Heeding the warning at Stanstead Lock

Our copy of Nicholson's Guide to the waterways of London, the Grand Union, the Oxford and the Lee is second-hand. The previous owner has gone over part of the navigational notes to Stanstead Lock with a blue highlighter pen. It's a warning about having to be "extremely careful" when ascending the lock - I wonder if they had problems there?


I'm always very cautious when opening gate paddles to fill a lock. This lock has no top ground paddles, so the only way to fill it is by opening the paddles on the top gates, which can, if they're opened too quickly, create enormous turbulence in the lock. This can cause boats to lurch around, or even flood them. In such situations I'm a little nervous when other people "help" with the lock operation, especially when they say there's nothing to be worried about.


In the event nothing went wrong: the paddles were opened (reasonably) carefully. I still would have preferred to have done it all myself, though.

Here's David holding Willow steady at the bow; Penny and Jan are the other end.


I have tried, unsuccessfully, to find out about the building with the interesting roof beside the lock. Anyone know what it is/was?