Editing Mapledurham Lock (section)

{{Short description|Lock and weir on the River Thames in Berkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox waterlock
|lock_name   = Mapledurham Lock
|image= Mapledurham_Lock.jpg
|caption= Mapledurham Lock on a fine August day
|waterway = [[River Thames]]
|county = [[Berkshire]]
|maint   = [[Environment Agency]]
|operation = Hydraulic
|first    = 1777<ref name='Thacker222'/>
|latest   = 1908<ref name='Thacker225'/>
|length = {{convert|61.69|m|ftin|abbr=on}} <ref name="EnvAgency" >{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/135271.aspx |title=Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames |date=8 November 2012 |work=web page |publisher=Environmental Agency |access-date=17 November 2012}} Dimensions given in metres</ref>
|width = {{convert|6.42|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency" />
|fall = {{convert|2.05|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency" />
|sealevel = {{convert|127|ft|abbr=on}}
|enda = [[Teddington Lock]]
|distenda = 59 miles
|endb =
|distendb =
| map_cue=
| map_image=
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}}
{{Mapledurham Lock map}}
'''Mapledurham Lock''' is a [[lock (water transport)|lock]] and [[weir]] situated on the [[River Thames]] in [[England]], about 4 miles upstream of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. The lock was first built in 1777 by the [[Thames Navigation Commissioners]]<ref name='Thacker222'/> and the present lock dates from 1908.<ref  name='Thacker225'/>

Despite its name, the lock is located in the [[Berkshire]] village and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] of [[Purley-On-Thames]] on the south bank of the river, rather than in the [[Oxfordshire]] village of [[Mapledurham]] on the other side of the river. The lock is accessible from Purley village down Mapledurham Drive, a metalled lane that turns to gravel. The weir stretches across the river, in both counties.<ref name=elecmap>{{cite web | url = http://www.election-maps.co.uk/electmaps.jsf | title = Election Maps | publisher = Ordnance Survey | access-date = 2010-01-02}}</ref>

The weir runs from the lock island in a long curve across the river between the two villages. However no access is possible across the weir, and without a boat, journeys between the two villages require a lengthy detour via [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] or [[Pangbourne]]. The weir still provides a head of water to drive [[Mapledurham Watermill]] which is on the opposite side of the river.  The weir is also the furthest upstream on the Thames that has a [[fish ladder|salmon ladder]].