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The Black Sluice is the name given to the structure that controls the flow of the
Newspaper report of lock re-openingGeographs of the Black Sluice pumping stationTourist information''The Easterling, June 2009'' Journal of the East Anglian waterways association, describing the re-opening and giving a detailed history of the waterway and construction of the new lock.
Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board
{{coord, 52.966603, -0.025881, display=title, name=Black Sluice Lock Canals in Lincolnshire Locks of Lincolnshire Fenland District Buildings and structures in Boston, Lincolnshire
The Black Sluice is the name given to the structure that controls the flow of the South Forty-Foot Drain
The South Forty-Foot Drain, also known as the Black Sluice Navigation, is the main channel for the land-drainage of the Black Sluice Level in the Lincolnshire Fens. It lies in eastern England between Guthram Gowt and the Black Sluice pumping ...
into The Haven, at Boston, Lincolnshire
Boston is a market town and inland port in the borough of the same name in the county of Lincolnshire, England. Boston is north of London, north-east of Peterborough, east of Nottingham, south-east of Lincoln, south-southeast of Hul ...
, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
History and ownership
The original Black Sluice was probably the Skirbeck Sluice whereEarl of Lindsey
Earl of Lindsey is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1626 for the 14th Baron Willoughby de Eresby (see Baron Willoughby de Eresby for earlier history of the family). He was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1635 to 1636 a ...
's 1635 attempt to drain what was then called the ''Lindsey Levels'' ran to the sea. The ensuing battle with the population left the works destroyed, and this seems to be the origin of the name Black Sluice. The name became associated with the area drained by the original 40 foot drain, and has been used for each successive outfall from the area, and for the name of the authority responsible for the drainage. Created in 1765 the Black Sluice Commissioners are succeeded today by the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board
An internal drainage board (IDB) is a type of operating authority which is established in areas of special drainage need in England and Wales with permissive powers to undertake work to secure clean water drainage and water level management with ...
and a range of interlocking boards and authorities: The Witham and Steeping Rivers Catchment Board, Lincolnshire River Board. National Rivers Authority, and now the Environment Agency.
There have been at least three Black Sluices, the latest of which incorporates the pumping station built in 1946.
The lock
The lock which gave passage past the Black Sluice fell into disrepair after the second world war, but was restored to full operation in 2008 as part of the Fens Waterways Link scheme to improve navigation through the fens for pleasure craft. A formal opening of the lock was held on 20 March 2009. The new lock can handle boats up to long, broad, and with draught of up to on the most favourable tides. While the lock itself has noairdraught
Air draft (or air draught) is the distance from the surface of the water to the highest point on a vessel. This is similar to the " deep draft" of a vessel which is measured from the surface of the water to the deepest part of the hull below th ...
restrictions, London Road Bridge, immediately upstream has limited headroom in the form of an arch at nearly in the centre and as little as at the lowest usable point. Connection to Lincoln is further restricted by the size of the lock at the Grand Sluice, which is just over long, although longer vessels can pass through at certain states of the tide.
Black Sluice Lock is not permanently manned, so bookings for transit will need to be made a minimum of 24 hours in advance.
There is a small visitors centre at the new Lock.
See also
*South Forty-Foot Drain
The South Forty-Foot Drain, also known as the Black Sluice Navigation, is the main channel for the land-drainage of the Black Sluice Level in the Lincolnshire Fens. It lies in eastern England between Guthram Gowt and the Black Sluice pumping ...
for considerable detail about the various sluices.
* The Forty Foot drains in Lincolnshire
* Fens Waterways Link
*River Witham
The River Witham is a river almost entirely in the county of Lincolnshire in the east of England. It rises south of Grantham close to South Witham at , passes through the centre of Grantham (where it may be closely followed using the Riversi ...
*Cornelius Vermuyden
Sir Cornelius Vermuyden ( Sint-Maartensdijk, 1595 – London, 11 October 1677) was a Dutch engineer who introduced Dutch land reclamation methods to England. Vermuyden was
commissioned by the Crown to drain Hatfield Chase in the Isle of Axholm ...
References
External links
Newspaper report of lock re-opening
Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board
{{coord, 52.966603, -0.025881, display=title, name=Black Sluice Lock Canals in Lincolnshire Locks of Lincolnshire Fenland District Buildings and structures in Boston, Lincolnshire