Boulters Lock
Telephone: +44 (0)1628 624205
Postcode: SL6 8TR
Click the link below for a map and a list of facilities at the lock.
Location and facilities for Boulters Lock
During Victorian times, Boulter's Lock won fame - and notoriety - across the country as thousands of people flocked to the river here to mess about and watch the wealthier classes indulge themselves.
This was especially so on warm summer weekends, and particularly on the Sunday of Ascot Week, when there were pageants, carnivals and regattas. Holidays were spent on houseboats and the favourite pastime of the wealthy was to enjoy a leisurely punt along the meandering and slow-moving river.
Boulter's Lock was formerly called Ray Mill Lock, after the adjacent mill owned by the Ray family who produced flour. The first-ever lock keeper was the miller's son, John. The mills became Boulter's Inn in 1950. The word 'bolter' is an old English word for miller, hence the name Boulter's lock.
Lock keeper
The lock keeper here, Ralph Tompkin has worked on the river for the past 27 years. Formerly in the engineering trade, Ralph became a British Waterways Riverman in 1978, and only a year later accepted the job of District Relief Lock keeper for the Staines to Teddington stretch of the Thames. A period as Relief for Cookham, Boulter's, and Bray locks was followed by his taking up residency at Boulter's in 1991.
He says: 'I've always wanted a job on the river, and this job really appealed to me.' This lock is very spectator-friendly, with free car parking nearby, and plenty of seating. An excellent view of the lock can be found from the charming stone footbridge at the end of the lock. A tea and refreshment kiosk is open on sunny days during the year.
Did you know?
Taplow Court on the top of the hill behind Boulter's Lock has a pool of water in its grounds called 'Bapsey Pool'. This is where the first Christian Baptism took place by Saint Birinus in the early 600s AD.