Bray Lock

Last updated

Bray Lock
Bray Lock, Buckinghamshire.jpg
Bray Lock, Buckinghamshire
Waterway River Thames
County Buckinghamshire
Maintained by Environment Agency
OperationHydraulic
First built1845
Latest built1888
Length40.94 m (134 ft 4 in) [1]
Width5.46 m (17 ft 11 in) [1]
Fall1.46 m (4 ft 9 in) [1]
Above sea level69'
Distance to
Teddington Lock
29 miles
Bray Lock
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River Thames
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Fleet River
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A3094 road bridge
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weir
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Hedsor Wharf
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weir
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bridges
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Cookham Lock
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Formosa Island
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Strand Water
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White Brook
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Maidenhead Ditch
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Mill Race
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Kayaking
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Ray Mill
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Boulter's Lock
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Taplow mill
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Jubilee River --
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-- (to Old Windsor Lock)
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Ray Mill Road West
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Grass Eyot
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Bridge Eyot
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Moor Cut
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A4 Bath Road
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High St.(Chapel Arches)
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York Road
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Guards Club Island
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Great Western Main Line
Maidenhead Railway Bridge
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Forlease Road
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York Stream
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Weir and boat rollers
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(proposed Green Lane lock)
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St Michael's Church, Bray
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Bray Cut
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Headpile Eyot
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Bray Lock, island and weir
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Bray Mill
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The Cut, Berkshire
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The Cut
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Bray marina
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River Thames

Bray Lock is a lock and weir on the River Thames in England near Bray and Dorney Reach, 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. Here, the county line stands roughly halfway between the lock and the opposite bank, following the course of the Thames itself. 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.

Contents

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

The Gloriana approaching Bray Lock from upstream Royal Barge Gloriana approaching Bray Lock, 23rd of July.JPG
The Gloriana approaching Bray Lock from upstream

There was a mill recorded on the site in the Domesday book and in 1328 there was a reference to "Richard atte Lock of Bray" occupying a weir called Braibrok. [2] Fifty years later in 1377 there are records of travellers complaining of the excessive tolls at a flash lock on the site called Hameldon Lock. [2] Both the lock and the weirs were removed in 1510 by order of the Commissioner of Sewers.

In 1622 a new flash lock was built by Thomas Manfield [2] and presence of water pens is noted in 1632. Navigation may in earlier times have used York Stream which went on the other side of Bray to Maidenhead. A pound lock and weir were first proposed 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 and no tolls were collected. [3] Sides were added before 1877 and the lock and weir were rebuilt in 1885. [4] Prior to the rebuilding Charles Dickens had described Bray Lock as a "rotten and dangerous structure". [3]

Incidents

On 2 August 2015, a privately owned cabin cruiser carrying four adults and four children suffered a catastrophic explosion of its propane canisters, caused by the ignition of fuel that had accidentally been poured down a waste pipe. Six of the eight people involved, including a three-year-old boy, were rushed to St. George's Hospital in London and John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxfordshire by Air Ambulance for treatment. [5] [6] [7] Another man suffered minor injuries, but was treated at the scene. Members of the public, including the Lock keeper, assisted in the efforts, evacuating the injured from the destroyed boat onto a hire craft for triage.

Reach above the lock

Bray from the River Thames BrayBerks01.JPG
Bray from the River Thames

Immediately above the lock is Headpile Eyot. Bray is on the Berkshire bank while the Buckinghamshire bank has open fields. 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. [8]

Along the banks of the reach are multiple mansions and boathouses, many of which have been or are owned by high-profile British Celebrities such as Michael Parkinson and Rolf Harris.

Above the bridge are the islands of Bridge Eyot and Grass Eyot before Boulter's Lock with Taplow on the Buckinghamshire side.

Maidenhead Regatta takes place below the railway bridge in August, and is followed by the annual Thames Punting Championships. The Maidenhead Junior regatta is held in May.

Sports clubs

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.

See also

Related Research Articles

Locks and weirs on the River Thames

The English River Thames is navigable from Cricklade or Lechlade to the sea, and this part of the river falls 71 meters (234 feet). There are 45 locks on the river, each with one or more adjacent weirs. These lock and weir combinations are used for controlling the flow of water down the river, most notably when there is a risk of flooding, and provide for navigation above the tideway.

Teddington Lock Series of locks on the River Thames in London

Teddington Lock is a complex of three locks and a weir on the River Thames between Ham and Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. Historically in Middlesex, it was first built in 1810.

Caversham Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Caversham Lock is a lock and main weir on the River Thames in England at Reading, Berkshire. Both the lock and main weir are connected to De Bohun Island. The Thames Navigation Commissioners built the original lock in 1778. Additional sluices north of View Island and Heron Island form the whole weir complex. A footbridge passes over all three islands to connect Lower Caversham to Reading via a route other than George Street and Reading Bridge.

Marsh Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Marsh Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England, about 1 mile upstream of Henley Bridge in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. The lock is close to the Berkshire bank, but accessed from the Oxfordshire side via two long walkways, the downstream one being near Mill Meadows. The first pound lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1773.

Sonning Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Sonning Lock is a lock and associated weir situated on the River Thames at the village of Sonning near Reading, Berkshire, England. The first lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1773 and it has been rebuilt three times since then. There is a weir a little upstream at the top of the island where Sonning Backwater separates from the main course of the river.

