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{{Short description|Lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England}}
⚫ {{Infobox Waterlock
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{stack begin}}
⚫ {{Infobox waterlock
|lock_name = Shiplake Lock |lock_name = Shiplake Lock
|image = Shiplake-lock-1.jpg |image = Shiplake-lock-1.jpg
|caption = Shiplake lock looking downstream with Shiplake Railway Bridge in the distance
|waterway = ] |waterway = ]
|county = ] |county = ]
|length = {{convert|40.64|m|ftin|abbr=on}} <ref name="EnvAgency" >{{cite web |url=http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/geth0309bpgk-e-e.pdf |title=A User's Guide to the River Thames |pages=29–30 |year=2009 |work=PDF file |publisher=Environmental Agency |accessdate=15 November 2012}} Dimensions given in metres</ref>
|length = 133’ 4” (40.64m)
|width = {{convert|5.56|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency" />
|width = 18’ 3” (5.56m)
|fall = {{convert|1.55|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency" />
|fall = 5’ 1” (1.55m)
|maint = ] |maint = ]
|operation = Hydraulic |operation = Hydraulic
|first = 1773 |first = 1773
|latest = 1905 |latest = 1874
|sealevel = 110' |sealevel = 110'
|enda = ] |enda = ]
|distenda = 49 miles |distenda = 49 miles
|endb = |endb =
|distendb = |distendb =
|map_image= |map_image=
|coordinates = |coordinates =
|lat = |lat =
|long = |long =
}} }}
{{Shiplake Lock map}} {{Shiplake Lock map}}
{{stack end}}
⚫ '''Shiplake Lock''' is a ] and ] situated on the ] in England near the village of ], ]. It is just above the points where the ] joins the Thames and ] crosses the river. The lock was built by the ] in 1773 originally of fir, and replaced by oak in 1787. It was the first lock on the Thames to have hydraulic operation installed in 1961.

⚫ '''Shiplake Lock''' is a ] and ] situated on the ] in England between the villages of Shiplake and Lower Shiplake, ]. It is just above the points where the ] joins the Thames and ] crosses the river. The first pound lock was built by the ] in 1773.


The weir is some distance upstream of the lock between the lock island and ] bank. The weir is some distance upstream of the lock between the lock island and ] bank.

==History==
There is reference to the weir and ] at this location in the 16th century when it was known as "Cotterell's", a name which persisted after the ] was built. It was the second downstream of the eight locks built after the ] (]. c. 8), and was completed in fir wood in 1773. At this time the towpath upstream was transferred from the Berkshire to the Oxfordshire bank. The lock had to be rebuilt of oak in 1787 as the fir had decayed. There were two mills on the island at this time. The lock was rebuilt again in 1874 and the weir in 1885.<ref name=Thacker>Fred. S. Thacker ''The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs'' 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles</ref> The lock island was purchased by the ] for camping in 1891,<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008063952/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=075-cla078&cid=9 |date=8 October 2009 }}</ref> and in 1907 the ruined mills were demolished.<ref name=Thacker/> Shiplake Lock was the first lock on the Thames to have hydraulic operation installed in 1961. During the winter of 2009/2010 the wooden lock gates were replaced with steel gates at a cost of £600,000.<ref></ref>

==The camping island==

The reason for the purchase of Shiplake Lock Island by the Corporation of London was to preserve the amenities for bathing and camping. It was managed by the corporation's City Lands Committee. However, managing at a distance proved a problem and the island was let in perpetuity in 1914 to the ]. The camp was then divided into 18 plots and run by the lock keepers.

Soon after taking over, the conservancy allowed huts to be built near the tents. The use of these was restricted to cooking and they were not to be used for sleeping. (At that time, ladies were not allowed to sleep on the island at all, but had to retire to wooden huts on the Shiplake bank).

