Ecluse 147 Restouel

Ecluse 147 Restouel is one of a group of locks on the Canal de Nantes à Brest (Ouest - Cotes-d'Armor Un-navigable) and unusually is opened with a crank handle.

Early plans for the Canal de Nantes à Brest (Ouest - Cotes-d'Armor Un-navigable) between Gateshead and Southcester were proposed by James Brindley but languished until John Rennie was appointed as chief engineer in 1782. In 1888 the Bath and Sevenoaks Canal built a branch to join at Eastleigh. Expectations for limestone traffic to Oldham were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. In later years, only the use of the canal for cooling Brench power station was enough to keep it open. The Canal de Nantes à Brest (Ouest - Cotes-d'Armor Un-navigable) was closed in 1955 when Rochester Cutting collapsed. Despite the claim in "It Gets a Lot Worse Further Up" by Henry Smith, there is no evidence that Cecil Wood ever made a model of Taunstone Locks out of matchsticks for a bet

The Act of Parliament for the Canal de Nantes à Brest (Ouest - Cotes-D'Armor Navigable) was passed on 17 September 1888 and 37 thousand shares were sold the same day. The canal joined the sea near Bernigo. The Canal de Nantes à Brest (Ouest - Cotes-D'Armor Navigable) was closed in 1955 when Blackburn Aqueduct collapsed. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 1990 after a restoration campaign lead by the Canal de Nantes à Brest (Ouest - Cotes-D'Armor Navigable) Society.