Monument record 4841 - Sutton Locks, Weaver Navigation

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5478 1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Two lock structures shown, one wider and one narrow. Footbridges cross the locks. There is a crane on the southern side and lock cottages on the northern.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1896-98, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ57NW 1899 (Maps and Plans). SCH2472.

Lock structures are shown and named as Sutton Locks.

<3> Lightfoot, T.S, 1980s?, Weaver Watermen, p.56 (Book). SCH5363.

These locks were also known as Sutton Level Lock as its gates were always open to. The gates at the lock were only used if too much tide got into the River.

<4> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

The lock cottages appear to be occupied, but the lock gates are not visible.

<4> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

The lock cottages appear to be occupied, but the lock gates are not visible.

<5> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The embankment between the Weaver navigation and the natural course of the River Weaver has been breached and the locks have fallen into disuse. The lock cottages look to have been demolished.

<6> Tony Lewery, 2002, Wrecks on the River Weaver (Web Site). SCH5365.

Paired locks with double sets of gates to control the tidal flow up from the Mersey as well as the downhill water from the navigation level above it. After the building of the Manchester Ship canal across the entrance to the river weaver the lower water level became much more controlled and the sutton locks then stood open both ways for most iof the time. In the 1950's a new cut was made in the navigation and bypassed the locks altogether. The locks and their approach became a boat graveyard.