Blake's Lock
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
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{{Infobox waterlock
|lock_name = Blake's Lock
|image = Blakes Lock, Reading - geograph.org.uk - 1200776.jpg
|caption =
|waterway = River Kennet
|county = Berkshire
|maint = Environment Agency
|operation = Manual
|first = 1802
|latest =
|length = {{convert|37.39|m|ftin|abbr=on}} {{cite web |url=http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/geth0309bpgk-e-e.pdf |title=A User's Guide to the River Thames |pages=29–30 |date=2009 |work=PDF file |publisher=Environmental Agency |access-date=12 November 2012}} Dimensions given in metres
|width = {{convert|5.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|fall = {{convert|1.07|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|enda = Teddington Lock
|distenda = {{convert|55|mi}}
|endb = Bristol Harbour
|distendb = {{convert|87|mi}}
| map_image =
| map_width =
| coordinates=
| extra =
}}
{{Blakes Lock map}}
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Blake's Lock is a lock situated on the River Kennet in Reading, Berkshire, England. It is on the short reach of the River Kennet which is administered as if it were part of the River Thames and is hence owned and managed by the Environment Agency.
History
The first mile of the Kennet from its junction with the River Thames has been navigable since the 13th century. Blake's Lock was originally a flash lock known as Brokenburglok. In 1404 the Abbot of Reading Abbey, who had control of the River Kennet, made an agreement with the town's guild to allow craft to pass through the lock between sunrise and sunset on payment of a one penny toll. By 1794, not much had changed, with John Rennie, the engineer of the Kennet and Avon Canal describing it as "a very bad and inconvenient staunch lock".{{cite book | first = Kenneth R | last = Clew | title = Wessex Waterway - A Guide to the Kennet & Avon Canal | publisher = Moonraker Press | year = 1978 | page = 9 }}{{cite book | first = Kenneth R | last = Clew | title = Wessex Waterway - A Guide to the Kennet & Avon Canal | publisher = Moonraker Press | year = 1978 | page = 14 }}
The lock was converted to a timber-constructed pound lock in 1802 to improve navigation from the Thames into the River Kennet enabling boats to travel all the way to the Bristol area. The lock retains its manual beams (not the originals, new beams were fitted in 2006), so far avoiding the progress towards hydraulic power.{{cite web | title=Blake's Lock | work=River Thames Guide | url=http://www.riverthames.co.uk/about_thames/3687.htm | access-date=2006-09-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926180425/http://www.riverthames.co.uk/about_thames/3687.htm | archive-date=26 September 2006 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}{{cite book |last=Pearson |first=Michael |title=Kennet & Avon Middle Thames: Pearson's Canal Companion |publisher=Central Waterways Supplies |year=2003 }} The lock was closed during winter 2017-18 for work that included repairing and re-sheeting the lock gates and refurbishing the chamber walls.{{cite web | url = https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/11582/blakes-lock-107-river-kennet-at-reading | title = Notices: Blakes Lock 107, River Kennet at Reading | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180526193548/https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/11582/blakes-lock-107-river-kennet-at-reading | archive-date = 2018-05-26 | date = 2018-03-16 | publisher = Canal & River Trust | access-date = 2018-05-26}}
Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock
{{Main|Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock}}
Next to the lock is the Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock which tells the story of Reading's two rivers — the Kennet and the Thames. The museum occupies two former industrial buildings, the Screen House and the Turbine House.{{cite web | title=Riverside Museum | work=Reading Library Service | url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/galleries/blakes.htm | access-date=2006-09-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060824063511/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/galleries/blakes.htm |archive-date = 2006-08-24}} Exhibits include a gypsy caravan and information about the Romani people, a medieval mill wheel, preserved turbine machinery, and seasonal art exhibits.
See also
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Transport}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book | first = Kenneth R | last = Clew | title = Wessex Waterway - A Guide to the Kennet & Avon Canal | publisher = Moonraker Press | location = Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire | isbn = 0-239-00181-8 | year = 1978 }}
- {{cite book |last=Pearson |first=Michael |title=Kennet & Avon Middle Thames: Pearson's Canal Companion |year=2003 |publisher=Central Waterways Supplies|location=Rugby |isbn=0-907864-97-X}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/your-visit/permanent-galleries/riverside-museum-blakes-lock Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock]
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{{River lock start|River=River Kennet}}
{{River lock line|upstream=County Lock|downstream=Sonning Lock
(on River Thames)|location=SU727735}}
{{S-end}}
{{Kennet and Avon Canal}}
{{Coord|51.45582|N|0.95506|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SU727735)|display=title}}
Category:1802 establishments in England
Category:Locks of Reading, Berkshire