(13.68km)
45 mins
Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this longer walk exploring the Louth Canal and nearby villages of North Cockerington and Alvingham.
Starting point
Navigation Warehouse
Riverhead Road
Louth
Lincolnshire
LN11 0DA
Refreshments
Points of interest:
The Riverhead area has much evidence of life from the 18th and 19th centuries when this was a busy and important part of the town. At the heart is the Navigation Warehouse, an old wool warehouse built in the 1770s.
On the edge of the Warehouse's decking is a weather vane - part of the Louth Art Trail. This stands high above the water, gently rotating with the changing winds, reminding us of the role of this vital element in navigation. There is a small seating area near the warehouse, again part of the Louth Art Trail. Constructed of English oak and steel, the designs echo the boats and bridges of the canal.
Navigation Locks
The locks of the canal are unique in that no two locks are of the same dimensions and that six of the eight locks are of barrel sided construction.
These had four bays on each side with wooden ties where they met, designed to strengthen them against the pressure of the surrounding land. Very little remains of the Top or Town Lock (now replaced by the Tilting Weir) or of Keddington Lock.
Ticklepenny and Willows Lock are in a better state of repair, with the barrel shaped sides still visible. Little is left of Salter Fen Lock, except the upper sill where the first set of gates would have been hung. Alvingham Lock and its adjacent wharf are in fair condition, but again the gates have been removed.
Milestones
In 2000, with only two of the original canal milestones left, the Louth Navigation Trust financed and organised the installation of 10 new stones between Louth and Tetney Lock. One of the remaining stones can be seen by the footbridge at Alvingham.
- 1From Navigation Warehouse, where the River Lud enters the canal, follow the canal away from Louth town centre, cross the canal at the first weir, continuing along the towpath.
- At Keddington Lock you will see the remains of the top sill, there the upper set of lock gates hung. The remainder of the lock walls have been replaced by gabions (wire baskets filled with bricks) to prevent the banks from falling in. A footbridge leads across the field towards Keddington and St Margaret's Church.
- St Margaret's Church dates from Norman times but is now sadly redundant. Members of the Ticklepenny family, who Ticklepenny Lock was named after, were farmers, lock keepers and toll collectors in the area, are buried in the churchyard.
- 2Continue along the towpath through a field where the River Lud runs on your right to Ticklepenny Lock.
- Ticklepenny Lock is still in reasonable condition after having been repaired by the Louth Navigation Trust in 1996. There used to be a wooden swing bridge here which has now been replaced by one made of concrete. In the early 1930s a sheep wash was built alongside the lock and this can be seen amongst the trees on the left hand side.
- 3Cross the road to follow the towpath. Go past form buildings and the sewage works on your right. Continue along until you come to Lock Farm at Alvingham Lock, where a tributary of the River Lud runs under the canal, by way of a brick syphon, to feed Alvingham Mill. Cross the road to follow the towpath.
- AAt the junction with two other footpaths, turn left off the canal for a chance to explore the village of Alvingham. (There is a farm shop and tea room about ½ mile through the village.)
- Whilst there are two churches in one churchyard at Alvingham, the smaller of the two, St Mary's has an unusual history and setting, being a mile from its parish of North Cockerington. St Mary's is no longer used for worship but is managed by the Churches' Conservation Trust.
- St Adelwold's is the only church in the country dedicated to the saint who later became Bishop of Lindisfarne. The present church dates from the 12th century although it is thought that an earlier Saxon church stood in its place before being destroyed, possibly by Viking invaders.
- Adjacent to the churches is the site of Alvingham Priory (no public access). It was founded by Hugh de Scotney (1184 - 1254) for the Gilbertine order and closed in 1538 under Henry VIlI's Dissolution of the Monasteries Act.
- BFrom the churchyard, walk through the farmyard and past the water mill on your right. Follow the road straight on.
- The present day Alvingham Mill dates from the 17th century. The machinery was installed in 1782 when the building was extended. However, there is evidence that this site has been used for mills previously, with a mill recorded here in the Doomsday Book of 1086.
- CWhere the village rood joins the main road, follow the bend to the left and walk carefully alongside the road until you pass over the canal. Turn right to join the towpath near Lock Farm and retrace your steps to Louth, keeping the candl on your right.
- 4Continue along the towpath to join the road at High Bridge. At the rood tum right, leaving the canal, past the houses. At the end of the road, turn right onto the bridleway.
- 5Continue along the bridleway as it crosses fields and ditches until you meet a road and continue straight ahead. After the road first bends to the right then left, turn right along a footpath. Follow this along the edge of Green Dike until you join another rood.
- 6Turn right then left on to Meadow Lane at the next road junction through North Cockerington village. Just past the public phone box, turn right down a footpath. At Chapel Lane, walk straight across to join another footpath. Follow this to rejoin the towpath, turn left and retrace your steps back to Louth.
- Near North Cockerington, the remains of the medieval settlement of Cockerington village can be seen as 'lumps and bumps' within the fields. The origin of the name Cockerington means a farmstead by a stream called Cocker' which is a Celtic river name - perhaps an earlier name for the River Lud.
Along footpaths and bridleways, can be muddy at times. Some roadside walking, all on level ground.
There are a few stiles. Many are stock proof and therefore maybe difficult for some dogs.
nearby walking routes
more information
Starting point
Navigation Warehouse
Riverhead Road
Louth
Lincolnshire
LN11 0DA
