Northmoor Lock
Encyclopedia
Northmoor Lock is a lock
on the River Thames
in Oxfordshire
, England, on the northern bank about a mile from Northmoor
.
The lock was built in 1896 by the Thames Conservancy
to replace a flash lock
at Hart's Weir, also known as Ridge's Weir, about a mile upstream and another at Ark Weir downstream. The lock house, lock and weir are relatively little changed since they were built and they can be viewed as a group from the Thames Path
and from the river
The weir is just the other side of the lock island and is one of only two remaining complete paddle and rhymer (or rimer) manually operated weirs. It is thought that there are no other such weirs in the world.
, which is an equal distance away on the opposite bank. It can also be reached by the Thames Path
from Bablock Hythe
and Newbridge
.
on the site of the old weir. Further along, the river is crossed by the 13th century Newbridge
at the confluence of the River Windrush
.
The Thames Path
follows the northern bank to Newbridge, and then crosses over and continues on the south bank to Shifford. There it crosses again, over the old course of the river, to Shifford Lock and then crossed the lock cu towards Chimney Meadows.
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...
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 Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England, on the northern bank about a mile from Northmoor
Northmoor, Oxfordshire
Northmoor is a village and civil parish in West Oxfordshire, west of Oxford and almost southeast of Witney. Northmoor is in the valley of the River Thames, which bounds the parish to the east and south, and is close to the River Windrush which forms part of the parish's western...
.
The lock was built in 1896 by the Thames Conservancy
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
to replace a flash lock
Flash 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....
at Hart's Weir, also known as Ridge's Weir, about a mile upstream and another at Ark Weir downstream. The lock house, lock and weir are relatively little changed since they were built and they can be viewed as a group from 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....
and from the river
The weir is just the other side of the lock island and is one of only two remaining complete paddle and rhymer (or rimer) manually operated weirs. It is thought that there are no other such weirs in the world.
Access to the lock
The lock is remote from the village of Northmoor and some distance walk across country. The weir can be reached from AppletonAppleton, Oxfordshire
Appleton is a village in the civil parish of Appleton-with-Eaton, about northwest of Abingdon. Appleton was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Manor:...
, which is an equal distance away on the opposite bank. It can also be reached by 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....
from Bablock Hythe
Bablock Hythe
Bablock Hythe is a small hamlet in Oxfordshire, situated 5 miles west of Oxford city centre. In 1974 it was transferred from Berkshire. There was formerly an important vehicular ferry across the River Thames at Bablock Hythe on the reach above Pinkhill Lock....
and Newbridge
Newbridge
-Ireland:*Newbridge, County Kildare — sometimes known by its Irish name, Droichead Nua*Newbridge, County Galway*Newbridge, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland-United Kingdom:*Newbridge, Bath, electoral ward...
.
Reach above the lock
Along the reach is the Hart's Weir FootbridgeHart's Weir Footbridge
Hart's Weir Footbridge is a single-span concrete footbridge across the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England. Locally, it is also known as Rainbow Bridge, due to its rainbow-arc appearance as seen from the horizon...
on the site of the old weir. Further along, the river is crossed by the 13th century Newbridge
Newbridge, Oxfordshire
Newbridge is a 13th century bridge carrying the A415 road over the River Thames in Oxfordshire, between Abingdon and Witney, close to the Thames' confluence with the River Windrush...
at the confluence of the River Windrush
River Windrush
The River Windrush is a river in the English Cotswolds, forming part of the River Thames catchment.The Windrush starts in the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire northeast of Taddington, which is north of Guiting Power, Temple Guiting, Ford and Cutsdean...
.
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 northern bank to Newbridge, and then crosses over and continues on the south bank to Shifford. There it crosses again, over the old course of the river, to Shifford Lock and then crossed the lock cu towards Chimney Meadows.
External links
- Northmoor Lock at riverthames.co.uk
- Picture of Northmoor Lock at geograph.org.uk