Barrel Vaulted (roof) Cottages unique on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. This is an example of the type of a lock-keeper's cottage the design of which was quite unique to the Stratford upon Avon Canal. During construction of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal - in order to save money - the cottages were single storey and had such barrel vaulted roofs. This inexpensive type of roof is ideal for construction of rectangular shaped buildings and is simply a sequence of spaced arches placed beside each other. It is also mentioned sometimes that these roofs were particularly easy to construct since the framework knowledge was already available because of the canal bridge designs.

Sasha Taylor

April 2, 2021

Canal architecture is often admired for the way it unfussily solves complicated problems while seamlessly integrating with the natural landscape. This is what canal photographer Eric de Maré described as the “functional tradition of design”. It’s the idea of designing a building to do a job well, while also making sure it looks great without being flashy. It’s a phrase De Maré applied to constructions as varied as a lighthouse, a groined sea wall or a railway viaduct. Some of the best examples, he said, were to be found on the canals. A perfect example are the remarkable split bridges of the South Stratford Canal.

One of the best surviving split bridges is the Dick’s Lane Bridge – or to be more precise, Bridge 39, close to Lock 25, the third lock up in the Lapworth Flight. It’s called a split bridge because it doesn’t quite join in the middle, where there’s a gap or split.

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Elevation 140 m

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Today

Thursday 18 December

11°C

7°C

91 %

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Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

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Location: Lapworth, Warwick, Warwickshire, West Midlands Region, England, United Kingdom

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Bridge 39 Barrel-Vaulted Lock-Keeper's Cottage

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