Shiplake Lock

Infobox Waterlock
lock_name = Shiplake 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"] ]

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caption = Shiplake lock looking downstream with Shiplake Railway Bridge in the distance
waterway = River Thames
county = Oxfordshire
length = 133’ 4” (40.64m)
width = 18’ 3” (5.56m)
fall = 5’ 1” (1.55m)
maint = Environment Agency
operation = Hydraulic
first = 1773
latest = 1874
sealevel = 110'
enda = Teddington Lock
distenda = 49 miles
endb =
distendb =
map_

coordinates =
lat =
long =

Shiplake Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England near the village of Shiplake, Oxfordshire. It is just above the points where the River Loddon joins the Thames and Shiplake Railway Bridge crosses the river. The first pound lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1773.

The weir is some distance upstream of the lock between the lock island and Berkshire bank.

History

There is reference to the weir and flash lock at this location in the 16th century when it was known as "Cotterell's", a name which persisted after the pound lock was built. It was the second downstream of the eight locks built after the navigation act of 1770, and was completed in fir wood in 1773. At this time the towpath upstream was transferred from the Berkshire to the Oxfordshire bank. The lock had to be rebuilt of oak in 1787 as the fir had decayed. There were two mills on the island at this time. The lock was rebuilt again in 1874 and the weir in 1885. The lock island was purchased by the City of London Corporation for camping in 1889, and in 1907 the ruined mills were demolished. [Fred. S. Thacker "The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs" 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles] Shiplake Lock was the first lock on the Thames to have hydraulic operation installed in 1961.

Access to the lock

The lock can be reached from Lower Shiplake down Mill Road, and into Mill Lane, where it is a short walk across a field to the lock

Reach above the lock

The river skirts Shiplake on the Oxfordshire bank and eventually passes into Sonning. Phillimore Island is just above the lock, and on the hill on the Shiplake bank is Shiplake House now the premises of Shiplake College. The college boat house is on the river bank at this point. Further on there is a double bend with two large islands The Lynch, and Hallsmead Ait followed by Buck Ait. On the bank opposite the Ait is St Patrick's Stream. This stream is believed to have been a tributary stream of the River Loddon which became an outfall when the water level was raised by the building of Shiplake Lock. [Fred. S. Thacker "The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs" 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles] Apart from a small development here, the river banks are open fields to Sonning Bridge. Sonning lock is a short was upstream of the bridge, but there is a large backwater branching before the bridge on the Sonning Eye side which is crossed by Sonning Backwater Bridges.

Thames Path

The Thames Path stays on the Oxfordshire bank to Sonning, where it crosses the bridge to the other side and continues to Sonning Lock.

Literature and the media

Shiplake Lock was a favourite place for fishing for the young George Orwell and his Buddicom friends. [Jacintha Buddicom "Eric & Us" 2nd ed Finlay Publisher 2006]

See also

*Locks on the River Thames

References