Abingdon Lock
The Abingdon Lock is a lock in the River Thames at Abingdon , in Oxfordshire , England . It was built in 1790 by the Thames Navigation Commission .
The weir connects to the lock island from the north side of the river and has a footpath. According to a plaque on the door of the current lock keeper's house, this was built in 1928.
history
The shipping route at Abingdon has changed over time. The Swift Ditch was the original main arm of the Thames. The arm of the river closer to the place was expanded by the monks of Abingdon Abbey and the original weir is believed to have been built by them in the 10th century. In Swift Ditch was from the Oxford Burcot Commission in 1635 a floodgate built what made this route to the main shipping route. In 1788 the citizens of Abingdon wanted to move the route to its current route. This was done with a view to the Wilts & Berks Canal , which was to be connected to the river. As a result, the Abingdon Lock was built and opened in late 1790. In 1811 it is said that the lock keeper's house was around 800 m downstream.
Access to the lock
The lock is accessible from Abingdon Bridge along the river on Andersey Island . Another approach is from Abingdon via Abbey Meadows and the weir.
The river above the lock
Near the weir is the canal that the monks of Abingdon Abbey built. At the lock is Andersey Island, which is bounded by Swift Ditch to the south. Further upriver is the Nuneham Railway Bridge (also known as the Black Bridge ), over which the railway line to Oxford runs. Upstream of this, the river turns north at Lock Wood Island .
The Thames Path , which crosses the river at the lock, runs from there on the west side of the river to Sandford Lock .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Fred S. Thacker: The Thames Highway. Volume II: Locks and Weirs. 1920 - 1968 reissued, David & Charles, Newton Abbot.
Coordinates: 51 ° 40 ′ 13.9 ″ N , 1 ° 16 ′ 8.7 ″ W.