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Revision as of 13:51, 27 July 2008 editNancy (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Rollbackers23,744 editsm wl Hedsor Water← Previous edit Revision as of 20:51, 1 September 2008 edit undoMotmit (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers26,275 edits At history and picsNext edit →
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{{Infobox Waterlock {{Infobox Waterlock
|lock_name = Cookham Lock<ref></ref>
|lock_name = Cookham Lock
|image= Cookham Lock, Berkshire.JPG|thumb|right| |image= Cookham Lock, Berkshire.JPG|thumb|right|
|caption= Cookham Lock, Berkshire |caption= Cookham Lock, Berkshire
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}} }}
{{Cookham Lock map}} {{Cookham Lock map}}
]
'''Cookham Lock''' is a ] with ]s situated on the ] near ], ]. The lock is set in a lock cut which is one of four streams here and it is surrounded by woods. Next to the lock island is ], the largest on the non-tidal Thames. '''Cookham Lock''' is a ] with ]s situated on the ] near ], ]. The lock is set in a lock cut which is one of four streams here and it is surrounded by woods. Next to the lock island is ], the largest on the non-tidal Thames.


There are several weirs here. Hedsor weir was placed across the main navigation channel when the lock was opened in 1830, causing loss of trade to the then owner Lord Boston who had a wharf there. ] has been the subject of a legal dispute, the widow of ] considering it to be private, but her claim was rejected on the grounds that the navigable river is open to all. There is a lower weir, and Odney weir is on the channel next to Formosa Island. There are several weirs here. Hedsor weir was placed across the old navigation channel in 1837, seven years after the lock was opened. There is a lower weir, and Odney weir is on the channel next to Formosa Island.

==History==

The navigation route was formerly down ] and the only weir was associated with the mill. After the building of ] in 1773 there were problems with shallow water upstream, and the earliest suggestions were for a stop at Cookham to hold the water back. In 1794 it was considered one of the most dangerous parts on the river, mainly on account of chalk boulders falling into the Thames. However nothing happened until 1829 when a cut and lock were agreed upon, the cut going through the northernmost island called The Sashes. Part of the cut was formed from an existing Sashes Stream, and an Ait was removed at the lower end of the cut. The lock opened in 1830, but no weir was built at this time.

In 1832 ] of ] claimed compensation for loss of towpath rights along Hedsor Water which he was granted. In 1837 a weir was found necessary and built, leading to further litigation from Lord Boston for loss of trade to the wharf he owned there. This time the only compensation he received was the building of a ] in the weir. This was removed when the lock was rebuilt in 1869, as Lord Boston had built ]s in the stream in the meantime.<ref>Fred. S. Thacker ''The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs'' 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles</ref>

The lock was rebuilt in 1957.


==Access to the lock== ==Access to the lock==
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==Reach above the lock== ==Reach above the lock==
]


After the streams rejoin above the lock, the river is crossed by ]. Along the reach on the ] bank is ] where the ] joins the Thames. ] crosses the river here and further on are ] and the ] before Marlow Lock. The river is picturesque and described as ''] country''. ] based much of his book on this part of the Thames. After the streams rejoin above the lock, the river is crossed by ]. Along the reach on the ] bank is ] where the ] joins the Thames. ], which includes a footbridge, crosses the river here. Along the Berkshire bank there are water meadows. There are ] just downstream of Bourne End Railway Bridge, to allow river users to check their speed.
]
Further upstream towards the Berkshire bank are the ] which lie in front of Quarry Wood. There are then steep hills overhanging the river at ] where the house called "The Mount", where ] lived as a child is situated. He based much of his book on this part of the Thames which is described as ''] country''.


As the ground levels, the ] crosses the river a little way downstream of Marlow Lock.
There are ] just downstream of Bourne End Railway Bridge, to allow river users to check their speed.


===Thames Path===
The ''']''', which has passed through Cookham rather than by the lock, runs from Cookham Bridge along the southern bank until Bourne End Railway Bridge, where there is a footbridge. The path crosses this footbridge and then goes along the northern bank to Marlow. The ], which has passed through Cookham rather than by the lock, runs from Cookham Bridge along the southern bank until Bourne End Railway Bridge, where there is a footbridge. The path crosses this footbridge and then goes along the northern bank to Marlow.


