The recent unearthing of an old lock gate buried in the Stover Canal is puzzling volunteers.

The gate was discovered during a regular work party while clearing a stretch of canal bed near the Exeter Road bridge. It has been partially excavated, photographed and measured but one feature is presently proving a mystery.

Trustee, Paul Taper, explains: ‘We have always believed that the lock at Teignbridge only raised or lowered the water level in the canal by some six inches.

‘This in itself is unusual to go to such an expense for such a small difference. The theory is that some sort of miscalculation was made when the road bridge was replaced in 1798 meaning that barges could no longer pass under the bridge without a change being made in the water level.

‘Little evidence of the original lock remains as it was originally constructed in turf and timber, neither of which lasted over time but the Trust does have a photo of an old postcard showing how the working lock would have appeared.

The query is regarding the overflow window which does not seem to coincide logically with how the lock would have been operated.’

The newly discovered lock gate is in a fair condition for it’s age and is providing more information about the history of the canal. Management Committee Chairman Rob Harris says: ‘There are no documents or plans relating to the operation of the canal and so we rely on old photographs and discoveries such as this to inform our understanding.

We are hoping that more evidence of the gates is still to be unearthed in the same area.’

Regular monthly work parties are held and further details of how to get involved can be found on the website: www.stovercanal.co.uk/workingparties.htm