Thames Path - Hambleden Lock and Weir Traditional Cache

Hambleden Lock fills with water extremely quickly, compared with other locks on the Thames.  The full lock contains 670,000 litres of water, and fills/empties at an astounding rate of 3000 litres per second.

Hambleden was the site of a mill in 1086 when the Domesday Book was being written.  It is possible that a flash lock existed on the river here at the time.  A pound lock, with heavy wooden manual beams, was built in 1773 by the Thames Navigation Commissioners.  The hydraulic pound lock here today is a 1992/4 rebuild.

My first ever visit to Hambleden Lock and Weir was in 2004, when I was lucky enough to see some canoeists enjoying the white water on the weir.  In 2003 hydraulic ramps were built on the weir apron to create white water conditions, costing £85,000.  Nowdays, canoeists come here from all over the country to test their skills on free-style and slalom canoeing.  More can be read on the waterscape.com website.  

Recommended parking is just to the north at apx N51 33.764 W0 52.110, which is less than 1/2 mile away.  Approaching from this direction will mean crossing the weir-path and lock.

This is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year, with or without the canoeists!

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