fbpx
Wikipedia

Sonning Lock

March 17, 2024

Sonning Lock
Sonning Lock from the head gates.
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountyBerkshire
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationHydraulic
First built1773
Latest built1905
Length47.57 m (156 ft 1 in) [1]
Width5.46 m (17 ft 11 in)[1]
Fall1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)[1]
Above sea level115'
Distance to
Teddington Lock		52 miles
Power is available out of hours
Sonning Lock
Legend
 River Thames
Reading railway station
Caversham Lock & weir
moorings
weir
Heron Island bridge
Kennet and Avon Canal
Kings Road bridge
Forbury Road bridge
Kings Road bridge
Gas Works Road bridge
Blake's Lock
Paddington - Reading Rly
marina
Sonning Lock & weir
moorings
B478 Thames Street
River Thames

Sonning Lock is a lock and associated weir situated on the River Thames at the village of Sonning near Reading, Berkshire, England.[2] The first lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1773 and it has been rebuilt three times since then. There is a weir a little upstream at the top of the island where Sonning Backwater separates from the main course of the river.

History edit

 
Gardens at Sonning Lock.

A weir at Sonning is recorded as belonging to the Blunte family in the 15th century. This was associated with the mill and fisheries and mention is made of a "Locke-heise" at this time. The flash lock was replaced in 1773 by the pound lock. This was the highest upstream of the eight locks constructed after the navigation act of 1770. It was commissioned in 1771 but took two years to build. Fir wood was originally used for these locks, but this decayed very quickly and was replaced at Sonning by oak in 1787. Repairs took place in 1827 when the old flash lock was brought back temporarily into use. By this time a lock house had been built.

The lock-keeper from 1845 to 1878 was James Sadler, a poet and beekeeper. He wrote verses about the river and about bees, and is credited with the invention of the Berkshire hive. One of his works The Thames from Oxford to Windsor is a rhymed list of the locks, bridges and towns.

The lock was rebuilt in 1868. The weirs were reconstructed in 1898 and further rebuilding of the lock occurred in 1905.[3]

Access to the lock edit

The lock is a short walk upstream from Sonning Bridge, which itself is close to the centre of Sonning. It is also accessible via a short footpath between St Andrew's Church and the river. The path by the river continues into the town of Reading.

Reach above the lock edit

 
Looking downstream towards Sonning Lock, with the lock to the right and the weir to the left.

On the southern Berkshire bank, on the approach into Reading is the Thames Valley Park. Beyond the northern Oxfordshire bank are Caversham Lakes which include the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake and the Thames & Kennet Marina. Access to these is on the upper part of the reach, opposite the entrance to the River Kennet at Blake's Lock. There is a bend in the river before Herons Island, View Island and Caversham Lock. Sonning Regatta takes place at Sonning in May, while Reading Town Regatta and Thames Valley Park Regatta are held further upstream in June.

There are navigation transit markers just downstream of the entrance to the Thames & Kennet Marina, to allow river users to check their speed.

 
Sonning Lock from downstream on the Thames Path.
Thames Path

The Thames Path stays on the southern bank all the way to Caversham Lock, crossing the River Kennet on Horseshoe Bridge, which is attached to Brunel's Great Western Railway Bridge.

 
Canal boats in Sonning Lock.

Literature and the media edit

"The floral tastes of the lock-keeper generally make Sonning Lock very bright and gay." — Charles Dickens (1882)

Is there a spot more lovely than the rest,
By art improved, by nature truly blest?
A noble river at its base running,
It is a little village known as Sonning.

— James Sadler (1845–1885), Sonning lock keeper

See also edit

Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Caversham Lock
4.23 km (2.63 mi) [4]		 Sonning Lock
Grid reference: SU752754 		Shiplake Lock
4.68 km (2.91 mi)[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "A User's Guide to the River Thames" (PDF). PDF file. Environmental Agency. 2009. pp. 29–30. Retrieved 12 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  2. ^ "Thames at Sonning Lock, Sonning". River Levels. Retrieved 5 January 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  3. ^ Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  4. ^ a b "Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2012. Distances given in km

51°28′21″N 0°55′07″W / 51.47258°N 0.91868°W / 51.47258; -0.91868

March 17, 2024
sonning, lock, from, head, gates, waterwayriver, thamescountyberkshiremaintained, byenvironment, agencyoperationhydraulicfirst, built1773latest, built1905length47, width5, fall1, above, level115, distance, teddington, lock52, milespower, available, hoursvteleg. Sonning LockSonning Lock from the head gates WaterwayRiver ThamesCountyBerkshireMaintained byEnvironment AgencyOperationHydraulicFirst built1773Latest built1905Length47 57 m 156 ft 1 in 1 Width5 46 m 17 ft 11 in 1 Fall1 63 m 5 ft 4 in 1 Above sea level115 Distance to Teddington Lock52 milesPower is available out of hoursvteSonning LockLegendRiver ThamesReading railway stationCaversham Lock amp weirmooringsweirHeron Island bridgeKennet and Avon CanalKings Road bridgeForbury Road bridgeKings Road bridgeGas Works Road bridgeBlake s LockPaddington Reading RlymarinaSonning Lock amp weirmooringsB478 Thames StreetRiver Thames Sonning Lock is a lock and associated weir situated on the River Thames at the village of Sonning near Reading Berkshire England 2 The first lock was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1773 and it has been rebuilt three times since then There is a weir a little upstream at the top of the island where Sonning Backwater separates from the main course of the river Contents 1 History 2 Access to the lock 3 Reach above the lock 4 Literature and the media 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp Gardens at Sonning Lock A weir at Sonning is recorded as belonging to the Blunte family in the 15th century This was associated with the mill and fisheries and mention is made of a Locke heise at this time The flash lock was replaced in 1773 by the pound lock This was the highest upstream of the eight locks constructed after the navigation act of 1770 It was commissioned in 1771 but took two years to build Fir wood was originally used for these locks but this decayed very quickly and was replaced at Sonning by oak in 1787 Repairs took place in 1827 when the old flash lock was brought back temporarily into use By this time a lock house had been built The lock keeper from 1845 to 1878 was James Sadler a poet and beekeeper He wrote verses about the river and about bees and is credited with the invention of the Berkshire hive One of his works The Thames from Oxford to Windsor is a rhymed list of the locks bridges and towns The lock was rebuilt in 1868 The weirs were reconstructed in 1898 and further rebuilding of the lock occurred in 1905 3 Access to the lock editThe lock is a short walk upstream from Sonning Bridge which itself is close to the centre of Sonning It is also accessible via a short footpath between St Andrew s Church and the river The path by the river continues into the town of Reading Reach above the lock edit nbsp Looking downstream towards Sonning Lock with the lock to the right and the weir to the left On the southern Berkshire bank on the approach into Reading is the Thames Valley Park Beyond the northern Oxfordshire bank are Caversham Lakes which include the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake and the Thames amp Kennet Marina Access to these is on the upper part of the reach opposite the entrance to the River Kennet at Blake s Lock There is a bend in the river before Herons Island View Island and Caversham Lock Sonning Regatta takes place at Sonning in May while Reading Town Regatta and Thames Valley Park Regatta are held further upstream in June There are navigation transit markers just downstream of the entrance to the Thames amp Kennet Marina to allow river users to check their speed nbsp Sonning Lock from downstream on the Thames Path Thames PathThe Thames Path stays on the southern bank all the way to Caversham Lock crossing the River Kennet on Horseshoe Bridge which is attached to Brunel s Great Western Railway Bridge nbsp Canal boats in Sonning Lock Literature and the media edit The floral tastes of the lock keeper generally make Sonning Lock very bright and gay Charles Dickens 1882 Is there a spot more lovely than the rest By art improved by nature truly blest A noble river at its base running It is a little village known as Sonning James Sadler 1845 1885 Sonning lock keeperSee also edit nbsp United Kingdom portal nbsp Transport portalLocks on the River Thames Rowing on the River Thames Sonning Bishop s Palace nearbyNext lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstreamCaversham Lock 4 23 km 2 63 mi 4 Sonning LockGrid reference SU752754 Shiplake Lock 4 68 km 2 91 mi 4 References edit a b c A User s Guide to the River Thames PDF PDF file Environmental Agency 2009 pp 29 30 Retrieved 12 November 2012 Dimensions given in metres Thames at Sonning Lock Sonning River Levels Retrieved 5 January 2014 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a External link in code class cs1 code work code help Fred S Thacker The Thames Highway Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 republished 1968 David amp Charles a b Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames web page Environmental Agency 19 November 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2012 Distances given in km 51 28 21 N 0 55 07 W 51 47258 N 0 91868 W 51 47258 0 91868 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sonning Lock amp oldid 1070317262, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.