Pinkhill Lock facts for kids
 |
|
| Waterway | River Thames |
|---|---|
| County | Oxfordshire |
| Maintained by | Environment Agency |
| Operation | Manual |
| First built | 1791 |
| Latest built | 1898 |
| Length | 34.59 m (113 ft 6 in) |
| Width | 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in) |
| Fall | 1.05 m (3 ft 6 in) |
| Above sea level | 199' |
| Distance to Teddington Lock |
101 miles |
| Coordinates | 51°45′37″N 1°21′49″W / 51.760142°N 1.363602°W |
Pinkhill Lock is a special kind of gate system on the River Thames in England. It's located near Farmoor, a village in Oxfordshire.
The very first lock here was made of stone in 1791. It was built by a person named Daniel Harris for the group that managed the Thames River.
There's also a weir nearby, which is like a small dam that controls water flow. It's on the other side of an island and has a bridge for people to walk across. Part of the stream near the weir is called 'Luck's Hole' or 'Lot's Hole'.
History of Pinkhill Lock
The lock gets its name from a farm in the area. It was built where an older weir and a type of lock called a flash lock used to be. These older structures were owned by Lord Harcourt.
Pinkhill Lock was one of the first locks built by the Thames Navigation Commission. It was partly rebuilt in 1877 to make it better. A new channel was dug below the lock by 1899. The stone house where the lock keeper lives was built in 1932.
How to Visit Pinkhill Lock
You can get to Pinkhill Lock from Farmoor village. There is a path behind the Farmoor Reservoir that leads to the lock. You can walk or use an authorized vehicle to reach it.
River Journey Above Pinkhill Lock
The River Thames winds past Farmoor Reservoir and a place called Bablock Hythe. There used to be a ferry here to carry people and things across the river.
This part of the river was a favorite spot for the poet Matthew Arnold. He wrote about it in his poem "The Scholar Gipsy".
The Thames Path is a long walking trail that follows the river. It crosses the river at Pinkhill Lock using the gates. From there, it goes along the northern bank towards Stanton Harcourt. The path then meets the river again at Bablockhythe. It continues alongside the river all the way to Northmoor Lock.
