CanalPlanAC

Welches Dam Lock

 
closed since 2006.
Also known as: Welches Dam Sluice.
Purl's Bridge Drove, Manea PE15 0NF, United Kingdom
 
Information about the place
Welches Dam Lock is a place on the waterways on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - unnavigable section) between Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction (Junction of Forty Foot River with Old Bedford River) (a few yards to the east) and Horseway Village Bridge (1 mile and 7¼ furlongs and 1 lock to the west).
 
 
The nearest place in the direction of Horseway Village Bridge is Horseway Lock (closed indefinitely); 1 mile and 3¾ furlongs away.

This is a pinch point. The normal maximum dimensions for a boat on this waterway are 60 feet long and 11 feet wide (the maxium height and draught are unknown), but to pass through here the maximum dimensions are 47 feet long and 11 feet wide.

There is no access to the towpath here.

Mooring here is unrated.

There is a bridge here which takes a track over the canal.

This is a lock, the rise of which is not known.

 
 
Amenities
 
Maps
If you are a user and are logged on, or if you are actively planning a route, a map will be displayed here.
Show on external mapping site: Google | OSM | Bing
 
Navigational Notes

This lock has been closed since 2006, and is now piled off below the bottom gates.

 
External websites
  Press Release: IWA Campaign Cruise on the Old Bedford River — associated with this page
(archived copy) IWA Campaign Cruise
 
Nearest facilities

Mouseover for more information or show routes to facility

Nearest water point

In the direction of Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction

Denver Sluice12 miles, 4¾ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Denver Sluice
Downham Market Road Bridge14 miles, 2¼ furlongs and 4 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Old West River - Great Ouse Relief Channel Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Great Ouse Relief Channel) to Downham Market Road Bridge
Windmill EA Mooring15 miles, 4½ furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Windmill EA Mooring
West Head Road Bridge16 miles, 5½ furlongs and 4 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Old West River - Great Ouse Relief Channel Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Great Ouse Relief Channel) to West Head Road Bridge
Stowbridge Heron EA Moorings16 miles, 6 furlongs and 4 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Old West River - Great Ouse Relief Channel Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Great Ouse Relief Channel) to Stowbridge Heron EA Moorings
Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen19 miles, 2¼ furlongs and 4 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Old West River - Great Ouse Relief Channel Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Great Ouse Relief Channel) to Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen

In the direction of Horseway Lock

March Boater Services18 miles, 2 furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Sixteen Foot Corner, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Sixteen Foot River) to Three Holes, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Popham's Eau) to Old River Nene - Popham's Eau Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to March Boater Services
Upwell Church Bridge Public Staithe (visitor mooring)17 miles, 3 furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Sixteen Foot Corner, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Sixteen Foot River) to Three Holes, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Popham's Eau) to Old River Nene - Popham's Eau Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Upwell Church Bridge Public Staithe (visitor mooring)
March Marina19 miles, 1¾ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Sixteen Foot Corner, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Sixteen Foot River) to Three Holes, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Popham's Eau) to Old River Nene - Popham's Eau Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to March Marina

Nearest place to turn

In the direction of Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction

Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junctiona few yards and 1 lock away
On this waterway in the direction of Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction
Mepal Pumping Station3 miles and 1 lock away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Counter Wash Drain) to Mepal Pumping Station
Salter's Lode Junction12 miles, 2½ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Salter's Lode Junction
Denver Junction12 miles, 4½ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction
Old West River - Great Ouse Relief Channel Junction12 miles, 5½ furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Old West River - Great Ouse Relief Channel Junction
Denver Relief Channel Lock Weir Entrance12 miles, 6½ furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Old West River - Great Ouse Relief Channel Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Great Ouse Relief Channel) to Denver Relief Channel Lock Weir Entrance
Welmore Sluice14 miles, 2 furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Welmore Sluice
Brandon Creek Junction19 miles, 3½ furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Forty Foot River - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old Bedford River) to Great Ouse - Old Bedford River Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (New Bedford River) to Denver Junction, then on the River Great Ouse (Old West River - Large River) to Brandon Creek Junction