The Thames Conservancy and its successor organisations the ] and ] had not been prepared to give more than a one-year lease to the plotholders. However, the community remained remarkably static with plots passing down the family line. This changed in 2022 when the Environment Agency refused to renew the leases, initially claiming it was for Health & Safety reasons but subsequently saying that the 'site had only been enjoyed by a "limited" number of people and wanted to encourage a more "inclusive approach" to allow everyone to stay'. <ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yx0mxm03ro</ref>


==Access to the lock== ==Access to the lock==
The lock can be reached from ] down Mill Road, and into Mill Lane, where it is a short walk across a field to the lock


The lock can be reached from ] down Mill Road, and into Mill Lane, where there is a tarmac path to the lock along the edge of a field. And from the village of Shiplake, at Shiplake Church take the chalky path down to the riverbank, past Shiplake College's boathouse. The footpath at Shiplake then passes under the College (formerly Shiplake Court) and then the white Shiplake House.The lock is a few hundred metres along this part of the Thames Path.
⚫ ==Reach above the lock==


⚫ ==Reach above the lock==
⚫ The river skirts Shiplake on the Oxfordshire bank and eventually passes into ]. ] is just above the lock, and further on there is a double bend with two large islands ], and ] followed by ]. Apart from a small development here, the river banks are open fields to ]. Sonning lock is ahead at the bridge, but there is a large backwater branching before the bridge on the ] side.
{{multiple image
|direction = vertical
|align = left
|width = 200
|image1 = ShiplakeRiver01.JPG
|caption1 = Shiplake on the hill from near The Lynch
|image2 = Thames near sonning.JPG
|caption2 = The River Thames near Sonning
}}
⚫ The river skirts Shiplake on the Oxfordshire bank and eventually passes into ]. ] is just above the lock, and on the hill on the Shiplake bank is Shiplake House and also Shiplake Court (now the premises of ]). The college boat house is on the river bank at this point. Further on there is a double bend with two large islands ], and ] followed by ]. On the bank opposite the Ait is ]. This stream is believed to have been a tributary stream of the River Loddon which became an outfall when the water level was raised by the building of Shiplake Lock.<ref name="Thacker"/> Apart from a small development here, the river banks are open fields to ]. Sonning lock is a short was upstream of the bridge, but there is a large backwater branching before the bridge on the ] side which is crossed by ].


===Thames Path===
The ''']''' stays on the Oxfordshire bank to Sonning, where it crosses the bridge to the other side below Sonning Lock. The ] stays on the Oxfordshire bank to Sonning, where it crosses the bridge to the other side and continues to Sonning Lock.


==Literature and the media==
]
Shiplake Lock was a favourite place for fishing for the young ] and his ] friends.<ref>Jacintha Buddicom ''Eric & Us'' 2nd ed Finlay Publisher 2006</ref>


== See also == ==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Transport}}
*] *]


{{wide image|Shiplake-pano-1.jpg|550px|Shiplake Lock from downstream with the weir stream to the left}}
{{Start box}}
{{River lock start|River=]}} {{River item box
|upstream=]<br/> {{convert|4.68|km|abbr=on}} <ref name="EnvAgency2" >{{cite web |url= http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/131811.aspx |title=Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames |date=19 November 2012 |work=web page |publisher=Environmental Agency |accessdate=20 November 2012}} Distances given in km</ref>
{{River lock line|upstream=]<br/> 2.91 miles|downstream=]<br/> 2.98 miles|location=SU776786}}
|downstream=]<br/> {{convert|4.80|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency2" />|location=SU776786}}
{{End box}}


⚫ {{Coord|51.50102|N|0.88343|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SU776786)|display=title}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->
{{Berkshire-struct-stub}}


==References==
⚫ {{coor title d|51.50102|N|0.88343|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SU776786)}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->
{{Reflist}}


] ]
]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 11:23, 5 January 2025

Lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England

Shiplake Lock
Shiplake lock looking downstream with Shiplake Railway Bridge in the distance
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountyOxfordshire
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationHydraulic
First built1773
Latest built1874
Length40.64 m (133 ft 4 in)
Width5.56 m (18 ft 3 in)
Fall1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
Above sea level110'
Distance to
Teddington Lock		49 miles
Shiplake Lock
Legend
River Thames
Sonning Lock & weir
moorings
B478 Thames Street
St Patrick's Stream
Buck Ait
Hallsmead Ait
The Lynch
Philimore's Island
Borough Lake
River Loddon
Shiplake Lock
Site of mill
River Loddon
River Thames

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.

