Cornard Lock has been built on land which was donated by Edward Baker Ltd,
on the site of the original lock of
1705. It reconnects by water the town of Sudbury
in Suffolk, with the village of Great Henny, Essex.
It is the first lock on the River Stour in 200 years of its history as a statutory
Navigation. The lock has been constructed entirely of reinforced concrete, with brick
facing, whilst gates and balance beams are of steel, with conventional paddle gearing.
An improved design was thought more appropriate at Cornard than the one at Dedham and
Flatford, which were restored by the Trust. Nevertheless, a link with the past has been
maintained by the provision of the crossbeams, or lintels over each pair of gates,
in keeping with the traditional appearance of locks on this river.
The chamber is 50
feet long by 14 feet wide, this will enable traditional-sized Stour craft to pass
through.
The total cost of the project was £335,000, half of which was provided
by the Millennium Commission from National Lottery Funds. The remainder was raised by the
Trust.