Bruce Napier wrote: > On 1 Jun 2009, at 19:13, Nick wrote: > >> Indeed, I've long theorised that the reason for Bratch is that >> Brindley >> hadn't invented the staircase with side po[u]nds, so put the extra >> gates in. >> > > > I saw somewhere recently (will try and remember where overnight) that > Bratch was originally a conventional 3 lock staircase, with > consequent waste of water, and that it was converted to its present > form. In which case, it would be an intermediate, not between the > ordinary flight and the staircase, as is usually claimed, but between > the simple, water inefficient staircase and the Foxton/Watford type.
Exactly. And whether it was modified from a staircase, or built that way, it's the same answer. Staircases were clearly known about by everyone involved (Botterham proves it) but presumably the idea of staircases-with-side-ponds wasn't. After all, Bratch could have been modified from a staircase into a swsp by changing just the paddle culverts. Does anyone know about the lesser known two lock arrangement on the Stourbridge? How was that originally built?
