[email protected] wrote: > > --- In [email protected], Steve Heaven <st...@...> wrote: > > > >=20 > >=20 > > We walked part of the route last Monday. > >=20 > > We parked at Mildenham lock and walked down to the Severn junction. On > > the Severn side of the new A449 bridge there is, set into the washwall, > > a galvanised metal structure. It looks as though it hinges down to form > > a platform, but it's on the non-towpath side and I couldn't see any > > reason why anyone would want to alight at that point. > >=20 > > Does anyone know what this thing is for ? > >=20 > > What thingy - you should do piccies - this could be it (:-) > http://www.thebw.net/Canal2/Canal203/Canal203_002/DSC_6529.html > Many thanks Michel for the borrow. > Purpose remains mystery.=20
It swings out into the channel and locks in place, restricting the width to approximately 7ft. It is automatically deployed whenever the sensors detect a dutchbarge (*) passing through Lock 8 from the Severn. (*) cf 'narrowboat'. It would be a sad day if the English language were ever to be pickled in aspic... M
