Radcot Lock

Radcot Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England just downstream of Radcot, Oxfordshire, on the southern bank.

Radcot Lock
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountyOxfordshire
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationManual
First built1892
Length34.59 m (113 ft 6 in) [1]
Width4.57 m (15 ft 0 in)[1]
Fall1.48 m (4 ft 10 in)[1]
Above sea level221'
Distance to
Teddington Lock		117 miles
Radcot Lock
 River Thames
Grafton Lock & weir
A4095 Radcot Bridge
moorings
 moorings
Radcot Lock & weir
River Thames

The lock was built by the Thames Conservancy in 1892 on the site of an old weir and flash lock.

The weir is on the other side of the lock island.

History

There was previously a weir on the site known as Clarke's, although the names Becks or Bucks were also used. It was removed in 1868 and the river was widened then. Proposals for the new pound lock and weir were raised in 1891 and implemented the following year.[2]

With the replacement of the historic paddle and rhymer weir(2013?) a combined fish and canoe pass was constructed, this currently (2018), is the only one of its type on the entire River Thames.

Access to the lock

The lock can be reached on foot from the southern end of Radcot Bridge, or by road on a longer route via Thrupp Turn. There is however no public vehicular access to the lock.

Reach above the Lock

About halfway along is Radcot Bridge the oldest surviving bridge on the river. The bridge crossing the main channel has a single arch, and was constructed in stone in the late 18th century.[3] The A4095 road which it carries also crosses a backwater, which was once the county boundary between Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The backwater bridge dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, and has three arches, the outer two being pointed, with the central one less so,[4] as a result of later rebuilding. There is a considerable amount of mooring at the backwaters here. Stone for the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral, obtained from local quarries was loaded on rafts near the bridge.

Above Radcot is a sharp bend called "Hell's Turn" or "Hell Gut", and further on a point known as "Schoolmaster's Hole".

The Thames Path, which is on the opposite side of the river from the lock, follows the northern bank to Grafton Lock.

See also
Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Grafton Lock
2.98 km (1.85 mi) [5]		 Radcot Lock
Grid reference: SP296001		 Rushey Lock
4.23 km (2.63 mi)[5]

References
  1. "Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  2. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  3. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1283582)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 March 2011. Radcot Bridge
  4. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1053405)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 March 2011. Old Radcot Bridge
  5. "Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012. Distances given in km


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