Sunbury Lock
Sunbury Lock | |
---|---|
Sunbury lock with boats in the older hand-operated lock. The new lock is on the right | |
![]() | |
51°24′18.5″N 0°24′22″W / 51.405139°N 0.40611°W | |
Waterway | River Thames |
County | Surrey |
Maintained by | Environment Agency |
Operation | Old Manual New Hydraulic |
First built | 1812 (removed) 1856 (middle) 1927 (bankside) |
Length | Old 47.15 m (154 ft 8 in) New 62.78 m (206 ft 0 in) [1] |
Width | Old 5.86 m (19 ft 3 in) New 7.41 m (24 ft 4 in) [1] |
Fall | Both locks 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] |
Above sea level | 27 feet (8 m) |
Distance to Teddington Lock | 8 miles |
Power is available out of hours |
Sunbury Lock the Walton, Weybridge and Shepperton reach of the Thames | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Tumbling_Bay_Weir_and_part_of_the_Walton_Mile_of_the_River_Thames_in_Surrey.jpg/220px-Tumbling_Bay_Weir_and_part_of_the_Walton_Mile_of_the_River_Thames_in_Surrey.jpg)
Sunbury Lock is a
The complex is two locks, old and new, and a narrow concrete divide, which are downstream of the original lock built in 1812. The older, hand-operated, was originally built in 1856, seldom used. The newer was opened in 1927 by
The lock has three associated weirs, upstream. The main weir is between Sunbury Lock Ait and Wheatley's Ait (north); the latter has two other weirs, one is a small part-time storm weir.
History
The earliest major weir locally was built in 1789 specifically to divert water to create a deeper channel for navigation.
Access to the lock
The lock is inaccessible by road and can be reached along the towpath from The Weir Hotel, Walton-on-Thames. The weir stream and Wheatley's Ait backwater, the Creek, is used for kayaking from the northern bank, between Shepperton and Sunbury-on-Thames.
Reach above the lock
A 300 m
Navigation transit markers are beside Desborough Cut to allow river users to check their speed.
The reach is home to six rowing clubs, a skiffing club, sailing and canoeing clubs. Walton and Weybridge Regatta, Walton Small Boats Head, Weybridge Silver Sculls, Weybridge Ladies Regatta and Walton Skiff Regatta are annual events.
Thames Path
The Thames Path continues along the Surrey bank until just before Shepperton Lock where the ferry goes across to the other side. To avoid the ferry calls for a long detour over Walton Bridge and via Shepperton.
Sports clubs on the reach
- Elmbridge Canoe Club
- Walton Rowing Club
- Weybridge Rowing Club
- Weybridge Ladies Rowing Club
- Weyfarers (recreational and pilot gig) Rowing Club
- St George's College Boat Club
- Thames Valley Skiff Club
- Desborough Sailing Club
Kayaking
Sunbury Weir has the highest volume and fastest
Access
Public car park on Fordbridge Road above on the left bank. From here across an informal football pitch with playground is a backwater, the Creek, which joins below the main weir.
Gates and weir pool level
The weir's gates are variously opened or closed as with the storm weir along the Creek.
Sunbury provides its optimal water at a certain pool level — dependent on how many gates are open at the downstream weir (at Molesey), kayaking websites provide details.
Water levels
- Sunbury Weir will need to be on at least 1+1⁄2 gates for usable features, pool level depending.
- Hurley Weirneeds to be on at least 3 gates for sufficient water.
Literature and the Media
The lock is mentioned in Jerome K. Jerome's book Three Men in a Boat
- "The river is sweetly pretty there just before you come to the gates, and the backwater is charming: but don't attempt to row up it"
See also
- Locks on the River Thames
- Rowing on the River Thames
- Kayaking and Canoeing on the River Thames
- Sailing on the River Thames
External links
- Shepperton Whitewater Centre for Sunbury Weir Levels
- Thames Valley Freestylers weir levels
References
- ^ a b c "Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
- ^ a b c d e f g Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
- ^ a b "Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012. Distances given in km.