The print published in 1830, shows a view from the south of Winchester looking northward across the water meadows towards the cathedral. In the foreground the River Itchen flows through St Catherine’s Lock – the top lock of the now disused Winchester to Southampton canal.
This navigation was opened in 1710 and comprised over 15 locks with sluices and hatches that controlled both the water level in the canal and its flow into the meadows themselves. The canal was used for the transport of coal, timber, chalk and agricultural goods between the two cities.
The illustrated lock was situated below St Catherine’s Hill, and its wooden gates (now replaced by a sturdy brick weir), once levelled the water for the approach to the Winchester wharves. The last barge was used on the navigation in 1869 when the new railway connections made it redundant.
Buy an original antique print of the Winchester water meadows lock.
S
This is a really interesting watermeadow, I will browse through some others now