Chalmore Lock facts for kids

Chalmore Lock was a special kind of gate system on the River Thames in England. It worked like a watery elevator for boats, helping them move up or down the river. It also had a weir, which is like a small dam that controls water levels. Chalmore Lock was used from 1838 until 1883, near a town called Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

What was Chalmore Lock and why was it built?

Chalmore Lock was built in 1838 by the Thames Navigation Commissioners. They were in charge of making the River Thames easier to travel on. The lock was located at a spot called Chalmore Hole. This was between two other locks, Cleeve Lock and Benson Lock.

The lock was designed to be used mainly in summer or when the river water was low. Most of the time, the lock was open at both ends. This meant boats could pass through easily. When the water level was very low, the lock would be closed. It would create a small drop of about 18 inches (45 cm) in the water level.

It was described as "a weir and two pairs of gates." These gates were similar to modern lock gates. They helped boats pass when the weir was closed. Soon after it was built, the lock proved very useful. A large boat called a barge was stuck upstream in shallow water. After the lock gates were closed, the barge was able to move within five minutes!

Why was Chalmore Lock removed?

Chalmore Lock had its own lock keeper. This person was in charge of operating the lock. People also had to pay a small fee, called a toll, to use it. However, over time, the lock started to fall apart. The Thames Conservancy, a group that managed the river, wanted to get rid of it.

But the people living in Wallingford disagreed. From 1874 onwards, they strongly campaigned to keep the lock. They were worried about what would happen to their town if it was removed.

In 1881, the Thames Conservancy spent a lot of money. They dredged the river below Wallingford Bridge. Dredging means clearing out mud and sand from the riverbed. That same winter, floating ice damaged a lot of the weir. Finally, in 1883, Chalmore Lock was taken away completely.

Chalmore Lock in stories and books

Chalmore Lock is mentioned in a famous funny book called Three Men in a Boat. It was written by Jerome K. Jerome. In the book, the author tells a story about rowing a young lady downstream. They started from Benson Lock. He expected to reach "Wallingford Lock" very quickly.

However, the map he was using was old. He didn't know that Chalmore Lock had already been removed! As they kept rowing for six miles in the dark evening, they became more and more worried. They finally ended up at Cleeve Lock, much further than they expected.

A writer named William Staniland also wrote about Chalmore Lock. He included a poem called "The lay of Chalmore Lock" in his book Songs after Sunset in 1884.