Description

SU 50 SW TITCHFIELD POSBROOK LANE
23/525 Meon Marsh Sealock
and Bridge.
II

Former sea lock and bridge. Lock probably C1611 for Henry, second Earl of
Southampton; bridge C18; later alterations. Stone, on south west side, lock has
retaining walls of coursed squared stone with cyma-moulded coping stones which
return a short distance to north-west and south-east, at north-east ends the
walls each have a recess (probably from original gate/sluice mechanism). The
space between the walls is filled by the inserted C18 bridge which is of
crudely-cut stone and has 3 small round arches with roussoirs. A stone pier at
north-west side has mason's marks. On the north-east side the retaining walls
are of large rubblestones, the north-west side with some coping before, and the
space between the walls is filled with sandbags (not of special interest). The
lock is believed to have been completed in 1611 as part of the Earl of
Southampton's scheme to close the Meon estuary and replace the navigable tidal
channel by a canal, which would also drain and irrigate the meadows. It is,
therefore, a surviving structure from one of England's earliest canal navigation
systems. The canal became redundant within 100 years of its construction and
the bridge was inserted subsequently. Archaeological excavation at the southern
corner on the north-east side revealed masonry and plan form as on the
south-west side, with a mortice for a 2nd sluice gate. It appears that boats
collected on either side of the lock awaiting tidal changes and the necessary
rise or fall in water levels to enable access to and from the sea.

Listing NGR: SU5799407358

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26527371

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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