STRET LOCK, CHESTERFIELD CANAL The first boat has successfully passed through the reopened Stret Lock on the Chesterfield Canal. Stret Lock was restored in the 1990s. However for many years some boats have got stuck. These boats might have been slightly wider or deeper than normal. There were lots of theories about the problem, some even suggesting that the lock was banana shaped. This was somewhat ironic because Stret Lock’s name is thought to be a corruption of Straight lock. The general consensus was that in the 240 years since being built ground pressure had forced the lock walls inwards. The then British Waterways undertook a major inspection in 2011. Infra-red photographs were taken. These were used to create a co0mputer simulation of the lock. A virtual boat was then introduced so that any problem area were highlighted. The lock was indeed found to be narrower that it should have been. The Canal and River trust started a widening scheme in October 2012. This involved taking down two of the outer brick courses on the towpath side and replacing them with one course, increasing the lock width by 50mm. There was an Open day in November at which approximately 250 people went down inside the lock to inspect the works. The welding was done on the paddle gear early on January 3rd. At lunchtime that day the Chesterfield canal Trust’s historic boat ”Python” approached. This boat had previously
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