The River Don and South Yorkshire Canal merge between Mexbrough and Conisbrough and the ground rises on both banks to form the Don Gorge. It is an area of great natural beauty. At Sprotbrough the canal again appears for a short distance to enable river traffic to bypass the falls through Sprotbrough Lock. Upstream of the bridge is the small hamlet of Lower Sprotbrough, just five cottages and the Boat Inn. Many different types of river traffic pass through the Lock from huge Humber barges to colourful narrow-boats and cruisers. It is, for many boaters, an ideal mooring on long trips around the canal system and, for others, a short trip upstream to the Boat Inn for lunch.
The river is also very popular with fishermen and,
since the decline of heavy industry in Sheffield and Rotherham, the water quality has improved to such an extent that even salmon have been caught on Sprotbrough Falls.
This painting is in oils on canvas. It was featured in an article by Jim Rubery in the Yorkshire Life magazine August 1999. Although the painting was sold I still use it occasionally for cards and prints.  Narrow-boat in Sprotbrough Lock. A small painting in oil on canvas. As with the previous painting, although sold I still use this for cards and prints which are on sale locally.
Note - In 1980 the new Sprotbrough Lock was officially opened by Sir Frank Price, the then Chairman of British Waterways. The lock was built to take 700 ton barges.
Presently the Humber Princess, a huge Humber Barge, takes fuel up to Rotherham. Three Hargreaves push-tow tugs are carrying limeston grit from Cadeby Quarry, upstream of Sprotbrough, down to Doncaster where it is being used to fill in part of the old Railway Workshops in preparation for new housing. Apart from this traffic it is mostly pleasure craft that use the lock now.
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