Sonning Lock facts for kids
Sonning Lock from the head gates.
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| Waterway | River Thames |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire |
| Maintained by | Environment Agency |
| Operation | Hydraulic |
| First built | 1773 |
| Latest built | 1905 |
| Length | 47.57 m (156 ft 1 in) |
| Width | 5.46 m (17 ft 11 in) |
| Fall | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Above sea level | 115' |
| Distance to Teddington Lock |
52 miles |
| Power is available out of hours | |
Sonning Lock is a special kind of gate system on the River Thames in England. It's located near the village of Sonning in Berkshire. A lock helps boats move between different water levels. There's also a weir nearby, which is like a small dam that controls the river's flow. The very first lock here was built in 1773. It has been rebuilt three times since then to keep it working well.
Contents
History of Sonning Lock
People have known about a weir at Sonning since the 1400s. It was used with mills and for fishing. There was even a "Locke-heise" mentioned back then, which was an early type of lock.
Building the First Lock
The first modern lock, called a "pound lock," was built in 1773. This was one of the first eight locks made after a new law about river travel in 1770. It took two years to build. The first locks were made from fir wood, but this wood wore out quickly. So, in 1787, the lock at Sonning was rebuilt using stronger oak wood.
Important Repairs and People
In 1827, the lock needed repairs. For a short time, an older type of lock was used again. By this time, a house for the lock-keeper had also been built.
One famous lock-keeper was James Sadler, who worked there from 1845 to 1878. He was a poet and also kept bees! He wrote poems about the river and about bees. He even invented a special beehive called the Berkshire hive. One of his poems listed all the locks, bridges, and towns along the River Thames.
Later Rebuilds
The lock was rebuilt again in 1868. The weirs, which control the water, were fixed up in 1898. The lock itself had another big rebuild in 1905.
How to Visit Sonning Lock
Sonning Lock is easy to reach. You can walk a short distance upstream from Sonning Bridge, which is in the middle of Sonning village. There's also a path from St Andrew's Church that leads to the river and the lock. The path along the river continues all the way to the town of Reading.
River Area Above Sonning Lock
On the south side of the river, as you get closer to Reading, you'll see Thames Valley Park. On the north side, in Oxfordshire, there are Caversham Lakes. These lakes include the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake, which is used for rowing, and the Thames & Kennet Marina for boats. You can get to these areas further up the river, across from where the River Kennet joins the Thames at Blake's Lock.
The river bends before you reach Herons Island, View Island, and Caversham Lock. Several rowing events happen here. The Sonning Regatta takes place in May, and the Reading Town Regatta and Thames Valley Park Regatta are held in June further upstream.
There are special markers just below the entrance to the Thames & Kennet Marina. These help people on the river check how fast their boats are going.
Thames Path Walking Trail
The Thames Path is a long walking trail that follows the River Thames. From Sonning Lock, the path stays on the south side of the river all the way to Caversham Lock. It crosses the River Kennet on Horseshoe Bridge. This bridge is actually connected to a railway bridge designed by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Sonning Lock in Books and Media
Sonning Lock has been mentioned in literature. The famous writer Charles Dickens once wrote about how pretty the lock was because of the lock-keeper's love for flowers.
The lock-keeper James Sadler, who we mentioned earlier, also wrote a poem about Sonning. Here's a part of it:
Is there a spot more lovely than the rest,
By art improved, by nature truly blest?
A noble river at its base running,
It is a little village known as Sonning.
- — James Sadler (1845–1885), Sonning lock keeper
