The stretch of towpath between bridge number 17, which carries Station Road over the canal, and Lock 8 is perhaps best know for its magnificent beech trees. In autumn these wonderful trees provide a truly magnificent spectacle and we took advantage of this for the cover of our 2004 Marple & Mellor Calendar and also for the November page of the 2005 Calendar.

There is a sluice running between Lock 8 and Lock 7 pounds that contains a V-shaped channel. The purpose of this was to measure the rate of water flow, which was proportionate to the height reached by the water in the V.

The V-channel

The original stone bridge is still under the concrete

The view looking towards Bridge number 17 and Lock 9 has not changed enormously since the canal was first built, although the bridge itself has been widened and is no longer as attractive when approaching from Lock 8 pound. The picture below showing this scene was scanned from an old glass slide in the Local History Society archives.

This page is part of the Marple Locks Virtual Tour