What might this 'drain' be?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 22 Aug, 2012 10:07 pm

BarFly had a very interesting thread under http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... ighLight=1 about a 'drain' into the River Aire a little below the outflow after the Dark Arches.Being in the same general area today (August 22 2012) I noticed a drain-like feature in the wall on the right side (looking downflow) just after where the Leeds & Liverpool Canal merges with the River Aire. I wonder if anyone knows what the feature is? I suspect it may be nothing more than a drain that releases surface water run off directly in to the main channel, but I'm unsure so would appreciate any help. This photo is a close-up but there should be a wider field-of-view in my next post that shows the location.I don't know if the metal hoop has any relation (there was another of those a few metres further downflow that can be seen in the wider field-of-view photo).

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 22 Aug, 2012 10:11 pm

This is the wider field-of-view photo that was also taken today (August 22 2012).

book · Post by **book** » Wed 22 Aug, 2012 10:33 pm

Doesn't look like a surface drain? Could it be a drain outlet from the building.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 22 Aug, 2012 10:49 pm

book wrote: Doesn't look like a surface drain? Could it be a drain outlet from the building. Thanks book. It could be what you say. There was a very strong flow of brown looking water in the merged river/canal there but the 'drain' was still (just) above the water level, so it will be even higher above in lower levels. There seemed to be only a trickle (if that) coming out of the 'drain'. I bet rats like that spot!

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Thu 23 Aug, 2012 12:30 am

To stick with my theory regarding the other one I think the building contained a dry-dock and this was the drain hole, now just a water channel probably entering where the building juts out into the canal further up.I'm sure I'll be proven wrong but when I saw the building next to the canal I was convinced it contained a dry dock before I noticed the other outlet.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 23 Aug, 2012 12:38 am

Thanks BarFly. That does seem to be a likely possibility.

Si · Post by Si » Thu 23 Aug, 2012 11:13 am

Is it an outlet for the lock paddle?

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Thu 23 Aug, 2012 1:16 pm

Si wrote: Is it an outlet for the lock paddle? That is a strong possibility. I neglected to check where they were when I was last down there.

jim · Post by **jim** » Thu 23 Aug, 2012 3:57 pm

BarFly wrote: To stick with my theory regarding the other one I think the building contained a dry-dock and this was the drain hole, now just a water channel probably entering where the building juts out into the canal further up.I'm sure I'll be proven wrong but when I saw the building next to the canal I was convinced it contained a dry dock before I noticed the other outlet. Hi BarFly. Your conviction that there was a basin inside the building is borne out by the "Leeds Stations 1847-63" OS repro. Godfrey Map of the site, but it doesn't show lock gates for the basin to be used as a dry dock. That possibility is not completely ruled out however, as on occasion slots were cut into sidewalls to allow boards to be slotted into place to "stank-off" sections of canal or basins, which could then be drained. It would be more usual (as on the opposite side of the canal, for instance) for full lock gates to be used for regularly used dry docks/basins.

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Thu 23 Aug, 2012 4:40 pm

Thanks jim, good to know I wasn't imagining things. I know what you mean about the operation of the dry dock, so that points more to Si's idea that it's related to the lock.