and a small bookshop at the top.  The volunteers are very knowledgable and helpful - you must remember red paddle first and then the white.

  

There are two staircases of five locks  with a passing pound in the middle,  falling in total 75ft.

  

Passing pound Foxton Locks

Above is the passing pound.  One boat was on their way up and waited for us and a further 3 boats to pass and while we descended the final 5, they continued up the final 5 locks to the top.   

The bottom lock 

In 1900, an inclined plane was opened to bypass Foxton locks.  Two caissons carrying either two narrowboats or one barge moved sideways on rails up and down the plane.  A steam driven winch was used to start them moving.The journey time was reduced from 70 to 12 minutes.

A model of the Inclined Plane

 Unfortunately, just a few years later this was closed due to mechanical problems and high running costs and because the planned widening of the Watford Flight of locks proved too costly.

This photo taken from a viewing platform shows the preservation site as it looks today. 

 At the bottom of the locks, you can continue along the Grand Union Leicester branch or, as we did, turn right onto the Market Harborough Arm.   You pass through two swing bridges at the beginning of the arm.

We enjoyed the journey to the basin.  There are plenty of mooring spaces at the beginning of the arm, and then limited until just before the terminal basin where there are several 48 hour moorings with full boater facilites.  The basin is lovely and just a 20 minute walk into the centre.  There are many historical buildings here and lots of shops including supermarkets. This photo shows The Old Grammar School built in 1614. The open ground floor originally held a butter market.

The arm is 5.5 miles long and took us approximately 2 hours to navigate.  We enjoyed this stretch and the town is well worth a visit.