==Literature and the Media== ==Literature and the Media==


Cookham was home to the artist Stanley Spencer's whose works include ''] at Cookham''. Cookham was home to the artist ] whose works include ''] at Cookham''.


==See also== ==See also==


* ] * ]

==References==
{{Reflist}}




{{Start box}} {{Start box}}

Revision as of 20:51, 1 September 2008

Cookham Lock
Cookham Lock, Berkshire
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountyBerkshire
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationHydraulic
First built1830
Latest built1957
Length183' 0" (55.77m)
Width25' 0" (7.62m)
Fall4' 3" (1.30m)
Above sea level81'
Distance to
Teddington Lock		33 miles
Cookham Lock
Legend
River Thames
Marlow Lock
A404 Marlow By-pass Bridge
Gibraltar Islands
Bourne End Railway Bridge
River Wye
Fleet River
A4094 Cookham Bridge
weir
Hedsor Wharf
weir
bridges
Cookham Lock
Formosa Island
Strand Water (to York Stream)
River Thames
Lock and the wooded banks beyond

Cookham Lock is a lock with weirs situated on the River Thames near Cookham, Berkshire. The lock is set in a lock cut which is one of four streams here and it is surrounded by woods. Next to the lock island is Formosa Island, the largest on the non-tidal Thames.

There are several weirs here. Hedsor weir was placed across the old navigation channel in 1837, seven years after the lock was opened. There is a lower weir, and Odney weir is on the channel next to Formosa Island.

History

The navigation route was formerly down Hedsor Water and the only weir was associated with the mill. After the building of Marlow Lock in 1773 there were problems with shallow water upstream, and the earliest suggestions were for a stop at Cookham to hold the water back. In 1794 it was considered one of the most dangerous parts on the river, mainly on account of chalk boulders falling into the Thames. However nothing happened until 1829 when a cut and lock were agreed upon, the cut going through the northernmost island called The Sashes. Part of the cut was formed from an existing Sashes Stream, and an Ait was removed at the lower end of the cut. The lock opened in 1830, but no weir was built at this time.

In 1832 Lord Boston of Hedsor House claimed compensation for loss of towpath rights along Hedsor Water which he was granted. In 1837 a weir was found necessary and built, leading to further litigation from Lord Boston for loss of trade to the wharf he owned there. This time the only compensation he received was the building of a flash lock in the weir. This was removed when the lock was rebuilt in 1869, as Lord Boston had built eel bucks in the stream in the meantime.

The lock was rebuilt in 1957.

Access to the lock

There is a road from Cookham to Formosa Island and the lock.

Reach above the lock

Water meadows above Cookham

After the streams rejoin above the lock, the river is crossed by Cookham Bridge. Along the reach on the Buckinghamshire bank is Bourne End where the River Wye joins the Thames. Bourne End Railway Bridge, which includes a footbridge, crosses the river here. Along the Berkshire bank there are water meadows. There are navigation transit markers just downstream of Bourne End Railway Bridge, to allow river users to check their speed.

Wooded hillsides by the river

Further upstream towards the Berkshire bank are the Gibraltar Islands which lie in front of Quarry Wood. There are then steep hills overhanging the river at Cookham Dean where the house called "The Mount", where Kenneth Graham lived as a child is situated. He based much of his book on this part of the Thames which is described as Wind in the Willows country.

As the ground levels, the Marlow By-pass Bridge crosses the river a little way downstream of Marlow Lock.

Thames Path

The Thames Path, which has passed through Cookham rather than by the lock, runs from Cookham Bridge along the southern bank until Bourne End Railway Bridge, where there is a footbridge. The path crosses this footbridge and then goes along the northern bank to Marlow.

Literature and the Media

Cookham was home to the artist Stanley Spencer whose works include Swan Upping at Cookham.

See also

References

  1. Statistics from Environment Agency A User's Guide to the River Thames:Part II
  2. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles


Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Marlow Lock
4.00 miles 		Cookham Lock
Grid reference: SU906855 		Boulter's Lock
2.08 miles
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