Hi, Your comments are always most welcome
The doors cover a hole right through the bridge usually with a similar door at the other side, although sometimes they are blind holes with only one door.
They are used for storing the stop planks which are dropped into slots in the bridge narrows if there is a breach in the canal, or a section is drained for maintenance.
The planks are stored near the brige so they can be accesssed quickly if it is a breach. As no two bridge holes are exactly the same the planks have to be made specially for each location.
Theya re kept dry in the hole in the bridge so they don't rot in the rain - and they can be locked away from vandals.
Many are disussd these days, but some still serve their original purpose.
Paul,
WOW! A mind of information thankyou for that, mystery solved!
Sue
