Editing Mapledurham Lock

{{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=
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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]].

==History==
Mapledurham mill dates back to [[Domesday Book]], and the weir was probably connected to it then, although the earliest extant reference to the weir is from the time of [[Edward I of England|Edward I]].<ref name='Thacker221'>{{Harvnb|Thacker|1920|p=221}}</ref> The mill was attached to the property of [[Mapledurham House]], owned by the Blount family, who have always had an interest in the weir. There was a [[flash lock]] at the weir but passage through this was stopped at the opening of the pound lock in 1777.<ref name='Thacker222'>{{Harvnb|Thacker|1920|p=222}}</ref> The lock was built of fir on the Purley side of the river and was to be called Purley Lock. However local custom retained the old name.<ref name='Thacker222'/> A cottage was ordered for the lock-keeper in 1816. During the 19th century there were disputes between the lock-keeper William Sheppard and the Blount family. However despite Blount's representations to the Conservators, Sheppard remained in post for 54 years, retiring at the age of 79.<ref name='Thacker224'>{{Harvnb|Thacker|1920|p=224}}</ref> A new and greatly enlarged lock was built beside the old one in 1908.<ref name='Thacker225'>{{Harvnb|Thacker|1920|p=225}}</ref>

Mapledurham Mill is still functioning across the river from the lock, making this the only lock and weir combination on the Thames that supports the two functions that were originally the norm on river navigations. As both mill and navigation are now principally tourist enterprises, this no longer leads to the sort of conflicts between milling and navigation interests that were once common on the river.

==Reach above the lock==
The river is in open country nearly all the way to [[Pangbourne]] and has been described by [[Robert Gibbings]] writing in 1939 (''Sweet Thames Run Softly'') as so crowded with views "they might have dropped from the gold frames of the [[Royal Academy]]".

After Mapledurham, [[Hardwick House, Oxfordshire|Hardwick House]] is visible on the northern side of the river. Pangbourne Meadows, owned by the National Trust, lie to the south of the river before [[Whitchurch Bridge]]. This toll bridge crosses the river between Pangbourne and [[Whitchurch-on-Thames|Whitchurch]]. Between the bridge and Whitchurch Lock, the [[River Pang]] joins the Thames from the south.

The '''[[Thames Path]]''' follows the southern bank to Whitchurch Bridge, where it crosses the river. (Although this is a toll bridge, pedestrians are no longer charged).

The artist [[E. H. Shepherd]] who illustrated [[The Wind in the Willows]] made many drawings in this area, and Toad Hall is said to be based on either [[Mapledurham House]] or [[Hardwick House, Oxfordshire|Hardwick House]], home of [[Charles Day Rose]], nearby.<ref>Paul Goldsack ''River Thames:In the Footsteps of the Famous'' Bradt/English Heritage {{ISBN|1-84162-044-0}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Mapledurham Weir (geograph 4018257).jpg|The lock and weir spanning the river
File:Orange Way after Wiltshire (312) (geograph 3583558).jpg|The lock chamber
File:Mapledurham Weir.JPG|The weir, viewed from the Mapledurham side of the river
File:River Thames above Mapledurham Lock.JPG|The River Thames above Mapledurham Lock
File:Mapledurham Lock, Lock-keepers cabin - geograph.org.uk - 926506.jpg|The Lock-keeper's cabin
File:Mapledurham drone shot.jpg|Aerial view of Mapledurham lock and weir
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Transport}}
*[[Locks on the River Thames]]

{{S-start}}
{{River lock start|River=[[River Thames]]}}
{{River lock line|upstream=[[Whitchurch Lock]]<br/> {{convert|3.67|km|abbr=on}} <ref name="EnvAgency2" >{{cite web |url= http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/131811.aspx |title=Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames |date=19 November 2012 |work=web page |publisher=Environmental Agency |access-date=20 November 2012}} Distances given in km</ref>|downstream=[[Caversham Lock]]<br/> {{convert|7.08|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency2" />|location=SU667768}}
{{S-end}}

{{Coord|51.48623|N|1.04078|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SU667768)|display=title}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{commons category|Mapledurham Lock}}
{{Refbegin}}
*{{citation|last=Environment Agency |title=A User's Guide to the River Thames:Part II |publisher=[[Environment Agency]] |url=http://www.visitthames.co.uk/uploads/A%20Users%20Guide%20to%20the%20River%20Thames%20web.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130043043/http://visitthames.co.uk/uploads/A%20Users%20Guide%20to%20the%20River%20Thames%20web.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-11-30 }}
*{{citation|last=Thacker|first=Fred S.|title=The Thames Highway: A History of the Locks and Weirs|location=Kew|year=1920}}
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Locks of Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Locks on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Weirs on the River Thames]]