Boveney Lock
Encyclopedia
Boveney Lock is a lock
on the River Thames
situated on the Buckinghamshire
bank opposite the Windsor Racecourse
and close to Eton Wick
. Boveney
is a village a little way upstream on the same side. The lock was first built in 1838 by the Thames Navigation Commission
. The lock was rebuilt in 1898 closer to the Buckinghamshire bank, and a set of boat rollers were installed on the old site.
The weir is almost parallel to the lock, running across from the other side of the lock island.
at Gill's buck
s a short way upstream of the present site. There were suggestions of a pound lock here as early as 1780, and various plans for a lock were proposed in 1820. These plans proposed cuts to the mouth of Clewer Mill Stream
because of difficult navigation of the tight bends downstream. However the present location was eventually chosen, with a timber lock built in 1838. With the regular traffic of boats from Eton College
to Queen's Eyot
, a temporary boat slide was built in 1895, which became permanent on the site of the old lock when a new lock was built immediately to the side in 1898. The weir was rebuilt in about 1913.
On the Buckinghamshire
bank the land towards Dorney
is open fields with Dorney Lake
behind. On the Berkshire
bank the river passes Bush Ait
which is at the entrance to Clewer Mill Stream
. There are a houses at Dedworth
, a caravan park and Windsor Marina before Oakley Court
home of many Hammer horror films. Upstream is Queens Eyot owned by Eton College
opposite Bray Marina. York Stream
then joins the river from "The Cut" on the southern bank. Summerleaze Footbridge
here was built as a gravel conveyor for the building of Dorney Lake and is now a pedestrian bridge. Monkey Island
is a short way up stream and then the M4 Bridge
crosses the river a little way below Bray Lock.
The Thames Path
stays on the northern side of the river to Bray lock.
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
situated on the Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
bank opposite the Windsor Racecourse
Windsor Racecourse
Windsor Racecourse, also known as Royal Windsor Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Windsor, Berkshire, England. It is one of only two figure-of-eight courses in the United Kingdom, the other being at Fontwell Park. It abandoned National Hunt jump racing in December 1998,...
and close to Eton Wick
Eton Wick
Eton Wick is a village in the English county of Berkshire on the western outskirts of London, immediately north of the River Thames. It is located very close to both the historic towns of Windsor and Eton, as well as Slough and Dorney Lake, the planned rowing venue for the 2012 Olympics...
. Boveney
Boveney
Boveney is a village in Buckinghamshire, England, near Windsor.The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin and means 'above island'. This refers to the island that sits in the River Thames next to the village...
is a village a little way upstream on the same side. The lock was first built in 1838 by the Thames Navigation Commission
Thames Navigation Commission
The Thames Navigation Commission used to manage the River Thames in southern England. In particular, they were responsible for installing or renovating many of the locks on the river in the 18th and early 19th centuries.- History :...
. The lock was rebuilt in 1898 closer to the Buckinghamshire bank, and a set of boat rollers were installed on the old site.
The weir is almost parallel to the lock, running across from the other side of the lock island.
History
Although the river below Maidenhead was supposed to be clear of weirs, there is record of a weir and flash lockFlash lock
Early locks were designed with a single gate, known as a flash lock or staunch lock. The earliest European references to what were clearly flash locks were in Roman times....
at Gill's buck
Eel buck
Eel bucks are a type of fish trap that was prevalent in the River Thames in England up to the 20th century. It was used particularly to catch eels which were a staple part of the London diet....
s a short way upstream of the present site. There were suggestions of a pound lock here as early as 1780, and various plans for a lock were proposed in 1820. These plans proposed cuts to the mouth of Clewer Mill Stream
Clewer Mill Stream
Clewer Mill Stream is a narrow twisting backwater of the River Thames near Windsor, Berkshire which leaves the river at Bush Ait and rejoins just above Queen Elizabeth Bridge...
because of difficult navigation of the tight bends downstream. However the present location was eventually chosen, with a timber lock built in 1838. With the regular traffic of boats from Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
to Queen's Eyot
Queen's Eyot
Queen's Eyot is an island in the River Thames in England on the reach above Boveney Lock, just upstream of Oakley Court near Windsor, Berkshire.The island is owned by Eton College and contains a club house that is available for hire for functions....
, a temporary boat slide was built in 1895, which became permanent on the site of the old lock when a new lock was built immediately to the side in 1898. The weir was rebuilt in about 1913.
Access to the lock
The lock is some distance from any road, and can be reached by walking to the river from Eton Wick and following the towpath.Reach above the lock
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
bank the land towards Dorney
Dorney
Dorney is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in the English county of Buckinghamshire, near Slough and about two and a half miles west of Eton.The village name is Old English and means "island frequented by bumble bees"...
is open fields with Dorney Lake
Dorney Lake
Dorney Lake is a purpose-built rowing lake in the United Kingdom. It is located at grid reference near the village of Dorney, Buckinghamshire, and near the towns of Windsor and Eton, close to the River Thames. The lake is privately owned and financed by Eton College, who have spent £17 million...
behind. On the Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
bank the river passes Bush Ait
Bush Ait
Bush Ait is an island in the River Thames on the reach above Boveney Lock at the mouth of the Clewer Mill Stream which leads to Windsor Racecourse Marina. The island is unpopulated and wooded.-See also:*Islands in the River Thames*Ait...
which is at the entrance to Clewer Mill Stream
Clewer Mill Stream
Clewer Mill Stream is a narrow twisting backwater of the River Thames near Windsor, Berkshire which leaves the river at Bush Ait and rejoins just above Queen Elizabeth Bridge...
. There are a houses at Dedworth
Dedworth
Dedworth is the most westerly area of Windsor in the English county of Berkshire.-History:The name Dedworth is formed from the words 'Dydda', meaning a man's name and 'Worth', a Saxon word for enclosure....
, a caravan park and Windsor Marina before Oakley Court
Oakley Court
Oakley Court is a Victorian Gothic country house set in overlooking the River Thames at Water Oakley in the civil parish of Bray in the English county of Berkshire. It was built in 1859 and is currently a luxury hotel. It has been often used as a film location.-History:The Court was built in 1859...
home of many Hammer horror films. Upstream is Queens Eyot owned by Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
opposite Bray Marina. York Stream
York Stream
The Maidenhead Waterways are a system of waterways in Maidenhead, England. Currently disused, they are undergoing work to make them once more navigable to canal craft....
then joins the river from "The Cut" on the southern bank. Summerleaze Footbridge
Summerleaze Footbridge
Summerleaze Footbridge is a footbridge across the River Thames in England linking Dorney, Buckinghamshire and Bray, Berkshire, and is located on the reach above Boveney Lock...
here was built as a gravel conveyor for the building of Dorney Lake and is now a pedestrian bridge. Monkey Island
Monkey Island
-Places:* Nanwan Monkey Island, a nature reserve in Hainan, China* Monkey Island, North Carolina, a remote, natural island located in Currituck Sound, North Carolina* Monkey Island, in the Grand Lake o' the Cherokees in northeast Oklahoma...
is a short way up stream and then the M4 Bridge
M4 Thames Bridge, Maidenhead
The M4 Thames Bridge Maidenhead is a motorway bridge between Dorney Reach, Buckinghamshire and Bray near Maidenhead, Berkshire in England built in the 1960s....
crosses the river a little way below Bray Lock.
Thames Path
Thames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail, opened in 1996, following the length of the River Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier at Charlton. It is about long....
stays on the northern side of the river to Bray lock.