Bray Lock

Infobox Waterlock
lock_name = Bray 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= Bray Lock, Berkshire
waterway = River Thames
county = Buckinghamshire
maint = Environment Agency
operation = Hydraulic
first = 1845
latest = 1888
length = 134' 4" (40.94m)
width = 17' 11" (5.46m)
fall = 4' 9" (1.46m)
sealevel = 69'
enda = Teddington Lock
distenda = 29 miles
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Bray Lock is a lock and weir on the River Thames in England near Bray and Dorney and is just above the M4 Bridge across the Thames. The lock is on the Buckinghamshire side of the river on the opposite bank from Bray itself and Maidenhead which are in Berkshire. The pound lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission relatively late in 1845 The lock keeper's cottage is on an island (Parting Eyot) between the lock and the weir. The weir is almost level with the lock and runs straight across to the opposite bank from the other side of the lock island.

History

There was a mill recorded here in Domesday book with water pens noted in 1632. Navigation may in earlier times have used York Stream which went on the other side of Bray to Maidenhead. The first time a lock and weir was proposed was in 1833 for the "improvement of navigation two or three miles above". The fall between Maidenhead and Boveney was large, leading to shallows and a strong current. The towpath was on the Buckinghamshire bank, and navigation on the Berkshire side, so tow ropes had to pass across the island. The suggestion of a lock was made again in 1843 and a lock house built on Parting Eyot with an open-sided lock the following year. The miller contributed to the cost of the weir. The lock was often left open except when river levels were low. Sides were added before 1877 and the lock and weir were rebuilt in 1885. [Fred. S. Thacker "The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs" 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles]

Reach above the lock

Immediately above the lock is Headpile Eyot. Further along the reach is Brunel's Maidenhead Railway Bridge, known as the "Sounding Bridge" from the spectacular echo underneath it. The Maidenhead bank is lined with large Edwardian houses up to Maidenhead Bridge beside which is the Skindles Hotel once a notorious rendez-vous for illicit coupling. Above the bridge are the islands of Bridge Eyot and Grass Eyot before Boulter's Lock with Taplow on the Buckinghamshire side. Maidenhead Regatta used to take place from the railway bridge in August, but has been transferred to Dorney Lake. The Maidenhead Junior regatta is held in May.

ports clubs

*Maidenhead Rowing Club

Thames Path

The Thames Path follows the Bucks (Eastern) bank to Maidenhead Bridge, which it crosses, and then proceeds on the Berkshire side to Boulter's Lock.

ee also

* Locks on the River Thames
* Rowing on the River Thames

References