Benson Lock

Infobox Waterlock
lock_name = Benson Lock [ [http://www.visitthames.co.uk/uploads/a_users_guide_to_the_River_thames.pdf Statistics from Environment Agency "A User's Guide to the River Thames:Part II"] ]


caption= The keeper's house and lock at Benson Lock
waterway = River Thames
county = Oxfordshire
maint = Environment Agency
operation = Hydraulic
first = 1788
latest = 1870
length = 133’ 1” (40.56m)
width = 17’ 11” (5.46m)
fall = 6’ 2” (1.87m)
sealevel = 144'
enda = Teddington Lock
distenda = 72 miles
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Benson Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England, close to Benson,Oxfordshire but on the opposite bank of the river. The first pound lock here was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1788 and it was replaced by the present masonry lock in 1870. The distance between Benson Lock and Cleeve Lock downstream is 6.5 miles (10.4 km) - the longest distance between locks on the River Thames.

The weir runs from the lock island level with the lock across to the Benson side. There is a footbridge over the weir which replaced the ferry which operated here previously.

History

, although the first definite reference to this is in 1746. The pound lock was built of oak in 1788 and it is noted that, uniquely for this lock, "Low Country men" were employed at a higher than average wage. Thacker conjectures that these were Dutch specialists. The lock was rebuilt of masonry in 1870. Originally the lock was attended (or not - according to some accounts) by the miller, but there is reference to a (deserted) lock house in 1865. [Fred. S. Thacker "The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs" 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles] The present lock keeper's house dates from 1913.

Access to and across the lock

The lock is a short distance from the town of Benson and can be reached across the weir.

Reach above the lock

About halfway along the reach, the river passes through Shillingford and under Shillingford Bridge. For a great part of the way the two round topped hills of the Wittenham Clumps are in view. After Shillingford the River Thame enters the river from the direction of Dorchester which is a short way to the north.

The Thames Path, which crosses the river at the lock, follows a road in Benson and rejoins the river, running along the northern/eastern bank to Shillingford. At Shillingford the path follows a diversion through the town, rejoining the river outside the town. It continues on the northern bank, over the River Thame to Little Wittenham Bridge where it crosses just before Day's Lock.

ee also

* Locks on the River Thames
* Crossings of the River Thames

References

River item line|upstream = northern bank
Day's Lock
downstream = southern bank
Goring and Streatley Bridge