Mapledurham Lock

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Mapledurham Lock
Mapledurham Lock on a fine August day
Waterway	River Thames
County	Berkshire
Maintained by	Environment Agency
Operation	Hydraulic
First built	1778
Latest built	1908
Length	202’ 5” (61.69m)
Width	21’ 1” (6.42m)
Fall	6’ 9” (2.05m)
Above Sea Level	127'
Distance to Teddington Lock	59 miles

Mapledurham Lock
legend River Thames weir River Pang Whitchurch Lock Whitchurch Mill Whitchurch Bridge island Mapledurham Lock and weir Mapledurham Mill River Thames

Mapledurham Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England. The lock was first built in 1778 by the Thames Navigation Commissioners out of fir, which was replaced in 1867. Despite its name, Mapledurham Lock is actually located by the Berkshire village of Purley-On-Thames, rather than at the Oxfordshire village of Mapledurham, which is on the other side of the river.

The weir stretches level with the lock from the lock island in a long curve across the river between the two villages. Mapledurham Watermill is still functioning at the site, making this the only lock and weir combination on the Thames that supports the two functions that were originally the norm on river navigations. Besides providing the depth of water that permits navigation upstream of the lock, the weir also provides a head of water to drive the mill. As both mill and navigation are now principally tourist enterprises, this no longer leads to the sort of conflicts between milling and navigation interests that were once common on the river. The weir is also the furthest upstream on the Thames that has a salmon ladder.

No access is possible across the weir, and without a boat, journeys between the two villages require a lengthy detour via Reading or Pangbourne.

Contents 1 Access to the lock 2 Reach above the lock 3 Literature and the Media 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Access to the lock

The lock is accessible from Purley, by going down Mapledurham Drive, a metalled lane that turns to gravel.

[edit] Reach above the lock

The river is in open country nearly all the way to Whitchurch and has been described by Robert Gibbings writing in 1939 (Sweet Thames Run Softly) as so crowded with views "they might have dropped from the gold frames of the Royal Academy". Whitchurch Bridge is at the top end of the reach, and between the bridge and Whitchurch Lock, the River Pang joins the Thames from Pangbourne..

The Thames Path follows the southern bank to Whitchurch Bridge, where it crosses the river. (Although this is a toll bridge, pedestrians are no longer charged).

[edit] Literature and the Media

The artist E. H. Shepherd who illustrated The Wind in the Willows made many drawings in this area, and Toad Hall is said to be based on either Mapledurham House or Hardwick Hall nearby.

[edit] See also

• Locks on the River Thames

[edit] External links

• visitthames.co.uk - Official Thames site
• Visitthames.co.uk - Mapledurham lock - Mapledurham lock information on visitthames.co.uk

Next lock upstream	River Thames	Next lock downstream
Whitchurch Lock 2.28 miles	Mapledurham Lock Grid reference: SU667768	Caversham Lock 4.40 miles

Coordinates: 51.48623° N 1.04078° W