Bray Lock
The Bray Lock is a lock in the Thames near Bray . It is located on the river side that belongs to the British county of Buckinghamshire , across from Bray, which is in Berkshire . The lock was built in 1845 by the Thames Navigation Commission . The lock keeper's house is on Parting Eyot Island between the lock and the weir .
history
A mill is already mentioned in the Domesday Book at this point and in 1328 there is talk of a sluice and a weir called Braibrok . From the year 1377 there are complaints of travelers who over the coated fees on a floodgate that Hameldon Lock is called, complain. The lock and the weir were removed in 1510 by order of the Commissioners of Sewers.
In 1622 a new lock was built by Thomas Manfield. A new lock and weir were first proposed in 1833 to help navigation above. The height difference between Maidenhead and Boveney was large, which led to shallows and strong currents in the river. The towpath ran on the Buckinghamshire shore while the shipping route was on the Berkshire side, so the tow lines had to be led across the islands at this point. The proposal to build a lock was made in 1843. A lock keeper's house was built on Parting Eyot and a lock without lock gates was built the next year. The miller contributed to the cost of a weir. The lock stayed open except during times when the water level was very low and no fees were charged. Gates were built into the lock before 1877. The lock and the weir were renewed in 1885. Before it was rebuilt, Charles Dickens had described the Bray Lock as "a shabby and dangerous structure".
The river above the lock
Headpile Eyot is just behind the lock . This is followed by the Maidenhead Railway Bridge built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and then shortly afterwards the Maidenhead Bridge .
After the bridge follow Guards Club Island , Bridge Eyot and Grass Eyot until you reach Boulter's Lock .
The Thames Path runs on the east side of the river to Maidenhead Bridge, there it changes sides and then continues along the river to Boulter's Lock.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Luke Over, Chris Tyrrell: The Royal Hundred of Bray. Cliveden Press, 1993, ISBN 0-9521969-0-5 .
- ↑ a b John Kemplay: The Thames Locks. Ronald Crowhurst, 2000, ISBN 0-9518964-1-5 .
- ^ Fred S. Thacker: The Thames Highway. Volume II: Locks and Weirs. 1920 - 1968 reissued , David & Charles, Newton Abbot, ISBN 0-7153-4233-9 .
Coordinates: 51 ° 30 ′ 39.4 " N , 0 ° 42 ′ 10.8" W.