Caen Hill Flight on the K&A Canal closed again

The Caen Hill flight of locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal has been closed for the second time in only a few days after two boats became jammed in a lock today (Tue September 3).

Two boats jammed in a lock on the Caen Hill Flight. Picture by Bob Naylor©

The boats had travelled together down the Devizes Flight with no problem.  They entered lock 41 on Caen Hill with no difficulty but as they emptied the lock they became jammed and ‘hung-up’ in the lock.  

The damaged coping stone.

The crews quickly refilled the lock and the boats were re-floated but they both became jammed under the coping stones on the edge of the lock. 

And there they stayed until Canal & River Trust (CRT) staff were able to assess the situation and bring in the equipment needed to remove the coping stones and to free the boats — a process that took more than five hours.

After the two boats were freed they were moved through the lock one boat at a time and CRT staff and volunteers helped to bring the queue of other boats trapped on the flight through the lock and to clear the flight.

The Caen Hill Flight is now open to navigation. Single boats only through Lock 41. Please take extra care around Lock 41, where the damaged area is fenced off.

A mini-digger was brought in to move the coping stone

Easing one of the boats out of the lock.

Free to travel on