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Don't normally do revisits - I try and get out to new sites when a window of opportunity arises. But I was just round the corner from here with a spare hour on my hands. And it is such a lovely place so I thought what the heck. One thing that occurred to me is that when you revisit a place - because you have taken somewhere in for the first time and the "Wow" factor has gone, you actually spend more time second time around looking at the detail. Anyhow - here's the history I found first time around. In terms of the state of the place compared to a year ago nothing too much has changed apart from some moron ripping the sink off the wall in the kitchen.
‘Lock House’ cottage is located on the Grantham-Nottingham canal which runs for 33 miles (53 km) between the two points falling through 18 locks to West Bridgford where it then joins the River Trent. It was built mainly to transport coal to Grantham. It opened in 1797, and its profitability steadily increased until 1841 when it was sold to a railway company, after which it declined in use. The last boat navigated the canal in 1929 and it was finally closed in 1936. The canal was used as a water supply for agricultures so post-closure it had its water levels maintained, although many of its 69 over-bridges were lowered.
Since the 1970s, the Grantham Canal Society have been heavily involved with its restoration, and two stretches are now navigable by small vessels. Full restoration will require a new route where the canal joins the Trent, as the A52 has effectively severed the original route. There is a similar issue at the Grantham end where the A1 embankment blocks the canal.
The late 18th Century two-bedroom cottage is set back from a section of the canal near Stenwith and was built to home the lock keeper for the near by lock.. It hit the news in 2007 when it failed to sell at auction at a guide price of £250,000 due to the lack of running water, electricity, bath-room and road access. The picture below dates from around this time.
Prior to coming on the market it was the home of a man in his 80's who used an earth closet in the back garden for WC, a tin tub as a bath and a wind-up gramophone to listen to music. Apparently built in 1794 and part of the Duke of Rutland’s estate, previous owners included John and Margaret Topps. The nearby lock was previously referred to as ‘Jack Topp’s Lock’.
Since its failure to sell at auction the cottage has remained empty and has started to fall into disrepair. Ironically the cottage became Grade II listed in December 2013. Today it now lies abandoned and rather forlorn; its garden overgrown and extensive outbuildings falling to pieces. All of the windows in the house itself are smashed but due to the roof being mostly intact, the structure of the house itself isn’t too bad.
Let's start with the lock in question:
img1746 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The first thing you come to is a series of out-buildings:
img1732 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1743 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1742 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Is this a start handle for an old car?
img1741 by HughieDW, on Flickr
My mate Marmite...or is it Bovril?
img1739 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A fridge in the garage?!
img1737 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1734 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the house itself:
img1744 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1692 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1693 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Front elevation of this lovely two-up/two-down plus off-shot.
img1697 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1698 by HughieDW, on Flickr
First to the kitchen. Range one still present and correct:
img1702 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Made in Grantham it was...
img1704 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But here's that aforementioned sink, now lying on the floor:
img1728 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Then to the dining room. Glad to report that Range 2 is intact:
img1727 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And Pandora's box is still there:
img1699 by HughieDW, on Flickr
...and her tin too!
img1706 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The clock's now off the wall but still present:
img1707 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the lounge:
img1709 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1712 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Upstairs we go:
img1714 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Bedroom one. The fireplace fairies haven't been a-calling yet:
img1715 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And bedroom two:
img1716 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Time for tea before we leave?
img1723 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
‘Lock House’ cottage is located on the Grantham-Nottingham canal which runs for 33 miles (53 km) between the two points falling through 18 locks to West Bridgford where it then joins the River Trent. It was built mainly to transport coal to Grantham. It opened in 1797, and its profitability steadily increased until 1841 when it was sold to a railway company, after which it declined in use. The last boat navigated the canal in 1929 and it was finally closed in 1936. The canal was used as a water supply for agricultures so post-closure it had its water levels maintained, although many of its 69 over-bridges were lowered.
Since the 1970s, the Grantham Canal Society have been heavily involved with its restoration, and two stretches are now navigable by small vessels. Full restoration will require a new route where the canal joins the Trent, as the A52 has effectively severed the original route. There is a similar issue at the Grantham end where the A1 embankment blocks the canal.
The late 18th Century two-bedroom cottage is set back from a section of the canal near Stenwith and was built to home the lock keeper for the near by lock.. It hit the news in 2007 when it failed to sell at auction at a guide price of £250,000 due to the lack of running water, electricity, bath-room and road access. The picture below dates from around this time.
Prior to coming on the market it was the home of a man in his 80's who used an earth closet in the back garden for WC, a tin tub as a bath and a wind-up gramophone to listen to music. Apparently built in 1794 and part of the Duke of Rutland’s estate, previous owners included John and Margaret Topps. The nearby lock was previously referred to as ‘Jack Topp’s Lock’.
Since its failure to sell at auction the cottage has remained empty and has started to fall into disrepair. Ironically the cottage became Grade II listed in December 2013. Today it now lies abandoned and rather forlorn; its garden overgrown and extensive outbuildings falling to pieces. All of the windows in the house itself are smashed but due to the roof being mostly intact, the structure of the house itself isn’t too bad.
Let's start with the lock in question:
img1746 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The first thing you come to is a series of out-buildings:
img1732 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1743 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1742 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Is this a start handle for an old car?
img1741 by HughieDW, on Flickr
My mate Marmite...or is it Bovril?
img1739 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A fridge in the garage?!
img1737 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1734 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the house itself:
img1744 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1692 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1693 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Front elevation of this lovely two-up/two-down plus off-shot.
img1697 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1698 by HughieDW, on Flickr
First to the kitchen. Range one still present and correct:
img1702 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Made in Grantham it was...
img1704 by HughieDW, on Flickr
But here's that aforementioned sink, now lying on the floor:
img1728 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Then to the dining room. Glad to report that Range 2 is intact:
img1727 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And Pandora's box is still there:
img1699 by HughieDW, on Flickr
...and her tin too!
img1706 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The clock's now off the wall but still present:
img1707 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the lounge:
img1709 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1712 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Upstairs we go:
img1714 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Bedroom one. The fireplace fairies haven't been a-calling yet:
img1715 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And bedroom two:
img1716 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Time for tea before we leave?
img1723 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
Last edited: