Rushey Lock

Summary

Rushey Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England. It is on the northern bank of the river in Oxfordshire, at a considerable distance from any village, the nearest being Buckland Marsh, a hamlet on the road to Buckland to the south of the river.

Rushey Lock
Map
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountyOxfordshire
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationManual
First built1790
Latest built1898
Length34.59 m (113 ft 6 in) [1]
Width4.59 m (15 ft 1 in)[1]
Fall1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Above sea level66 m (216 ft)
Distance to
Teddington Lock
114 miles (183 km)
Rushey Lock
Legend
River Thames
Radcot Lock & weir
Old Man's Bridge
Rushey Lock & weir
River Thames

The lock was built in stone in 1790 by the Thames Navigation Commission. The weir is adjacent to the lock on the other side of the lock island.

History edit

There was originally a weir and flash lock about a mile upstream called Old Nan's Weir. A survey made in 1790 concluded that the site was unsuitable for a pound lock, and it was built at Rushey instead. There is no record of an earlier weir or lock at Rushey. Keepers at Rushey had oversight of Old Nan's Weir which was finally removed in 1868. Rushey lock was reported as in a bad state of deterioration in 1857 and the weir also in 1871, repairs being needed on both occasions. The lock keeper's house with a pyramidical roof was built in 1894, replacing an older one, and the lock was rebuilt in 1898.[2]

Access to the lock edit

There is a road to the lock from Tadpole Bridge downstream.

Reach above the lock edit

The river is very twisty along this reach. A short way before Radcot Lock is Old Man's Bridge which is on the site of a former weir.

The Thames Path follows the southern bank to Radcot Lock.

See also edit

External links edit

  • The Thames Path: Tadpole Bridge to Lechlade -- Rushey Lock is about halfway down this article, with several pictures
 
Lock Keeper's cottage, Rushey Lock, with topiary frog.
Next crossing upstream River Thames Next crossing downstream
Old Man's Bridge (pedestrian) Rushey Lock Tadpole Bridge (road)
Next lock upstream River Thames Next lock downstream
Radcot Lock
4.23 km (2.63 mi) [3]
Rushey Lock
Grid reference: SP323000
Shifford Lock
6.92 km (4.30 mi)[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  2. ^ Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  3. ^ 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.

51°41′52″N 1°32′03″W / 51.69782°N 1.53405°W / 51.69782; -1.53405