Hambledon Lock is a historic lock situated on the River Thames that features a long weir. The lock has seen various renovations, and even featured in Charles Dickens' short ghost story.

Edvard

May 13, 2018

The first record of a lock at Hambleden was in 1338. It was a flash lock, with a single gate made from removable boards called paddles, with a winch for pulling boats up through the lock. Boats moving downstream would wait above the lock until the paddles were removed, which would allow a ‘flash’ of water to pass through, carrying the boats with it. In 1773, the first pound lock was built. It had two sets of gates operated manually by heavy wooden beams. In 1777 a small brick house was built and Caleb Gould became lockkeeper. Caleb, who worked the lock for 59 years, lies buried in Remenham churchyard. He died aged 91, and his epitaph on his grave stone reads, 'This world's a jest, and all things show it; I thought so once, but now I know it'. Old Caleb baked bread and sold it to the Thames bargemen. The bread ovens were rediscovered at the Lock in 1975. The first Oxford and Cambridge University boat race was rowed in 1829 between Hambleden Lock and Henley Bridge (Oxford won in a time of 14 minutes 30 seconds). In 1869 Hambleden Lock featured in Charles Dickens' short ghost story ‘The Phantom of Regatta Island’. The lock was completely rebuilt in 1870 and in 1884 the new weirs with a walkway, reopening an ancient right of way. The lock was rebuilt again in 1994. Regular kayaking and canoeing events are held on the rough water just below the weir.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hambleden_Lock
nationaltrust.org.uk/chilterns-countryside/trails/hambleden-mill-to-henley-on-thames--a-circular-walk-

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Elevation 30 m

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Location: Hambleden, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, South East England, England, United Kingdom

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