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About this place
Caen Hill Locks are a flight of 29 locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal, running from the village of Rowde up into the market town of Devizes in Wiltshire, England. They are among the best-known stretches of inland waterway in Britain, and an easy add-on to a trip around the south-west.
What is Caen Hill?
The Kennet and Avon Canal has 107 locks in all, and those at Caen Hill carry the numbers 22 to 50. Together they lift the canal about 237 feet (roughly 72 m) over around two miles. The flight opened in 1810 as the final piece of the canal's route, and John Rennie the Elder is credited with the design. The central run of 16 locks, stacked one after another on a steep slope, is a scheduled monument and is the part most visitors come to see.
What will you see?
The flight falls into three sections: seven locks at the bottom, strung out over about three-quarters of a mile from Foxhangers; the sixteen-lock steep stretch in the middle; and six more that bring the canal into Devizes. Look for the wide side ponds beside 15 of the locks, which hold the water needed to work the very short pounds between chambers. There is no large natural water source on this side of the canal, so water is pumped up from the Bristol Avon at Claverton, about 13 miles away.
How long does a boat take?
A boat typically needs five to six hours to work through the whole flight. On foot, the towpath follows the canal, so you can watch boats rise or descend through the chambers without any special equipment.
How was it saved?
The canal fell into decline in the 20th century. A large restoration effort began in the 1960s and ended with Queen Elizabeth II officially reopening the restored locks in 1990. The Canal & River Trust now looks after the waterway.
When should you go?
Start from the Devizes end and return along the towpath. The boating season brings the most traffic and so the most to watch. Before you go, check the Canal & River Trust website for notices about works on the upper locks.
Frequently asked questions
How many locks are there at Caen Hill? 29 in total, 16 of them forming the steep middle section.
How long does it take to pass through by boat? Usually five to six hours.
Where is Caen Hill Locks? Between Rowde and Devizes in Wiltshire, on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Who designed it? John Rennie the Elder is credited with the design; the flight was completed in 1810.
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