King's Lock
{{Short description|Lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Waterlock
|lock_name = King's Lock
|image= King's Lock - geograph.org.uk - 909039.jpg
|caption=
|waterway = River Thames
|county = Oxfordshire
|maint = Environment Agency
|operation = Manual
|first = 1928
|latest =
|length = {{convert|34.46|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/135271.aspx |title=Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames |date=8 November 2012 |publisher=Environmental Agency |accessdate=17 November 2012}} Dimensions given in metres
|width = {{convert|4.97|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|fall = {{convert|0.77|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|sealevel = 192 feet
|enda = Teddington Lock
|distenda = 97 miles
|endb =
|distendb =
| map_cue=
| map_image=
| map_text=
| map_width=
| coordinates=
| lat=
| long=
| extra=
}}
{{Kings Lock map|King's Lock}}
King's Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England. It is in open country about 1 km north of Godstow, to the north of Oxford, Oxfordshire, at grid reference SP478102, on the southern bank of the river. The lock was one of the last pound locks built on the Thames, built by the Thames Conservancy in 1928 to replace the former flash lock. It has the smallest fall of any lock on the river, {{convert|0.77|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.
The lock is on the southern side of a large island. On the opposite side of the river is the start of the Wolvercote Mill Stream leading to Duke's Cut, which connects the Thames to the Oxford Canal. The Mill Stream rejoins the Thames below Godstow Lock. King's Weir is on the other side of the island below Duke's Cut. There is a small visitor information centre at the lock.
History
There was a weir recorded at King's as far back as the 16th century. A pound lock was first proposed in 1817, but never built. A further proposal was made in 1845. The weir had a history of complaints about the water level and lack of attendance for the flash lock. Around 1872 a boatslide was built for the portage of small boats.Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 – republished 1968 David & Charles The weir was rebuilt in 1885 but its replacement by a pound lock did not happen until 1928.
Access to the lock
The lock can be reached down a long track along the right bank of the river from the Godstow road just where it passes under the A34 Oxford by-pass.
There is a public footpath across the lock and weir.
Reach above the lock
Just upstream of the lock, the Thames reaches its northernmost point. About 1 km or half a mile upstream, on the southern bank, the Seacourt Stream separates off; this rejoins the Thames just south of the city centre, at Kennington Railway Bridge.
Looking further upstream, the Thames runs through open country. About 2 km upstream, the River Evenlode joins from the northern side. Another 1 km upstream is the Cassington Cut, now a branch of the Evenlode. A further 1 km upstream, Wharf Stream also joins on the same side just before Eynsham Lock.
The Thames Path follows the southern bank to Eynsham Lock.
See also
{{S-start}}
{{River lock start|River=River Thames}}
{{River lock line|upstream=Eynsham Lock
{{convert|4.37|km|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url= http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/131811.aspx |title=Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames |date=8 November 2012 |publisher=Environmental Agency |accessdate=19 November 2012}} Distances given in km|downstream=Godstow Lock
{{convert|1.81|km|abbr=on}}|location=SP478102}}
{{S-end}}
{{coord|51.78905|N|1.3069|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}