Cookham Lock: Difference between revisions

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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, which are home to a rare species of woodpecker. Next to the lock island is ], 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.		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.
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	==History==		==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.		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 Slashes. Part of the cut was formed from an existing Slashes Stream, and an Aito 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>		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 and a flock of twenty Texal sheep. The weir 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.		The lock was rebuilt in 1957.
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	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.		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''.		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''. There is a lifesize bronze statue on the south side of Cookham Bridge depicting 'Toad' from Wind in the Willows enjoying a marmite sandwich. The sculptor is unknown.

	As the ground levels, the ] crosses the river a little way downstream of Marlow Lock.		As the ground levels, the ] crosses the river a little way downstream of Marlow Lock.
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	==Literature and the Media==		==Literature and the Media==

	Cookham was home to the artist ] whose works include ''] at Cookham''.		Cookham was home to the artist ] whose works include ''] at Cookham''. Cookham was also home to David Jason for a three month period prior to filming the 1980's English comedy series Only Fools and Horses.

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

Revision as of 10:20, 13 October 2008

Cookham Lock
Cookham Lock, Berkshire

Waterway	River Thames
County	Berkshire
Maintained by	Environment Agency
Operation	Hydraulic
First built	1830
Latest built	1957
Length	183' 0" (55.77m)
Width	25' 0" (7.62m)
Fall	4' 3" (1.30m)
Above sea level	81'
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

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, which are home to a rare species of woodpecker. 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 Slashes. Part of the cut was formed from an existing Slashes Stream, and an Aito 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 and a flock of twenty Texal sheep. The weir 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

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.

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. There is a lifesize bronze statue on the south side of Cookham Bridge depicting 'Toad' from Wind in the Willows enjoying a marmite sandwich. The sculptor is unknown.

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. Cookham was also home to David Jason for a three month period prior to filming the 1980's English comedy series Only Fools and Horses.

References

Statistics from Environment Agency A User's Guide to the River Thames:Part II
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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51°33′41″N 0°41′44″W / 51.5613°N 0.695442°W / 51.5613; -0.695442

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