Caversham Lock
Encyclopedia
Caversham Lock is a lock
and weir
situated on the River Thames
in England at Reading
, Berkshire
. The lock is connected to De Bohun Island, a somewhat larger than normal lock island. The original lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1778.
The weir is almost parallel to the lock and carries a footbridge across the river.
The island contains a typical lock-keeper's house, and until recently there was also a boat yard and boat house used by the Environment Agency
's river patrol and maintenance services. , proposals to redevelop the island and some adjoining land are under discussion.
on the site were referenced in 1493 when granted to Notley Abbey. The pound lock opened in 1778, but the lock house, long promised, was not built until after 1819. In 1871 Reading Corporation planned to build a swingbridge over the lock cut upstream of the lock, but this was not implemented. The lock was rebuilt in 1875.
and is easily accessible from the centre of Reading.
The lock can also be reached from the Lower Caversham area of the cross-river suburb of Caversham
via the weir and island, which provides a pedestrian route to the centre of Reading.
followed by Fry's Island
in the middle of the river. The built up part of Reading continues on the southern side to Caversham Bridge
, to which is attached Pipers Island
. The northern bank passes through the suburb of Caversham, where St Mary's Island
is close to the bank.Reading Amateur Regatta
is held annually in June between St Mary's Island and Caversham Bridge. Reading Festival is held on August Bank Holiday at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue near Caversham Bridge. During the festival a temporary structure, Reading Festival Bridge
, links the site with parking and camping areas on the open meadows on the north bank. Here the Chiltern Hills
can be seen in the background.
On the south bank, after the open space, is Tilehurst
, where the river turns north with the two islands of Appletree Eyot
and Poplar Island
in the centre of the river. The railway runs parallel to the river for some way on a high brick embankment, and further upstream on the southern bank is Purley-on-Thames
. On the northern bank Mapledurham House
comes into view as the river continues northwards towards Mapledurham Lock.
The Thames Path
follows the southern bank to Mapledurham lock.
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
and weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
situated on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in England at Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. The lock is connected to De Bohun Island, a somewhat larger than normal lock island. The original lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1778.
The weir is almost parallel to the lock and carries a footbridge across the river.
The island contains a typical lock-keeper's house, and until recently there was also a boat yard and boat house used by the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
's river patrol and maintenance services. , proposals to redevelop the island and some adjoining land are under discussion.
History
A weir, mill, ferry and flash lockFlash lock
Early locks were designed with a single gate, known as a flash lock or staunch lock. The earliest European references to what were clearly flash locks were in Roman times....
on the site were referenced in 1493 when granted to Notley Abbey. The pound lock opened in 1778, but the lock house, long promised, was not built until after 1819. In 1871 Reading Corporation planned to build a swingbridge over the lock cut upstream of the lock, but this was not implemented. The lock was rebuilt in 1875.
Access to and across the lock
The lock is not far from Reading railway stationReading railway station
Reading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
and is easily accessible from the centre of Reading.
The lock can also be reached from the Lower Caversham area of the cross-river suburb of Caversham
Caversham, Berkshire
Caversham is a suburb and former village in the unitary authority of Reading, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, within the royal county of Berkshire, on the opposite bank from the rest of Reading...
via the weir and island, which provides a pedestrian route to the centre of Reading.
Reach above the lock
Soon after the lock is Reading BridgeReading Bridge
Reading Bridge is a road bridge over the River Thames at Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The bridge links the centre of Reading on the south bank with the Lower Caversham area of the cross-river suburb, and former village, of Caversham on the north bank...
followed by Fry's Island
Fry's Island
Fry's Island, also known as De Montfort Island, is an island in the River Thames in England. The island is on the reach above Caversham Lock at Reading, Berkshire. The centre of Reading is to the south and the suburb of Caversham to the immediate north.Fry's Island is a natural island, the only...
in the middle of the river. The built up part of Reading continues on the southern side to Caversham Bridge
Caversham Bridge
Caversham Bridge is a bridge across the River Thames between Caversham and the town centre of Reading. The bridge is situated on the reach above Caversham Lock, carrying the A4155 road across the river and also providing pedestrian access to the adjacent mid-river Pipers Island.The first bridge on...
