Blake's Lock
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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.
Blake's was originally a flash lock, and once owned by the then Kennet & Avon Company. It 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 original manual beams, so far avoiding the progress towards hydraulic power.[1] It has a rise/fall of 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m).[2]
Next to the lock is the riverside museum 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.[3]
[edit] Statistics
- Length: 122'8" (37.39m)
- Width: 18'11" (5.75m)
- Fall: 3'6" (1.07m)
- Contact Telephone Number: 0118 957 2251[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Blake's Lock. River Thames Guide. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
- ^ Pearson, Michael (2003). Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's Canal Companion. Rugby: Central Waterways Supplies. ISBN 090786497X.
- ^ Riverside Museum. Reading Library Service. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
- ^ Lock Statistics. Floating Down the River. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
[edit] See also
| Next lock upstream | River Kennet / Kennet and Avon Canal | Next lock downstream |
| County Lock | Blake's Lock Grid reference: SU727735 |
Sonning Lock (on River Thames) |
 |
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