The Peterborough Lift Lock

The rich history of Peterborough is connected to all sorts of manufacturing. One such relic of the past is still functioning today: the Peterborough Lift Lock.

What is essentially a big boat elevator doesn’t feel like one – rather, it feels like a strikingly impressive giant tower. It is the tallest hydraulic lift lock in the world, first officially opened on July 9, 1904, and active today.

The working principle of the Lift Lock is based on using no external power source. It doesn’t require electricity and relies on the simple physics of two chambers going up and down. In 2016, a record was set when 138 canoes and kayaks were placed in one of the chambers.

The magic of The Peterborough Lift Lock is that it’s a massive concrete structure, but it feels almost unreal due to its beautiful design and industrial character.

In the winter, the Trent-Severn Waterway, just south of The Peterborough Lift Lock, turns into a skating area. Skating is allowed if the green flag is displayed. If the red flag is displayed, the temperature is too high and the ice is unsafe.

Overall, this is a beautiful and well-designed engineering marvel that impresses even after 120 years of work. This is a living piece of Peterborough’s history and a peaceful sight to behold. Being only a 3-minute car ride or a 15-20-minute walk from George Street Lofts makes visiting even more convenient.