Sunbury Lock

Sunbury Lock is a lock complex of the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey, the third lowest of forty four on the non-tidal reaches. The complex adjoins the right, southern bank about 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) downstream of the Weir Hotel.

Sunbury Lock
Sunbury lock with boats in the older hand-operated lock. The new lock is on the right
51°24′18.5″N 0°24′22″W
WaterwayRiver Thames
CountySurrey
Maintained byEnvironment Agency
OperationOld Manual
New Hydraulic
First built1812 (removed)
1856 (middle)
1927 (bankside)
LengthOld 47.15 m (154 ft 8 in)
New 62.78 m (206 ft 0 in) [1]
WidthOld 5.86 m (19 ft 3 in)
New 7.41 m (24 ft 4 in) [1]
FallBoth locks 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Above sea level27 feet (8 m)
Distance to
Teddington Lock		8 miles
Power is available out of hours
Sunbury Lock
the Walton, Weybridge
and Shepperton reach of the Thames
 River Thames above Shepperton Lock
 Pharaoh's Island
 Hamhaugh & Shepperton Lock Islands
 weirs & Shepperton Lock
Bourne or the Chertsey Bourne
Thames Lock
 weir of River Wey
 weir of River Wey
 Wey and Godalming Navigations
 D'Oyly Carte Island
 Historic Church and Manor House, Shepperton
 Desborough Island
A244 Walton Bridge
 marinas
 The "Walton Mile"
 Tumbling bay weir
 River Ash (distributary of Colne)
 Storm weir
 Wheatleys Ait north
 Sunbury main weir
Sunbury Lock Ait
 moorings
 boat rollers
 Sunbury Lock
 manual Lock
 River Thames above Molesey Lock
Looking towards Sunbury weir and lock from a skiff

The complex is two locks, old and new, and a narrow concrete divide, which are downstream of the original lock built in 1812. The older, hand-operated, was originally built in 1856, seldom used. The newer was opened in 1927 by Lord Desborough. Rollers and a slope adjoins for the portage (hauling) of small boats. The lock adjoins Sunbury Lock Ait.

The lock has three associated weirs, upstream. The main weir is between Sunbury Lock Ait and Wheatley's Ait (north); the latter has two other weirs, one is a small part-time storm weir.

History

The earliest major weir locally was built in 1789 specifically to divert water to create a deeper channel for navigation.[2] Other such weirs locally were in place since medieval times because of many shoals and flats in the Sunbury, in the period of Old London Bridge (1209-1831) which caused much silting downstream the river locally had minor tidal effects.[2] The first plan for a lock was in 1805 with an ambitious lock cut.[2] A modified scheme in 1809 resulted in the first lock, later removed, built close to the footbridge to Sunbury Lock Ait, where its lock house of the same year survives.[2] The associated long cut above the lock expanded a natural channel beside the island known as Church Island and the lock was opened in 1812.[2] The lock had become dilapidated by 1852 and the arrival of water companies planning major water extraction from the section of the river below the lock added an incentive for rebuilding it.[2] The lock was moved downstream and opened in 1856; a new lock house was built.[2] In 1927 a second lock was added at Sunbury, which was opened by Lord Desborough, then president of the Thames Conservancy.

Access to the lock

The lock is inaccessible by road and can be reached along the towpath from The Weir Hotel, Walton-on-Thames. The weir stream and Wheatley's Ait backwater, the Creek, is used for kayaking from the northern bank, between Shepperton and Sunbury-on-Thames.

Reach above the lock
Walton riverside from the river

A 300 m cut upstream of Sunbury Lock Ait links to the Weir Hotel facing the Sunbury Weir which is followed by Wheatley's Ait hosting an Environment agency working area and riverside housing. More riverside housing, small parks and a marina feature on the Walton Mile and Cowey Sale reach below and above Walton Bridge, two pubs, and a marina. After Walton Bridge the river divides between the old course which meanders through Lower Halliford and Old Shepperton and the direct Desborough Cut alongside Desborough Island. Before Shepperton lock the waters rejoin where the Wey navigation the River Bourne and two mouths of the Wey join surrounding Hamhaugh Island. Immediately these, including the lock, the Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry.

Navigation transit markers are beside Desborough Cut to allow river users to check their speed.

The reach is home to six rowing clubs, a skiffing club, sailing and canoeing clubs. Walton and Weybridge Regatta, Walton Small Boats Head, Weybridge Silver Sculls, Weybridge Ladies Regatta and Walton Skiff Regatta are annual events.

Thames Path

The Thames Path continues along the Surrey bank until just before Shepperton Lock where the ferry goes across to the other side. To avoid the ferry calls for a long detour over Walton Bridge and via Shepperton.

Sports clubs on the reach

Kayaking

Sunbury Weir has the highest volume and fastest freestyle kayaking playspot on the River Thames. It is wide, surging and unfriendly to new or inexperienced paddlers. The eddyline is also very unstable and requires considerable effort to cross.

Access

Public car park on Fordbridge Road above on the left bank. From here across an informal football pitch with playground is a backwater, the Creek, which joins below the main weir.

Gates and weir pool level

The weir's gates are variously opened or closed as with the storm weir along the Creek.

Sunbury provides its optimal water at a certain pool level — dependent on how many gates are open at the downstream weir (at Molesey), kayaking websites provide details.

Water levels
  • Sunbury Weir will need to be on at least 1+1⁄2 gates for usable features, pool level depending.
  • Hurley Weir needs to be on at least 3 gates for sufficient water.

Literature and the Media

The lock is mentioned in Jerome K. Jerome's book Three Men in a Boat

"The river is sweetly pretty there just before you come to the gates, and the backwater is charming: but don't attempt to row up it"

See also

References
  1. "Environment Agency Dimensions of locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. Dimensions given in metres
  2. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
  3. "Environment Agency Distances between locks on the River Thames". web page. Environmental Agency. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012. Distances given in km.
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