The weir is some distance upstream of the lock between the lock island and Berkshire bank.

History

There is reference to the weir and flash lock at this location in the 16th century when it was known as "Cotterell's", a name which persisted after the pound lock was built. It was the second downstream of the eight locks built after the Thames and Isis Navigation Act 1750 (24 Geo. 2. c. 8), and was completed in fir wood in 1773. At this time the towpath upstream was transferred from the Berkshire to the Oxfordshire bank. The lock had to be rebuilt of oak in 1787 as the fir had decayed. There were two mills on the island at this time. The lock was rebuilt again in 1874 and the weir in 1885. The lock island was purchased by the City of London Corporation for camping in 1891, and in 1907 the ruined mills were demolished. Shiplake Lock was the first lock on the Thames to have hydraulic operation installed in 1961. During the winter of 2009/2010 the wooden lock gates were replaced with steel gates at a cost of £600,000.

The camping island

The reason for the purchase of Shiplake Lock Island by the Corporation of London was to preserve the amenities for bathing and camping. It was managed by the corporation's City Lands Committee. However, managing at a distance proved a problem and the island was let in perpetuity in 1914 to the Thames Conservancy. The camp was then divided into 18 plots and run by the lock keepers.

Soon after taking over, the conservancy allowed huts to be built near the tents. The use of these was restricted to cooking and they were not to be used for sleeping. (At that time, ladies were not allowed to sleep on the island at all, but had to retire to wooden huts on the Shiplake bank).

The Thames Conservancy and its successor organisations the National Rivers Authority and Environment Agency had not been prepared to give more than a one-year lease to the plotholders. However, the community remained remarkably static with plots passing down the family line. This changed in 2022 when the Environment Agency refused to renew the leases, initially claiming it was for Health & Safety reasons but subsequently saying that the 'site had only been enjoyed by a "limited" number of people and wanted to encourage a more "inclusive approach" to allow everyone to stay'.

Access to the lock

The lock can be reached from Lower Shiplake down Mill Road, and into Mill Lane, where there is a tarmac path to the lock along the edge of a field. And from the village of Shiplake, at Shiplake Church take the chalky path down to the riverbank, past Shiplake College's boathouse. The footpath at Shiplake then passes under the College (formerly Shiplake Court) and then the white Shiplake House.The lock is a few hundred metres along this part of the Thames Path.

Reach above the lock

Shiplake on the hill from near The LynchThe River Thames near Sonning

The river skirts Shiplake on the Oxfordshire bank and eventually passes into Sonning. Phillimore Island is just above the lock, and on the hill on the Shiplake bank is Shiplake House and also Shiplake Court (now the premises of Shiplake College). The college boat house is on the river bank at this point. Further on there is a double bend with two large islands The Lynch, and Hallsmead Ait followed by Buck Ait. On the bank opposite the Ait is St Patrick's Stream. This stream is believed to have been a tributary stream of the River Loddon which became an outfall when the water level was raised by the building of Shiplake Lock. Apart from a small development here, the river banks are open fields to Sonning Bridge. Sonning lock is a short was upstream of the bridge, but there is a large backwater branching before the bridge on the Sonning Eye side which is crossed by Sonning Backwater Bridges.

Thames Path

The Thames Path stays on the Oxfordshire bank to Sonning, where it crosses the bridge to the other side and continues to Sonning Lock.

Literature and the media

Shiplake Lock was a favourite place for fishing for the young George Orwell and his Buddicom friends.

See also

Shiplake Lock from downstream with the weir stream to the left
Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Sonning Lock
4.68 km (2.91 mi) 		Shiplake Lock
Grid reference SU776786		 Marsh Lock
4.80 km (2.98 mi)

51°30′04″N 0°53′00″W / 51.50102°N 0.88343°W / 51.50102; -0.88343

References

  1. ^ "A User's Guide to the River Thames" (PDF). PDF file. Environmental Agency. 2009. pp. 29–30. Retrieved 15 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  2. ^ Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  3. National Archives Archived 8 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Environment Agency, Rare chance to see deep into a Thames Lock
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yx0mxm03ro
  6. Jacintha Buddicom Eric & Us 2nd ed Finlay Publisher 2006
  7. ^ "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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