Romney Lock facts for kids
Romney Lock from downstream
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| Waterway | River Thames |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire |
| Maintained by | Environment Agency |
| Operation | Hydraulic |
| First built | 1798 |
| Latest built | 1980 |
| Length | 78.50 m (257 ft 7 in) |
| Width | 7.45 m (24 ft 5 in) |
| Fall | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Above sea level | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Distance to Teddington Lock |
23 miles (37 km) |
| Power is available out of hours | |
Romney Lock is a special kind of gate system, called a lock, on the River Thames in England. It helps boats travel safely up and down the river. You can find it near the towns of Windsor and Eton. It's about half a mile downstream from Windsor Bridge.
The lock is located on the Windsor side of the river. It sits next to a boatyard and is right beside Romney Island. This island is a long, thin piece of land in the middle of the river. The very first lock here was built a long time ago in 1798.
A weir is a barrier that controls the water level. The weir for Romney Lock is a bit further upstream. It stretches across the river to another small island called Cutlers Ait. In 2011, a small power station was built here. It uses the river's flow to create electricity. This electricity is special because it helps power Windsor Castle!
Contents
History of Romney Lock
Building the First Lock
People first thought about building a lock here in 1774. They wanted it closer to Windsor Bridge. But nothing happened for a while. The lock we know today finally opened in 1797. It was built from strong oak wood.
At first, there was no weir at this spot. People protested against building one. So, it wasn't built right away. But even without a weir, boats still had to pay a fee to use the lock. By the next year, everyone agreed a weir was really needed. So, it was built to help control the water.
Upgrades and Changes
The lock was rebuilt in 1869 by a group called the Thames Conservancy. They looked after the river. Later, at the start of the 1900s, the weir was rebuilt further upstream. The lock itself was rebuilt again more recently, between 1979 and 1980. This shows how important it is to keep the lock working well for river traffic.
How to Visit Romney Lock
You can get to Romney Lock from Windsor. There's a long, narrow road that leads to it. This road starts from the car park behind the Windsor and Eton Riverside railway station. It's a nice walk or bike ride to see the lock up close.
Exploring the River Above the Lock
As you go upstream from Romney Lock, you'll see some interesting places. On the left side of the river is Eton College. This famous school is just past Cutler's Ait. Right after that is the town of Eton itself. Here, Windsor Bridge crosses the river.
On the Windsor side, the river flows past the town centre. Upstream from Windsor Bridge, you'll spot two tiny islands: Firework Ait and Deadwater Ait. A bit further up, you'll see two more bridges. One is the Isambard Kingdom Brunel-designed Windsor Railway Bridge. It crosses Baths Island. The other is the newer Queen Elizabeth Bridge for cars.
The river then takes a sharp Z-bend near Windsor Racecourse. After that, it flows past open fields near the village of Eton Wick. Finally, it reaches the next lock, Boveney Lock.
Walking the Thames Path
The Thames Path is a long walking trail. It follows the river's edge. From Romney Lock, it goes along the south bank towards Windsor. Then, it crosses Windsor Bridge to the north (Eton) side. From there, the path continues all the way to Boveney Lock. It's a great way to explore the river and its surroundings!
