Godstow Lock facts for kids
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| Waterway | River Thames |
|---|---|
| County | Oxfordshire |
| Maintained by | Environment Agency |
| Operation | hydraulic |
| First built | 1790 |
| Latest built | 1924 |
| Length | 33.52 m (110 ft 0 in) |
| Width | 4.95 m (16 ft 3 in) |
| Fall | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) |
| Above sea level | 190' |
| Distance to Teddington Lock |
96 miles |
Godstow Lock is a special kind of gate system on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England. It helps boats move up and down the river where the water level changes. This lock is located near the villages of Wolvercote and Wytham, right outside the city of Oxford.
Godstow Lock is important because it's the furthest lock upstream on the River Thames that uses machines to open and close its gates. This means it has "electro-hydraulic" power. All the locks further up the river from Godstow are still operated by hand, using long wooden beams.
Just a bit upstream from the lock, you'll find the main weir. A weir is like a small dam that controls the water flow. There's another weir at Godstow Bridge, near a famous old pub called The Trout Inn. These weirs help direct water into a smaller stream called the Wolvercote Mill Stream. This stream actually comes from above King's Lock, which is another lock nearby.
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History of Godstow Lock
Before the current lock was built, Godstow Bridge itself acted like a simple lock. It helped control the river's flow. The first proper lock at Godstow was built in 1790. It was made of stone by a person named Daniel Harris. He built it for the Thames Navigation Commission, which was in charge of making the river easier to travel on.
After the lock was built, some people living nearby complained. They said the new lock made the water levels higher in the meadows upstream, especially at a place called Pixey Mead. Over the years, the lock became quite old and needed fixing. It had a big repair job in 1872 to make it work well again.
Sometimes, boat users would try to avoid the lock. They would go up a smaller stream past Wolvercote instead. The house where the lock-keeper lived was built around 1896. There was a rule that the lock-keeper couldn't sell drinks or snacks. This was to make sure that The Trout Inn, the nearby pub, didn't lose customers! Before this house was built, the lock-keeper actually lived on a houseboat right on the river. The lock you see today was last rebuilt in 1924.
Visiting Godstow Lock
It's easy to get to Godstow Lock! It's just a short walk from Godstow Bridge. You can reach it on foot and enjoy the peaceful riverside.
What's Around Godstow Lock?
Right next to the lock, you can see the old ruins of Godstow Nunnery. This was once a special place where nuns lived many years ago. It's a cool historical spot to explore.
As you go upstream from the lock, the river passes under Godstow Bridge. It also goes under the A34 Road Bridge, which is part of the Oxford By-pass. Further upstream, the river gets narrower and winds its way through the landscape, passing by Pixey Mead.
If you enjoy walking, the Thames Path follows the western side of the river from Godstow Lock all the way to King's Lock. It's a great way to see more of the River Thames.
Godstow Lock and Alice in Wonderland
Godstow Lock has a very special connection to a famous children's story! In the meadows near the lock, a mathematics teacher from Oxford named Charles Lutwidge Dodgson used to have picnics. He would go with his friend Dean Henry Liddell and his three daughters: Lorina, Alice, and Edith.
It was right here, by the river, that Charles Dodgson started telling a magical story. This story later became the famous book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland! The book even begins with a scene that sounds a lot like a picnic by the river:
Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank and having nothing to do..... when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her...
So, when you visit Godstow Lock, you can imagine Alice and her sisters sitting by the river, listening to the very first ideas for her amazing adventures!
