Bingley 3-Rise Locks: Canal Engineering Marvel
The cache, a camo-taped preform tube, is hidden at this wonderful historic water feature and engineering marvel. The location, which also has fine views, can be accessed from both directions along the canal towpaths.
The nearest free parking is available about 100m away at N 53 51.089 W 1 50.205 near the end of Hill Side Rd where a footpath leads to the canal footbridge. Alternative free parking can be found 200m away @ N 53 51.062 W 1 50.437 kerbside adjacent to All Saints Church on Keighley Rd. After crossing the busy road, access to the canal is via an impressive footbridge gracefully arching high across the railway and ring road.
To Find the Cache:
Step 1: go to the published coordinates where you find an information board on the locks with a map of this stretch of the canal. At the bottom right of this is a 7-digit number, the last of which = A
Step 2: walk up and across the footbridge at the top end of the locks - the Bingley Three Rise Swing Bridge to N 53 51.105 W 1 50.289 from where you will note the bridge number plate showing 20B
Step 3: head across a short distance to N 53 51.087 W 1 50.303 and look for the refurbishment plaque on the south side of the 2nd set of lock gates which shows the year 201C. This was when the hand crafted 4.5 tonne English Oak gates made at Stanley Ferry in Wakefield were installed as part of a £3.5 million modernisation programme.
Step 4: Now move down to the elaborate 30m mural on the wall of the covered slipway, commissioned by the nearby clothing company and completed in August 2022 by Sven Shaw working with 5 other local artists:
On the Riddlesden panel, look for a boxer who was born in 191D
On the Bingley panel, find the bridge over the Aire built in 168E
On the Shipley panel, locate the Parish church built in 182F
On the Esholt panel, note the Field Locks which lift the canal 2G feet
And finally . . . on the same panel, the distance to Leeds is shown by the wise owl as H miles.
The cache is hidden at:
N 53 51.(B-D)EF W 1 50.(C-A)B(H-G)
The Bingley 3-Rise Locks, are an impressive and historically significant feature of the 97 mile long Leeds and Liverpool Canal and an outstanding example of Georgian engineering.
They were designed by renowned pioneering canal engineer John Longbotham (see here) and completed in 1774 as part of the development of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which was seen as a vital link between the industrial cities of Yorkshire and the port of Liverpool. See here for details of the canal with a fascinating graphic showing all the branches, bridges and locks.
The canal was built to transport cotton, coal, wool, limestone, sugar and other raw materials critical to the growth of the Industrial Revolution in northern England. In order to traverse the steep terrain around Bingley, an innovative staircase lock system was necessary, and the 3-Rise Locks were created alongside the larger and even more impressive Bingley 5-Rise Locks, some 500m upstream.
Unlike conventional locks, where individual chambers are separated by pounds of water (stretches of water in between), staircase locks have no intermediate level between them. Each chamber shares a gate with the next, meaning they must be operated in a coordinated sequence. The bottom gate of one lock doubles as the top gate of the next, forming a continuous series of chambers.
This compact and efficient design allows boats to ascend or descend steep inclines in a relatively short distance. The 3-Rise,with its staircase of three interconnected locks, provides a lift of approximately 9m, making it one of the critical points along the canal for negotiating elevation changes.
Operating the locks is a skilled task, usually supervised by trained lock keepers employed by the Canal & River Trust, the body responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the UK's 2,000 miles of canal and navigable river systems.
They assist boaters to ensure that boats navigate the locks safely and efficiently, especially during busy summer months when canal traffic increases significantly.
The locks are a popular local landmark and a focal point for community events. The surrounding area has been sensitively maintained to reflect the canal’s historic character and around the locks are towpaths used by walkers and cyclists, with scenic views of the surrounding countryside and the historic canal infrastructure.
The 1985 Grade II* listed locks are not only a functional part of the canal system, but also a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of C18 engineers. Their continued use and preservation highlight the enduring legacy of Britain’s industrial heritage. They provide a striking glimpse into the past and are, with the 5 Rise Locks, a key Aire Valley attraction.
See here for a time-lapse video of a canal boat navigating the 5-Rise and 3-Rise Locks.
