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Teddington Lock is a lock (or lock complex) and weir situated on the River Thames in the town of Teddington in the western suburbs of London, England.

It is the highest point on the river to which tides penetrate. The boundary point between the Port of London Authority, which is the navigation authority downstream, and the Environment Agency, which is the navigation authority upstream is marked by an obelisk on the Surrey bank a few hundred yards below the lock. The lock itself is owned and managed by the Environment Agency.

Construction of the first of the three locks, the "old" lock, started in 1810 and finished with the completion of the weir in 1812. This original timber lock was repaired in 1825 and substantially rebuilt with foundation stones laid in 1856 and project completed in 1858. At this time the narrow skiff lock, (known as "the coffin"), was also added. The boat slide was added in 1869, and finally the barge lock, the largest lock on the river, built in 1904–1905. The two footbridges, the iron girder bridge linking Ham on the Surrey bank to the lock island, and the suspension bridge linking the island to Teddington were built between 1887 and 1889, funded by donations from local residents and businesses.

Early twenty-first century renovation and improvement work in the area around the locks was undertaken as part of the Thames Landscape Strategy Teddington Gateway project.

Access to the lock

The lock is situated on the towpath on the Surrey side about a mile below Kingston-upon-Thames. It can normally only be reached on foot. The nearest road is Riverside Drive in Ham. Alternatively the lock can be reached from Ferry Road Teddington via the footbridges.

Literature and the Media

The lock was the location of the Monty Python Fish-Slapping Dance sketch.

Reach above the lock

On the Middlesex side, the bank is built up until Kingston Bridge, with Teddington Studios, Lensbury Club and Trowlock Island on the way. Above the bridge is Hampton Court Park, as far as Hampton Court Palace. On the Surrey side there is open space until Kingston is reached. The bank is then built up until just beyond the end of Thames Ditton Island. There is a patch of open space up to Hampton Court Bridge, just above which is Molesey lock. Between Kingston Bridge and Hampton Court Bridge is the island of Raven's Ait. The reach is home to at least five Sailing clubs, four rowing clubs, two skiffing and punting clubs, the Royal Canoe Club and two Sea cadet centres. In addition there is a heavy traffic of pleasure boats between Kingston and Hampton Court. The Thames Path follows the Surrey side to Kingston Bridge where it crosses to go alongside Hampton Court Park, before returning to the Surrey side at Hampton Court Bridge. The river makes a large loop on this reach and the two locks are half the distance apart by land.

See also

• Locks on the River Thames
• Crossings of the River Thames

External links

• Teddington Lock Website.
• Teddington Lock (Tour UK)
• Thames Landscape Strategy Teddington Gateway project website.

Location

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51°25′53″N 0°19′32″W / 51.43144°N 0.32553°W / 51.43144; -0.32553

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