Working the locks and the Coxes Lock

PicoMicroYacht is now through the Thames Lock and continuing up the river Wey.

Along this stretch of the river and in his exploration of  London's Lost Route to the Sea in the 19th Century, J P Dashwood found that he had to be very careful with operating the locks. There was no plank support to get at the lock paddles so he had to shuffle along the top of the lock gates.

As he noted:

'The hatches of many of these locks are placed, goodness knows why, in the very centre of the gates, and in order to open and shut them, it is necessary to sit astride the gates, place the point of the crowbar in the niches of the hatch, and by violent jerks raise it inch by inch until the flood gates are opened. These hatches are always very stiff and difficult to raise and lower, and as it is necessary to get a good leverage, the crowbar much be worked form the extreme end of the handle, and if, whilst the wrench is made, the point should slip out of the niche into which it is placed away goes the unfortunate being into the water.'

(From 'The Thames to the Solent by Canal and Sea')

From J B Dashwood's book - see also the post 21st February 2018

These days a windlass turns a spindle connected to cogs that then grip the paddle using a tooth strip.  The locks are far safer but, without electrical power, they still provide a certain satisfaction because of doing everything by hand. I enjoy the process of operating the locks, including leaning on the gates to push them open.

Further up the river Wey  I eventually reached Coxes Lock, where a large mill used to process grain, brought up the river by barge. The mill was the last commercially operated mill in Surrey, closing in 1983, now converted into apartments.

Coxes lock with the mill buildings

Until the  Second World War, oats, maze and barley were brought to the mill. Then it was just wheat, the flower taken down to London to be unloaded at Winchester Wharf, close to London Bridge.

Illustration by Nancy Larcombe from Captain White's River Life. 

Coxes lock.....


Which reminds me .... this year, the fourdaysrunning group, who I will meet on my voyage at Arundel  for the start of their 100 K run, are being sponsored by Martin Cox, one of the runners. I do not usually advertise on this blog, but her are the contact details of Martin Cox's business, based in Kent - to be highly recommended!