Canal experts

Tyke · Post by **Tyke** » Sat 07 Sep, 2013 1:51 pm

Does anyone have any information about an old canal spur which is now part of the St Aidens RSPB site Woodlesford. Looking on Google earth the line of the canal looks like it would join the river Aire but that would put it below the weir so is the weir a more recent addition to the river? I also know there was a lock from the canal to the river above the weir next to the oil depot.

chemimike · Post by **chemimike** » Sun 08 Sep, 2013 12:42 am

There was a lock there , fleet lock. as shown on the c 1896 map below. It was still there on the c1960 and c1970 maps, but on these is marked "disused"

Tyke · Post by **Tyke** » Sun 08 Sep, 2013 10:46 am

Hi Mike thanks for the info. I remember the lock well I used to walk down from the gas reduction unit to sit by it and watch the wildlife on a dinner time in the 1980's. If the spur of the canal at St Aidens were to carry on in a straight line as indicated by the Google Earth aerial shots it would end up going higher on the Aire than the bottom entrance to the locks at Lemonroyd but that would only mean a little manoeuvring on the part of the boat crew.