Caversham Lock on the River Thames

Locks have been documented here at Caversham since the 15th century, although these were undoubtedly flash weirs. It wasn't until 1777 that the Thames Commissioners decided that they had to spend £1,000 on building a pound lock, the first one using fir wood. In those days the owners charged a toll of two pennies per ton to merchants taking their barges through the lock.

It is recorded that in 1778, a new lock office be built for the keeper. It was a small wooden affair, provided 'for the keeper to receive his money and put in his tools for the necessary opening the pound.'

Did you know?

Caversham Lock’s lock keeper is Tanya Rosenberg, one of three female lock keepers on the Thames. Read about her role at Caversham Lock in Towpath Talk’s feature.