, to which is attached Pipers Island
Pipers Island
Pipers Island is a small island in the English River Thames, on the reach above Caversham Lock. It is located close to the centre of the town of Reading and immediately adjacent to Caversham Bridge, a road bridge that links that town to its suburb of Caversham.Pipers Island is entirely occupied by...
. The northern bank passes through the suburb of Caversham, where St Mary's Island
St Mary's Island, River Thames
St Mary's Island is an island in the River Thames in England.The island is on the reach above Caversham Lock on the western outskirts of the town of Reading, Berkshire. It is close in to the northern bank in an area called The Fishery and is unpopulated.- External links :* including a from the BBC...
is close to the bank.Reading Amateur Regatta
Reading Amateur Regatta
Reading Amateur Regatta is a rowing regatta, on the River Thames in England which takes place at Reading, Berkshire on the reach above Caversham Lock....
is held annually in June between St Mary's Island and Caversham Bridge. Reading Festival is held on August Bank Holiday at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue near Caversham Bridge. During the festival a temporary structure, Reading Festival Bridge
Reading Festival Bridge
The Reading Festival Bridge is an occasionally present footbridge over the River Thames at Reading in the English county of Berkshire. When present, the bridge links the site of the Reading Festival, on the south bank of the river, with camp sites and car parking on the north bank...
, links the site with parking and camping areas on the open meadows on the north bank. Here the Chiltern Hills
Chiltern Hills
The Chiltern Hills form a chalk escarpment in South East England. They are known locally as "the Chilterns". A large portion of the hills was designated officially as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1965.-Location:...
can be seen in the background.
Tilehurst
Tilehurst is a suburb of the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It is also, with different boundaries as described below, a civil parish in West Berkshire district.-History:...
, where the river turns north with the two islands of Appletree Eyot
Appletree Eyot
Appletree Eyot is an island in the River Thames at Reading, Berkshire, in England.The island is on the reach above Caversham Lock about 3km from Tilehurst, a suburb of Reading. Poplar Island is very close to it. The two islands are in the middle of the river, so that navigation goes to each side of...
and Poplar Island
Poplar Island, River Thames
Poplar Island is an island in the River Thames at Reading, Berkshire, England.The island is on the reach above Caversham Lock near Tilehurst and Appletree Eyot is very close to it. The two islands are in the middle of the river, so that navigation goes to each side of them according to the rules of...
in the centre of the river. The railway runs parallel to the river for some way on a high brick embankment, and further upstream on the southern bank is Purley-on-Thames
Purley-on-Thames
Purley on Thames or simply Purley, is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It forms part of the Reading urban area, but remains outside the borough, in West Berkshire. The village is situated about north-west of Reading, and east of Pangbourne...
. On the northern bank Mapledurham House
Mapledurham House
Mapledurham House is an Elizabethan stately home located in the civil parish of Mapledurham in the English county of Oxfordshire.-History and architecture:...
comes into view as the river continues northwards towards Mapledurham Lock.
The Thames Path
Thames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail, opened in 1996, following the length of the River Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier at Charlton. It is about long....
follows the southern bank to Mapledurham lock.
See also
- Locks on the River ThamesLocks on the River ThamesThe English River Thames is navigable from Cricklade or Lechlade to the sea, and this part of the river falls 71 metres . There are 45 locks on the river, each with one or more adjacent weirs...
- Crossings of the River ThamesCrossings of the River ThamesThis is a list of crossings of the River Thames including bridges, tunnels and ferries. There are 214 bridges, over 20 tunnels, six public ferries and one ford.-Barrier and boundary:...
- Islands in the River ThamesIslands in the River ThamesThis article lists the islands in the River Thames, in England. It excludes many of the smaller lock islands that were created when weirs and locks were built, and also some very small islands that immediately adjoin the larger ones. The Isle of Dogs and Isle of Grain are no longer islands although...