Shifford Lock facts for kids
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| Waterway | River Thames |
|---|---|
| County | Oxfordshire |
| Maintained by | Environment Agency |
| Operation | Manual |
| First built | 1898 |
| Length | 34.64 m (113 ft 8 in) |
| Width | 4.59 m (15 ft 1 in) |
| Fall | 2.23 m (7 ft 4 in) |
| Above sea level | 210' |
| Distance to Teddington Lock |
110 miles |
Shifford Lock is a special kind of gate system on the River Thames in England. It helps boats move between different water levels. Imagine it like a water elevator for boats! This lock is found near the small villages of Shifford, Duxford, and Chimney in Oxfordshire.
The lock was built in 1898 by a group called the Thames Conservancy. They also dug a new channel, or "cut," for the river to flow through. This was the only new lock built on the non-tidal part of the Thames during that time. It replaced an older, simpler type of lock called a flash lock, which was about three-quarters of a mile downstream. There is also a small waterfall, called a weir, next to the lock. A larger weir is on the old path of the river, upstream from the lock.
History of Shifford Lock
The first flash lock was near a place called Great Brook. It was removed sometime between 1829 and 1853. After it was gone, people complained that the river wasn't deep enough for boats.
Talks about building a new lock started in 1896. Just two years later, in 1898, Shifford Lock was open! The new channel for the lock was made by widening an existing small waterway. Once the new lock was built, the path used to pull boats along the old river channel was no longer needed. Some people wanted to call it Chimney Lock, but the name Shifford Lock was chosen instead.
How to Visit Shifford Lock
You can reach Shifford Lock by walking from the village of Chimney. It's about a mile (1.6 kilometers) away. It's a great spot to see how locks work up close!
The River Path Above the Lock
The new river channel, or "cut," is about a mile long. Halfway along this channel, you'll find the Shifford Cut Footbridge. This bridge lets people cross over the water. After the channel, the river goes back to its original path and flows past Chimney. Further along this stretch of the river, there's another wooden footbridge called Tenfoot Bridge. After that, you'll reach Tadpole Bridge.
The Thames Path is a famous walking trail. It starts on the south side of the new channel. Walkers cross over the water using the Shifford Cut Footbridge. Then, the path continues on the north side of the river, going all the way to Rushey Lock.
