Marlow Lock

Last updated

Marlow Lock
MarlowLock01.JPG
Marlow Lock from downstream
Marlow Lock
Waterway River Thames
County Buckinghamshire
Maintained by Environment Agency
OperationHydraulic
First built1773
Latest built1927
Length46.10 m (151 ft 3 in) [1]
Width6.07 m (19 ft 11 in) [1]
Fall2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) [1]
Above sea level88'
Distance to
Teddington Lock
37 miles
Marlow Lock
BSicon uSTR.svg
River Thames
BSicon uSTR+l.svg
BSicon uABZgr.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon uFGATEu.svg
Temple Lock
BSicon uWEIRr.svg
BSicon ueABZg+r.svg
BSicon ueMILL.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
Temple Mill
BSicon uSKRZ-Eu.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
Temple Mill Island
BSicon uSTRl.svg
BSicon uABZg+r.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
BSicon uSKRZ-Yu.svg
Marlow Suspension Bridge
BSicon uexSTR+l.svg
BSicon uWEIRl.svg
BSicon uexSTR.svg
BSicon uFGATEu.svg
Marlow Lock
BSicon uexSTRl.svg
BSicon ueABZg+r.svg
BSicon uexSTR+l.svg
BSicon ueABZgr.svg
BSicon uexSKRZ-Au.svg
BSicon uSKRZ-Au.svg
A404 Marlow By-pass Bridge
BSicon uexSTRl.svg
BSicon ueABZg+r.svg
BSicon uSTR.svg
River Thames
Marlow Lock MarlowLock.JPG
Marlow Lock
Marlow weir on the left upstream of the lock MarlowLock03.JPG
Marlow weir on the left upstream of the lock

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.

Contents

The weir stretches a long way upstream above the lock.

History

Marlow lock house, viewed from inside the chamber before being filled to travel upstream MarlowLock02.JPG
Marlow lock house, viewed from inside the chamber before being filled to travel upstream

A weir at Marlow is recorded in Domesday book, and there are 14th century records of a winch to pull traffic through a flash lock. The lock was very problematical and in the 16th and 17th century there are accounts of conflicts between millers and navigators. A particular problem was the shallow draught. The first pound lock was built of fir in 1773, the seventh downstream of the eight built after the 1770 navigation act. It was upstream of the present lock and still proved problematical. Rollers were needed to guide barges in, and as there was no towpath, barges needed tow ropes several hundred feet long. The lock needed extensive repairs in 1780 and a year later eel bucks had to be removed from the flash lock in case it was needed. The first lock house was erected in 1815 and in 1825 the lock was reconstructed on its present site of Headington stone. The weir was rebuilt in 1872. [2] The last rebuilding of the lock occurred in 1927.

Access to the lock

The lock is easily accessible, being located on the town side, accessed via a short footpath off Mill Lane. In Marlow town the Thames Path passes through town back streets including Mill Lane, so the short diversion is required to visit the lock.

Reach above the lock

Marlow from the river MarlowLockReach01.JPG
Marlow from the river
Bisham looking downstream MarlowLockReach02.JPG
Bisham looking downstream

The long weir stretches several hundred yards above the lock, and beyond it is Marlow suspension bridge close to the church. Once the river leaves the Marlow, it curls through hills and beechwoods. On the Berkshire side is Bisham Abbey, a fine old mansion associated with Anne of Cleves and Queen Elizabeth that is now one of the National Sports Centres. Further upstream is the church of Bisham itself.

Temple Mill Island is just downstream of Temple Lock.

Temple Regatta takes place in early May between Marlow Bridge and Temple Lock, and Marlow Town Regatta is held in June.

Sports clubs

Thames Path

After diverting from the river about 200m downstream of the lock, the Thames Path runs through town back streets, passing just north of the lock in Mill Lane. The path rejoins the river at Marlow Bridge. It does not cross the bridge, but passes through Higginson Park and continues on the Bucks side to Temple Lock.

Literature and the media

The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley lived in Marlow and spent much of his time on the river above the lock in a skiff. It was during this time that he composed The Revolt of Islam. [3]

The lock was used in 1970 to film the scene in the The Ambassadors of Death episode of Doctor Who, when Liz Shaw is chased onto the weir. [4]

See also

Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Temple Lock
2.7 km (1.7 mi) [5]
Marlow Lock
Grid reference: SU851861
Cookham Lock
6.44 km (4.00 mi) [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlow, Buckinghamshire</span> Town in Buckinghamshire, England

Marlow is a town and civil parish within the Unitary Authority of Buckinghamshire, England. It is located on the River Thames, 4 miles (6 km) south-southwest of High Wycombe, 5 miles (8 km) west-northwest of Maidenhead and 33 miles (53 km) west of central London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Locks and weirs on the River Thames</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlow Bridge</span> Bridge in Marlow

Marlow Bridge is a road traffic and foot bridge over the River Thames in England between the town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire and the village of Bisham in Berkshire. It crosses the Thames just upstream of Marlow Lock, on the reach to Temple Lock. The bridge is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddington Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caversham Lock</span> 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, known as The Clappers, passes over the weir and all three islands to connect Lower Caversham to Reading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marsh Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonning Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiplake Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cookham Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thames Path</span> National Trail following the River Thames in England

The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from one of its sources near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about 185 miles (298 km) long. A path was first proposed in 1948 but it only opened in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hambleden Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulter's Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iffley Lock</span> Lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England

Iffley Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England near the village of Iffley, Oxfordshire. It is on the southern outskirts of Oxford. The original lock was built by the Oxford-Burcot Commission in 1631 and the Thames Navigation Commission replaced this in 1793. The lock has a set of rollers to allow punts and rowing boats to be moved between the water levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepperton Lock</span> Lock on the River Thames in Surrey, England

Shepperton Lock is a lock on the River Thames, in England by the left bank at Shepperton, Surrey. It is across the river from Weybridge which is nearby linked by a passenger ferry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunbury Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chertsey Lock</span> Lock on the River Thames in Surrey, England

Chertsey Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England, against the left bank, an area of Green Belt including Laleham Park, the largest public park in Spelthorne. It faces the town of Chertsey and is the fifth-lowest of the forty-four locks along the non-tidal course of the river. Owing to a course alteration both banks at the site of the lock have been since medieval times in Surrey. Stone-built Chertsey Bridge built in 1785 is 210 m south (downstream) of the lock. The lock was built by the City of London Corporation in 1813, lengthened in 1893 and again in 1913.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penton Hook Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell Weir Lock</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romney Lock</span> Lock on the River Thames in Berkshire, England

Romney Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England near Windsor and Eton, about half a mile downstream of Windsor Bridge. It is on the Windsor side of the river next to a boatyard and adjoins Romney Island, a long strip-shaped ait in the middle of the river. The first lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1798.

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. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  3. Thomas Medwin The Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley
  4. Mulkern, Patrick. "The Ambassadors of Death". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. 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

51°34′02″N0°46′08″W / 51.5673°N 0.768812°W / 51.5673; -0.768812