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The construction of the lock cut was delayed because the owner of the land was "a lunatic", but it was eventually completed in 1822 together with the lock. No weir was built at the time, giving rise to complaints. In 1826, the Lord Mayor of London visited Oxford by boat, and the City Barge, ] and attendant boats were "detained at Clifton a considerable length of time. The construction of the lock cut was delayed because the owner of the land was "a lunatic", but it was eventually completed in 1822 together with the lock. No weir was built at the time, giving rise to complaints. In 1826, the Lord Mayor of London visited Oxford by boat, and the City Barge, ] and attendant boats were "detained at Clifton a considerable length of time."

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The weir was eventually erected on the old navigation in 1835. It was enlarged by 1877 and a tumbling bay was created close to the lock. The lock cut bridges were rebuilt in 1884.<ref>Fred. S. Thacker ''The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs'' 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles</ref> The weir was eventually erected on the old navigation in 1835 so the towpath around the old navigation channel fell into disuse. It was enlarged by 1877 and a tumbling bay was created close to the lock. The lock cut bridges were rebuilt in 1884.<ref>Fred. S. Thacker ''The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs'' 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles</ref>


==Access to the Lock== ==Access to the Lock==


The lock is at the end of a long track which starts on the ] to Abingdon just after it leaves Clifton Hampden (10&nbsp;mph signs). On the way to the lock, this track meets another track from the end of the High Street Clifton Hampden. The status of these tracks is unclear as signs state "Farm only". The access to the lock from the A415 is not a public road and is limited to authorized persons only! The lock is at the end of a long track which starts on the ] to Abingdon just opposite Fullamor Farm to the west of Clifton Hampden village. This is joined by another track running southwestwards from High Street in Clifton Hampden, then continues to the lock. These tracks are not public roads as local signs state "Farm access only".


==Reach above the lock== ==Reach above the lock==


The Clifton cut takes the river for nearly a mile before it resumes its natural course. The reach is relatively dull and uninteresting, crossed about halfway along by the ]. Just before ] the river again divides between an old course via ] and the Culham Cut. The Clifton cut takes the navigation for nearly a mile before the reaching the weir to the river's natural course past ]. The reach is alongside farmland, crossed about halfway along by the ]. Just before ] the river again divides between an old course, now a weir stream, past the old mill at ] and ]; with the navigation following the Culham Cut.


The ] follows the northern bank all the way to Culham Lock. The river meander has some public footpath access, although the ] follows the navigation cutting, and the northern bank all the way to Culham Lock.


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|UK Waterways}} {{Portal|United Kingdom|Transport}}
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Latest revision as of 01:05, 3 June 2023

Clifton Lock
Clifton Lock - gates showing some ambivalence over board status (yellow or red)
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountyOxfordshire
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationHydraulic
First built1822
Length39.57 m (129 ft 10 in)
Width5.79 m (19 ft 0 in)
Fall1.03 m (3 ft 5 in)
Above sea level153'
Distance to
Teddington Lock		79 miles
Clifton Lock
Legend
River Thames
weir
Sutton Pools
Culham Lock
Sutton Bridge
Appleford Railway Bridge
weir
Long Wittenham
weir
Clifton Lock
River Thames

Clifton Lock is a lock on River Thames in Oxfordshire, England. It is located south of the village of Clifton Hampden and north of Long Wittenham. It is at the start of the Clifton Cut, which bypasses the river to the north of Long Wittenham. The lock was completed in 1822 by the Thames Navigation Commissioners.

The main weir, which was built thirteen years later than the lock, runs across the old navigation of the river. A smaller weir runs just above the lock.

History

Clifton is one of the few lock sites on the non-tidal river where there was not a pre-existing weir and flash lock, although there was an important ferry. Problems to navigation had long been recognised and the first suggestions for creating a lock "near Clifton Ferry" occurred in 1793, being raised again in 1811.

Taken when a high stream is running almost level over the tumbling bay and backwater. The lower marker is the flood level in 2003; the higher marker in 1894

The construction of the lock cut was delayed because the owner of the land was "a lunatic", but it was eventually completed in 1822 together with the lock. No weir was built at the time, giving rise to complaints. In 1826, the Lord Mayor of London visited Oxford by boat, and the City Barge, shallop and attendant boats were "detained at Clifton a considerable length of time."

The weir was eventually erected on the old navigation in 1835 so the towpath around the old navigation channel fell into disuse. It was enlarged by 1877 and a tumbling bay was created close to the lock. The lock cut bridges were rebuilt in 1884.

Access to the Lock

The lock is at the end of a long track which starts on the A415 road to Abingdon just opposite Fullamor Farm to the west of Clifton Hampden village. This is joined by another track running southwestwards from High Street in Clifton Hampden, then continues to the lock. These tracks are not public roads as local signs state "Farm access only".

Reach above the lock

The Clifton cut takes the navigation for nearly a mile before the reaching the weir to the river's natural course past Long Wittenham. The reach is alongside farmland, crossed about halfway along by the Appleford Railway Bridge. Just before Sutton Bridge the river again divides between an old course, now a weir stream, past the old mill at Sutton Courtenay and Sutton Pools; with the navigation following the Culham Cut.

The river meander has some public footpath access, although the Thames Path follows the navigation cutting, and the northern bank all the way to Culham Lock.

See also

External links

Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Culham Lock
4.52 km (2.81 mi) 		Clifton Lock
Grid reference: SU547947 		Day's Lock
4.80 km (2.98 mi)

51°38′54″N 1°12′39″W / 51.64844°N 1.21080°W / 51.64844; -1.21080

References

  1. ^ "Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  2. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  3. ^ "Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. Distances given in km
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