Caversham Lock
Caversham Lock is a lock and main weir on the River Thames in England at Reading, Berkshire. Both the lock and main weir are connected to De Bohun Island (colloquially known as Lock Island). The Thames Navigation Commissioners built the original lock in 1778. Additional sluices north of View Island and Heron Island form the whole weir complex. A footbridge, known as The Clappers, passes over the weir and all three islands to connect Lower Caversham to Reading.
| Caversham Lock | |
|---|---|
Caversham lock in 2012 | |
| 51.4607°N 0.9641°W | |
| Waterway | River Thames |
| County | Berkshire |
| Maintained by | Environment Agency |
| Operation | Hydraulic |
| First built | 1778 |
| Latest built | 1875 |
| Length | 40.03 m (131 ft 4 in) |
| Width | 5.46 m (17 ft 11 in) |
| Fall | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Above sea level | 120' |
| Distance to Teddington Lock | 55 miles |
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The weir is upstream of the lock and in the mid-channel. Kings Meadow, Reading, and buildings comprising homes and office blocks adjoin to the south of the lock itself. The island contains a typical lock-keeper's house, a crane depot, small boatyard, and large boathouse owned by the Environment Agency for occasional use by that authority and police in river patrol and maintenance of boats.
The head of water provided by the weir is used by Reading Hydro to generate up to 46 kW of electricity.