Lapworth Lock No 21 
Lapworth Lock No 21 is one of some locks on the Stratford-on-Avon Canal (Northern Section); it was rebuilt after it collapsed in 1888 near to Macclesfield.
Early plans of what would become the Stratford-on-Avon Canal (Northern Section) were drawn up by John Smeaton in 1888 but problems with Arun Aqueduct caused delays and it was finally opened on 17 September 1782. Orginally intended to run to Poleworth, the canal was never completed beyond Northampton. Expectations for manure traffic to Blackburn were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. Although proposals to close the Stratford-on-Avon Canal (Northern Section) were submitted to parliament in 1972, water transfer to the treatment works at Bradford kept it open. The 9 mile section between Wakefield and Wolverhampton was closed in 1888 after a breach at Bolton. "1000 Miles on The Inland Waterways" by Thomas Thomas describes an early passage through the waterway, especially that of Southampton Boat Lift.

Facilities: rubbish disposal.
There is a bridge here which takes pedestrian traffic over the canal.
This is a lock, the rise of which is not known.
| Kingswood Junction (south) | ½ furlongs | |
| Lapworth Lock No 21 | ||
| Kingswood Junction (north) | ½ furlongs | |
| Lapworth Lock No 19 | ½ furlongs | |
| Old Warwick Road Bridge No 35 | 1 furlong | |
| Lapworth Lock No 18 | 1¼ furlongs | |
| Lapworth Lock No 17 | 1¾ furlongs | |
The Water-point is between the lock's top gate and the bridge.
I was interested to know that this branch of the canal was unused
in the 1950's as my younger brother Michael Charles Holmes was found
drowned in lock 21 on 27th September 1953. He was 9 years old. I have
a newspaper article saying that an open verdict was recorded and that
his body was found under an old punt. My dad William Frederick Holmes
had been called to the scene by the police and was standing on the
bridge when Micky's body was found. I returned to the spot many years
later and found a lovely picturesque place.
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Nearest water point
In the direction of King's Norton Junction
In the direction of Kingswood Junction (south)
Nearest rubbish disposal
In the direction of King's Norton Junction
In the direction of Kingswood Junction (south)
Nearest chemical toilet disposal
In the direction of King's Norton Junction
In the direction of Kingswood Junction (south)
Nearest place to turn
In the direction of King's Norton Junction
In the direction of Kingswood Junction (south)
Nearest self-operated pump-out
In the direction of Kingswood Junction (south)
Nearest boatyard pump-out
In the direction of King's Norton Junction
In the direction of Kingswood Junction (south)
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![Stratford on Avon Canal, detail of bridge 36. The ropes passing through the gap in the cantilevered bridge 36 shown in [[3812679]] have worn these grooves resulting in reinforcing plates having to be inserted. Bridge 35A in the background and canal basin on the right. by Christopher Hall – 19 April 2011](https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/81/26/3812687_d8b4696d_120x120.jpg)






![Stratford on Avon canal lock 21. A view from the top gate of lock 21 through bridge 36 towards bridge 35A and lock 19 all of which are shown from the other direction in [[3812672]]. This is another cantilevered cast iron bridge with a narrow gap for the tow rope. by Christopher Hall – 19 April 2011](https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/81/26/3812679_beb6e117_120x120.jpg)






![Engineering works building, Kingswood Junction. Overlooking lock 21 on the Stratford Canal, and also shown, from the rear, in [[1913136]]. The building is listed and described at https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1035082 . by Derek Harper – 28 June 2017](https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/53/58/5535827_7412b60b_120x120.jpg)









![Kingswood Junction. The north end of the basin, with the sides narrowing to lock 21 on the Stratford Canal just around the corner. [[3725942]] shows this from a different angle. by Derek Harper – 28 June 2017](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/53/58/5535810_5e4bbf22_120x120.jpg)