Entries Tagged as 'Mapledurham Lock'

Mapledurham Lock

Mapledurham Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England. It is owned and managed by the Environment Agency.

Despite its name, Mapledurham Lock is actually located in the Berkshire village of Purley-On-Thames, rather than in the Oxfordshire village of Mapledurham, which is on the other side of the river. Although the weir stretches across the river between the two villages, no access is possible across it and, in the absence of a boat, journeys between the two villages require a lengthy detour via Reading or Pangbourne.

Mapledurham weir is unusual in that it still provides the dual functions that were originally the norm at lock and weir combinations 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 still extant Mapledurham Watermill. 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.


Access to the lock

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


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”. The Thames Path follows the southern bank all the way.


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.


See also

  • Locks on the River Thames

Mapledurham Lock

Mapledurham Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England. It is owned and managed by the Environment Agency.

Despite its name, Mapledurham Lock is actually located in the Berkshire village of Purley-On-Thames, rather than in the Oxfordshire village of Mapledurham, which is on the other side of the river. Although the weir stretches across the river between the two villages, no access is possible across it and, in the absence of a boat, journeys between the two villages require a lengthy detour via Reading or Pangbourne.

Mapledurham weir is unusual in that it still provides the dual functions that were originally the norm at lock and weir combinations 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 still extant Mapledurham Watermill. 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.


Access to the lock

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


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”. The Thames Path follows the southern bank all the way.


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.


See also

  • Locks on the River Thames

Tags: Uncategorized by admin
No Comments »

Mapledurham Lock

Mapledurham Lock is a lock and weir situated on the River Thames in England. It is owned and managed by the Environment Agency.

Despite its name, Mapledurham Lock is actually located in the Berkshire village of Purley-On-Thames, rather than in the Oxfordshire village of Mapledurham, which is on the other side of the river. Although the weir stretches across the river between the two villages, no access is possible across it and, in the absence of a boat, journeys between the two villages require a lengthy detour via Reading or Pangbourne.

Mapledurham weir is unusual in that it still provides the dual functions that were originally the norm at lock and weir combinations 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 still extant Mapledurham Watermill. 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.


Access to the lock

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


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”. The Thames Path follows the southern bank all the way.


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.


See also

  • Locks on the River Thames

Tags: Uncategorized by admin
No Comments »