View source for Caversham Lock

{{Short description|Lock and weir on the River Thames in Berkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
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{{Infobox waterlock
|lock_name = Caversham Lock
|image= An autumn afternoon at Caversham Lock - geograph.org.uk - 3264827.jpg
|caption= Caversham lock in 2012
|waterway = [[River Thames]]
|county = [[Berkshire]]
|maint   = [[Environment Agency]]
|operation = Hydraulic
|first    = 1778
|latest   = 1875
|length = {{convert|40.03|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency" >{{cite web |url=http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/geth0309bpgk-e-e.pdf |title=A User's Guide to the River Thames |pages=29–30 |year=2009 |work=PDF file |publisher=Environmental Agency |accessdate=7 November 2012}} Dimensions given in metres</ref>
|width = {{convert|5.46|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency" />
|fall = {{convert|1.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency" />
|sealevel = 120'
|enda = [[Teddington Lock]]
|distenda = 55 miles
|endb =
|distendb =
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| coordinates={{Coord|51.4607|-0.9641|region:GB_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| lat=
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}}
{{Caversham Lock map}}
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'''Caversham Lock''' is a [[lock (water transport)|lock]] and main [[weir]] on the [[River Thames]] in England at [[Reading, Berkshire|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.

The weir is upstream of the lock and in the mid-channel. Kings Meadow, [[Reading, Berkshire|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&nbsp;kW of electricity.<ref name="overview">{{cite web |url=https://readinghydro.org/technical-summary/ |title=Discover our hydro-electric plant |date=31 December 2019 |publisher=Reading Hydro CBS |access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Caversham Weir, 1903.jpg|thumb|left|Caversham Weir in 1903]]
A weir, mill, ferry, and [[flash lock]] on the site were referenced in 1493 when granted to [[Notley Abbey]]. The pound lock opened in 1778, but the long promised lock house was not built until after 1819. In 1871 Reading Corporation planned to build a swing bridge over the lock upstream, but did not implement the plan. The lock was rebuilt in 1875.<ref>Fred. S. Thacker ''The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs'' 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles</ref>

==Access to and across the lock==
The lock is about 400 metres east of [[Reading railway station]] and well connected to Kings Meadow, the largest park of central Reading.

Access to the north is to part of the Lower Caversham neighborhood of the former village of [[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]] (considered a Reading suburb administratively since it joined [[Reading (borough)#Borough of Reading|the Borough of Reading]]), and the route is open as a public footpath.

==Reach above the lock==
Soon after the lock, there is [[Reading Bridge]] followed by [[Fry's Island]] in the middle of the river. The built-up part of Reading stretches 500m (on the southern side) to [[Caversham Bridge]]. A gangway spans from Reading to [[Pipers Island]], with a restaurant that covers more than 75% of the gangway.

The northern bank passes by Caversham. [[St Mary's Island, River Thames|St Mary's Island]] is close to the bank at the far end of Caversham (seen on maps also as Upper and Lower Large). Further west of St Mary's Island, [[Mapledurham House]] comes into view as the river continues almost northwards towards Mapledurham Lock.

[[Reading Amateur Regatta]] is held annually in June between St Mary's Island and Caversham Bridge. [[Reading Festival]] is held on August Bank Holiday at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue near Caversham Bridge. A temporary structure called [[Reading Festival Bridge]] links the site with parking and camping areas along the north bank open meadows during the festival. In these areas the [[Chiltern Hills]] can be seen in the background.

[[File:CavershamLockReach01.JPG|left|thumb|View as the channel veers north-west by Tilehurst and Purley]]
On the south bank, after the farmed meadows, is [[Tilehurst]], where the river veers briefly north with the two islands of [[Appletree Eyot]] and [[Poplar Island, River Thames|Poplar Island]] in the center of the river. The railway runs adjacent to the river for more than 600 meters on a high brick embankment to enable it to cut through the end of the escarpment further upstream, on which most of [[Purley-on-Thames]] lies.

The [[Thames Path]] follows the southern bank. A footpath follows the north bank between Reading and Caversham bridges.<br>
There is an orphan section of the original towpath 1&nbsp;km downstream of Mapledurham Lock, inaccessible except by boat.

===Sports clubs===
* [[Reading Rowing Club]]
* Reading Canoe Club
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[Islands in the River Thames]]
*[[Locks on the River Thames]]
*[[Crossings of the River Thames]]

{{River item box
|River = [[River Thames]]
|upstream = [[Mapledurham Lock]]
|upsub = {{convert|7.08|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 |accessdate=20 November 2012}} Distances given in km</ref>
|downstream = [[Sonning Lock]]
|downsub = {{convert|4.23|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="EnvAgency2" />
|type = lock
|location = SU718740
|table = start }}

{{River item box
|River = [[River Thames]]
|upstream = [[Reading Bridge]]
|downstream=[[Sonning Bridge]] &<br />[[Sonning Backwater Bridges]]
|type = bridge
|location = SU718740
|table = middle }}

{{River item box
|River = [[River Thames]]
|upstream = [[Fry's Island]]
|downstream=[[View Island]]
|type = island
|thisis = De Bohun Island
|location = SU718740
|table = end }}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Caversham Lock}}
* [http://www.visitthames.co.uk/ Thames site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061217175643/http://www.cavershamlife.co.uk/ Caversham Life, Living and Community]

[[Category:Islands of the River Thames]]
[[Category:Locks of Reading, Berkshire]]
[[Category:Pedestrian bridges across the River Thames]]
[[Category:Locks on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Weirs on the River Thames]]