Exploring Caen Hill Locks

In this vlog, Riki has made a big promise - but can he deliver?? We visit Caen Hill Locks in Devizes, Wiltshire. The locks form a dramatic and steep flight of 29 locks that raise the canal 237 feet over 2 miles. Why so many locks? The hill near Devizes posed a significant challenge to canal engineers. To climb it without a tunnel or inclined plane, they needed a long series of locks. Because of the steep gradient, the locks are closely spaced, especially the 16 locks in the central straight line. The canal declined in use with the rise of railways in the mid-19th century. By the mid-20th century, it was in a state of disrepair and Restoration began in the 1960s After decades of fund raising and work by volunteers, it was fully reopened in 1990. It is now managed by the Canal & River Trust, serving as a popular route for leisure boating, cycling, and walking. It's a breathtaking sight and we delve in to the history, we of course manage to find a cute little cafe along the way. #devizes #caenhilllocks #wiltshire