Mapledurham Lock

Mapledurham Lock
Mapledurham Lock on a fine August day
Map
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountyBerkshire
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationHydraulic
First built1777[1]
Latest built1908[2]
Length61.69 m (202 ft 5 in) [3]
Width6.42 m (21 ft 1 in)[3]
Fall2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)[3]
Above sea level127 ft (39 m)
Distance to
Teddington Lock
59 miles
Mapledurham Lock
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, about 4 miles upstream of Reading. The lock was first built in 1777 by the Thames Navigation Commissioners[1] and the present lock dates from 1908.[2]

Despite its name, the lock is located in the Berkshire village and civil parish of Purley-On-Thames on the south bank of the river, rather than in the Oxfordshire village of Mapledurham on the other side of the river. The lock is accessible from Purley village down Mapledurham Drive, a metalled lane that turns to gravel. The weir stretches across the river, in both counties.[4]

The weir runs from the lock island in a long curve across the river between the two villages. However no access is possible across the weir, and without a boat, journeys between the two villages require a lengthy detour via Reading or Pangbourne. The weir still provides a head of water to drive Mapledurham Watermill which is on the opposite side of the river. The weir is also the furthest upstream on the Thames that has a salmon ladder.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Thacker222 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Thacker225 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c "Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  4. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 2 January 2010.