Lock Gate Shop

As the primary workshop for our teams today, it continues to play a critical role in maintaining the waterways. Here, skilled craftsmen still build, repair and maintain essential components that keep the canal system functioning smoothly. 

A legacy of craftsmanship

Since the early 19th century, the Carpenter's Shop has been the hub of activity for skilled workers who created lock gates, bridges and other vital wooden structures. During the 1800's, this space buzzed with activity, ensuring that the canal infrastructure was in top condition. Even today, the workshop remains a place of technical skill and expertise, with the same dedication to quality and precision that has defined its operations for centuries. 

The Lock Gate Shop at Ellesmere Yard is one of the oldest buildings on-site, though it has seen several alterations throughout the years. Originally, it was a hub for the production of lock gates, with oak timber being brought in via the canal, cut to size by hand, and later using powered saws. In 1961, lock gate production moved to Northwich, and now gates are manufactured at two locations: Bradley in the West Midlands and Stanley Ferry in Yorkshire. 

Despite the shift in production, the Lock Gate Shop is still important and is now primarily used for storing timber and creating various canal maintenance tools, like lock gate paddles, stop planks and their housings. 

This workshop is a testament to the industrial heritage of Ellesmere Yard, providing insights into how lock gates were crafted and maintained and how the site continues to serve our work today.