page_title: Cambridgeshire Lodes
section_title: Swaffham Bulbeck Lode
hierarchical_section_title: Cambridgeshire Lodes / History / Swaffham Bulbeck Lode
caption_attribution_description: English: Lock at the end of Swaffham Bulbeck Lode, Cambridgeshire, England Lock gate at the end of Swaffham Bulbeck Lode
context_page_description: The Cambridgeshire Lodes are a series of man-made waterways, believed to be Roman in origin, located in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck, Reach, Burwell, Wicken and Monks Lodes all connect to the River Cam, while Soham Lode connects to the River Great Ouse. All have been navigable historically, but some are no longer officially navigable.
  Bottisham Lode was navigated throughout the 19th century, and although the flood gates at its mouth were replaced in 2001, it carries a "No unauthorised vessels" notice. Swaffham Bulbeck Lode has been rendered unnavigable by the removal of the lower lock gates, and the replacement of the upper lock gates with a guillotine gate which provides little headroom. Reach Lode is quite deep, as a result of the surrounding land sinking, and the banks being built up. The lower gate of the entrance lock has been replaced by a guillotine gate, enabling boats up to 63 feet long to use it.
  Burwell Lode is a tributary of Reach Lode, and is another deep lode. Barges were built and maintainted at Burwell until 1936, and it was used commercially until 1963, when carriage of sugar beet ceased.
context_section_description: Swaffham Bulbeck Lode joins the River Cam about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) below Bottisham Lode. It runs for 3.4 miles (5.5 km) to the hamlet of Commercial End, which was called Newnham until the early 19th century. Commercial End consists of a row of fine buildings, mainly dating from the late 17th and 18th century. The Commissioners of the Bedford Level were responsible for the drain during this period, and they cleared the channel and straightened the banks on several occasions in response to complaints. Use of the lode declined rapidly once the railways arrived in the area, and only the first 2 miles (3.2 km) to Slade Farm are currently navigable, as shallow water and low bridges prevent access beyond this point. There is a lock at the junction with the River Cam which can accommodate boats up to 96 by 15 feet (29.3 by 4.6 m), with a maximum draught of 2 feet (0.61 m). However, the Environment Agency have modified the upstream lock gate, in order to improve flood control, with the result that the headroom below the guillotine gate is too low for boats to enter the lode. The lower gates have also been removed.
caption: The lock at the junction between Swaffham Bulbeck Lode and the River Cam
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