Thirteen Locks Revisited Traditional Cache
Suebedz: I think this cache has run its course and with feedback of litter, which is my absolute pet hate, I have decided to archive this one. Thank you to all who visited.
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A small lock & lock box placed alongside the Tame Valley Canal. An easy walk along a well maintained path.
Having already walked the length of the Tame Valley Canal from number 1 lock to lock number 10 when I was setting my cache 'Thirteen Locks', I was keen to see where lock number 13 might be! The canal makes its way through Witton and onto Salford Junction before joining the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal system, the start of which is in Newhall Street. It proved to be quite a nostalgic walk as Bedz used to work on both sides of the canal years ago. Much had changed. First at the GEC, who built their engineering works and houses for their workers at Electric Avenue in 1901. The chimney from the boiler house still stands tall and proud in the car park of the new industrial estate built there. From the bottom lock you can just see the facade of the listed building which was the administration block.
Secondly, he worked at Xpelair and it was sad to see the old building had been demolished and huge blue warehouses in its place.
Just before the Deykin road Bridge where you join the tow path are the original lock keepers cottages, make sure you have a look. Just past the bridge on the opposite side of the canal is the ruin of a Grid House and thanks to Pablorach and G6LPB I now know that it housed water control equipment which enabled water to be replaced in the top lock thus keeping the canal functioning. Also nearby is the memorial stone to DC Swindells. All is overshadowed by the huge Spaghetti Junction.
On road parking is available nearby and there is a short walk along a path to the canal. It may be possible to park closer to the canal on weekends but during the week it would be very busy.
The cache is a small box big enough for small TB's, it contains the usual geogoodies and a FTF badge and certificate.
Well done to Monki for the FTF and congratulations on your 400th find.
Thank you to all those who took such lovely photo's.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gerr, Onfr, arrq V fnl zber
Treasures
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