In the direction of Horseway Lock

Bill Fen Marina11 miles, ½ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Old River Nene - Forty Foot River Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Old River Nene - Ramsey High Lode Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Ramsey High Lode) to Bill Fen Marina
Ramsey11 miles, 7 furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Old River Nene - Forty Foot River Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Old River Nene - Ramsey High Lode Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Ramsey High Lode) to Ramsey
Mullicourt Aqueduct Winding Hole13 miles, 5¾ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Sixteen Foot Corner, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Sixteen Foot River) to Three Holes, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Middle Level Main Drain) to Mullicourt Aqueduct Winding Hole
Old River Nene - Whittlesey Dyke Junction16 miles, 5½ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Old River Nene - Forty Foot River Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Old River Nene - Whittlesey Dyke Junction
Bevill's Leam Pumping Station (southwest side)16 miles, 5½ furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Old River Nene - Forty Foot River Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Old River Nene - Black Ham Drain - Bevill's Leam Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Bevill's Leam: Mere Mouth to Pumping Station) to Bevill's Leam Pumping Station (southwest side)
Holme17 miles, ¾ furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Old River Nene - Forty Foot River Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Old River Nene - New Dyke Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (New Dyke) to Holme
West End Winding Hole18 miles, 7¼ furlongs and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Sixteen Foot Corner, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Sixteen Foot River) to Three Holes, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Popham's Eau) to Old River Nene - Popham's Eau Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to West End Winding Hole
Angle Corner20 miles and 2 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Old River Nene - Forty Foot River Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Old River Nene - Whittlesey Dyke Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Whittlesey Dyke) to Angle Corner
Black Ham Pumping Station19 miles, 4¾ furlongs and 3 locks away
Travel to Horseway Lock, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Forty Foot River - navigable section) to Old River Nene - Forty Foot River Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Old River Nene) to Old River Nene - Black Ham Drain - Bevill's Leam Junction, then on the Middle Level Navigations (Black Ham Drain) to Black Ham Pumping Station
Direction of TV transmitter (From Wolfbane Cybernetic)
 
 
Geograph
 
Wikipedia

There is no page on Wikipedia called “Welches Dam Lock”

Wikipedia pages that might relate to Welches Dam Lock
[Forty Foot Drain] (16.9 km), from Wells Bridge, where it joins the old River Nene, to Welches Dam Sluice, where it joins the Counter Wash Drain, which then changes identity [Old Bedford River] the ex-dam) straight into the New Bedford river further upstream at Welmore Lake sluice. This new waterway (which kinks to the right at Welches Dam before [New Bedford River] Bedford River was built, however, since Welches Dam is named after Edmund Welche, who worked with Vermuyden, and the dam in question was originally built across [River Great Ouse] Middle Level Navigations is also possible via the Old Bedford River and Welches Dam lock, but this route is only open for a few weekends each year, and was [Middle Level Navigations] Aqueduct. The alternative route via Horseway sluice and the Old Bedford River is unusable, as the lock at Welches Dam was declared unsafe and closed in 2006 [Fens Waterways Link] probably be provided from Vermuyden's Drain into the Old Bedford River at Welches Dam, and thence to the Great Ouse at Earith, though another possibility is [Wookey Hole Caves] maintained at an artificially high level and falls a couple of metres when the sluice is lowered to allow access to the fourth and fifth chambers, two small air [List of whitewater rivers] intermediate and above. Middle Branch Oswegatchie River - Bryants Bridge and Sluice Falls sections, Class IV -V. Mongaup River - Class II-III; about 3-mile [List of local nature reserves in England] Woodlands) Reading Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow Mid Sussex Blyth to Seaton Sluice Dunes Blyth Valley Bobbits Lane Ipswich Bocking Blackwater Braintree Bodmin [River Loddon] flow modifications by the building up of mill pond reaches with weirs and sluices and the adjacent mill races (also called leats). Most of these used wheels
 
Google

Results of Google Search

Forty Foot Drain - Wikipedia
The waters of the Forty Foot Drain no longer discharge through Welches Dam Sluice. Instead they flow via the Sixteen Foot Drain to Three Holes and thence via  ...
Middle Level Navigations - Wikipedia
Twenty Foot River. March. Welches Dam Lock. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level / EA boundary. Horseway Sluice. Counter Wash Drain. A141 bridges. River Nene.
RSPB Ouse Washes/ Welches Dam - Ouse WashesOuse Washes
RSPB Ouse Washes/ Welches Dam ... Graham Harris on Environment Agency Offices – Denver Sluice Complex · MarkNokkert on Environment Agency Offices ...
Fontana dam sluicing
Fontana Dam ch Fontana p h k s k h e d k e n k k Sluice Gap Porters Gap ... Welches Dam is the site of the visitor centre for the RSPB Ouse Washes reserve.
Welches Dam Lock or Welney | The Inland Waterways Association
... Welches Dam to Horseway Lock. A photo of your boat at Welches Dam will be the best proof of your visit, but Welney will be acceptable especially if the sluice ...
Ouse Washes Section 10 Works information page - Environment ...
Earith Sluice regulates flow entering the Old Bedford River and the Ouse Washes ... building a new wall at Welches Dam Pumping Station;; extending a retaining ...
Middle Level Navigations - Wikiwand
Twenty Foot River. March. Welches Dam Lock. Forty Foot Drain. Middle Level / EA boundary. Horseway Sluice. Counter Wash Drain. A141 bridges. River Nene.
News item from meeting – 03/02/2016 – Middle Level
Feb 3, 2016 ... ... on the operation of the Ouse Washes system, the use of Welney Gate, Welches Dam pumping station and the Old Bedford Sluice. February 3 ...
Welmore Lake Sluice
Nov 24, 2020 ... ... Welmore Lake sluice, excess water is diverted automatically into the Old Bedford River, which from Welches Dam becomes the River Delph.