Hardmead Lock

Infobox Waterlock
lock_name=Hardmead Lock
waterway=River Lee Navigation
operation=Manual
maint=British Waterways
county=Hertfordshire
first=
length=convert|85|ft|m|1|lk=on
width=convert|16|ft|m|1
fall=convert|5|ft|6|in|1
enda=Bow Creek
distenda=convert|22.5|mi|km|lk=on
endb=Hertford Castle Weir
distendb=convert|3.8|mi|km|1
coordinates=
lat= 51.801911
long= -0.014371

Hardmead Lock (No3) is a lock on the River Lee Navigation at Great Amwell close to the town of Ware.

The lock has a reputation as being difficult to negotiate. [ [http://www.londoncanals.co.uk/lee/lee06.html London canals-Hardmead lock] Retrieved July 01 2008]

Location

The lock-keeper's cottage which is currently for sale (July 2008) stands on an island formed by a section of the River Lee Flood Relief Channel which flows through an automatic sluice gate adjacent to the lock. [ [http://www.propertyfinder.com/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&id=501973887 Hardmead lock-keeper's cottage] Retrieved July 02 2008]

To the east of the lock is the Amwell Quarry nature reserve a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) [ [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000384.pdf Amwell quarry] Retrieved July 02 2008] and a section of the Old River Lea known as the Amwell Magna Fishery where it merges with its tributary the River Ash .

The New River flows close by to the west.

Public access

The lock is located on the River Lee Navigation towpath which is part of the Lea Valley Walk

Public transport

Ware railway station

References