Hurley Lock

Hurley Lock

Hurley Lock and islands from upstream
Waterway	River Thames
County	Berkshire
Maintained by	Environment Agency
Operation	Hydraulic
First built	1773
Latest built	1785
Length	39.82 m (130 ft 8 in)
Width	6.07 m (19 ft 11 in)
Fall	1.05 m (3 ft 5 in)
Above sea level	96'
Distance to Teddington Lock	40 miles

Hurley Lock is a lock and weir on the River Thames in England, situated in a clump of wooded islands close to the village of Hurley, Berkshire. The lock was first built by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1773.

There are several weirs between the islands but the main weir is upstream between the topmost island and the Buckinghamshire bank. The weir is popular with kayakers whenever conditions are favourable, and it is very busy at weekends.

There was a Flash lock in the weir here, referred to in the 16th and 17th century as "New Lock". The pound lock was opened in 1773, being the fifth downstream of the eight original locks built after the 1770 navigation act. It was constructed of fir wood, and like the other locks, where the fir was subsequently replaced by oak, it was in decay and in need of repair in 1780 and 1785. On the latter occasion the owner of the flash lock was instructed to keep the flash lock in good repair for use by barges. Further repair was made in 1791, and in 1910 it still had timber sides. It has since been replaced by masonry.

The timber weir winch, looking like a capstan and which was used to pull boats through the Flash Lock, is still at the lock.

The lock and weir are easily reached by a short footpath from the free car park, which is at the end of Hurley High Street in the village of Hurley on the south bank of the river.

A short way upstream on the Buckinghamshire bank is Medmenham Abbey home of the notorious Hell Fire Club. The river winds through open country with the paired Frog Mill Ait and Black Boy Island on a sharp bend in the river. Magpie Island is close to Culham Court on the way to Hambleden and Hambleden Lock.