Richmond Lock & Weir


My walk starts at Richmond Lock & Weir, the most upstream point of the tidal Thames. The structure, which is maintained and operated by the Port of London Authority, is situated between Teddington and Richmond and was officially opened in 1894. It comprises three vertical steel sluice gates suspended from the footbridge. Each gate is 20 metres wide, 3.64 metres in depth, and weighs 32.6 tonnes.

The gates are manipulated to ensure that the water level between Richmond Lock and Teddington Lock is maintained at or above half-tide level. Although timing can change due to prevailing conditions, usually the sluice gates are raised into the footbridge for around two hours each side of high tide allowing river traffic to pass through. For the rest of the day the sluice gates are closed and boats must use the lock alongside.

The lock is 76 metres long and 8 metres wide. Use of the lock, which has a Lock Foreman on duty 24 hours a day, is charged at 5 pounds for all classes of vessel. Small craft rollers in the arch on the far side are available for canoes and skiffs to use instead of locking.

Upstream view from the bridge with Twickenham Bridge in sight.

Downstream view from the bridge.

Information notice at the bottom of the steps leading up to the footbridge.

The lock.

The weir and bridge seen from downstream.

Beautiful wooded walk to the next bridge.


Ann Voysey