Whitchurch Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England

Whitchurch Lock is a lock and weir on the River Thames in England. It is a pound lock, built by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1787. It is on an island near the Oxfordshire village of Whitchurch-on-Thames and is accessible only by boat.

Shiplake Lock Lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England

Shiplake Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England between the villages of Shiplake and Lower 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.

Cookham Lock Lock and weirs on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Cookham Lock is a lock with weirs situated on the River Thames near Cookham, Berkshire, about a half-mile downstream of Cookham Bridge. The lock is set in a lock cut which is one of four streams here and it is surrounded by woods. On one side is Sashes Island and on the other is Mill Island connected to Formosa Island, the largest on the non-tidal Thames.

Hambleden Lock Lock on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Hambleden Lock is a lock with a long weir situated on the River Thames in England, about 2 miles downstream of Henley Bridge. The lock is on the Berkshire bank between Aston and Remenham. Built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1773, the lock is named after the village of Hambleden, a mile (1.5 km) to the north.

Boulters Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames, England

Boulter's Lock is a lock and weir on the River Thames in England north-east of Maidenhead town centre, Berkshire. The present 1912-built lock replaces those at this point of the river to the immediate east dating from the late 16th century and that of 1772 built by the Thames Navigation Commission. The lock is on the western side of the north-south flowing reach between the A4094 Maidenhead to Cookham road and Ray Mill Island. The name is variably used for the immediate surrounding area.

Days Lock

Day's Lock is a lock on the River Thames near Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England on the Dorchester side of the river.

Molesey Lock Lock on the River Thames in Surrey, England

Molesey Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England at East Molesey, Surrey on the right bank.

Temple Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire, England

Temple Lock is a lock and weir situated on the Buckinghamshire bank of the River Thames near Temple Mill Island opposite Temple Meadows and not far from Hurley, Berkshire. It was first built by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1773.

Marlow Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire, England

Marlow Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in the town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, about 300m downstream of Marlow Bridge. The first pound lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1773.

Sunbury Lock Lock on the River Thames in Surrey, England

Sunbury Lock is a lock complex of the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey, the third lowest of forty four on the non-tidal reaches. The complex adjoins the right, southern bank about 12 mile (0.80 km) downstream of the Weir Hotel.

Penton Hook Lock Lock on the River Thames in Surrey, England

Penton Hook Lock is the sixth lowest lock of forty four on the non-tidal reaches of the River Thames in England. It faces an island which was until its construction a pronounced meander and is on the site of its seasonal cutoff. It is against the left bank marking the church parish medieval border of Laleham and Staines upon Thames in Surrey for many centuries. Until 1965 their county was Middlesex. At 266 ft (81 m) it is the third longest lock on the river.

Bell Weir Lock Lock on the River Thames in England

Bell Weir Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England by the right bank, Runnymede which is a water meadow associated with Egham of importance for the constitutional Magna Carta. It is upstream of the terrace of a hotel and the a bridge designed by Edwin Lutyens who designed an ornamental park gate house along the reach. The bridge has been widened and carries the M25 and A30 road across the river in a single span. The lock was first built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1817; it has one weir which is upstream. The lock is the eighth lowest of forty-five on the river and is named after the founder of the forerunner of the adjoining hotel who took charge of the lock and weir on its construction.

Old Windsor Lock Lock on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Old Windsor Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England on the right bank beside Old Windsor, Berkshire. The lock marks the downstream end of the New Cut, a meander cutoff built in 1822 by the Thames Navigation Commissioners which created Ham Island. The lock and a wider footbridge give access to the island. Two weirs are associated; the smaller adjoins and the larger is upstream. The lock is the ninth lowest of the forty-five on the river.

Boveney Lock Lock on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire, England

Boveney Lock is a lock on the River Thames situated on the Buckinghamshire bank opposite the Windsor Racecourse and close to Eton Wick. Boveney is a village a little way upstream on the same side. The lock was first built in 1838 by the Thames Navigation Commission. The lock was rebuilt in 1898 closer to the Buckinghamshire bank, and a set of boat rollers were installed on the old site.

Hurley Lock Lock and weir on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Hurley Lock is a lock and weir on the River Thames in England, situated in a clump of wooded islands close to the village of Hurley, Berkshire. The lock was first built by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1773.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  2. 1 2 3 Over, Luke (1993). The Royal Hundred of Bray. Tyrrell, Chris (Illustrations). Cliveden Press. ISBN   0-9521969-0-5.
  3. 1 2 Kemplay, John (2000). The Thames Locks. Ronald Crowhurst. ISBN   0-9518964-1-5.
  4. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 – republished 1968 David & Charles
  5. [ dead link ]
  6. Raven, David (2 August 2015). "Six in hospital after boat explosion on River Thames". mirror.
  7. "Seven injured in boat explosion". BBC. 2 August 2015.
  8. Paul Goldsack, River Thames: In the Footsteps of the Famous, English Heritage/Bradt, 2003.
Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Boulter's Lock
3.43 km (2.13 mi) [1]
Bray Lock
Grid reference: SU909797
Boveney Lock
5.10 km (3.17 mi) [1]

Coordinates: 51°30′32″N0°41′30″W / 51.50893°N 0.69159°W / 51.50893; -0.69159

  1. 1 2 "Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012. Distances given in km