Hurley Lock on the River Thames

Hurley is quite unique among locks along the River Thames, for here the river splits into a number of channels. In the early days these were difficult to navigate due to their shallows and bends. The problem was made worse by the mills, who built dams to provide themselves with power supplies.

There is documentary evidence mentioning a ford at Hurley in 450AD at the start of the Saxon invasion. This ford was probably by the nearby Harleyford Manor.

Hurley village itself predates the Norman Conquest and was known by the Danes as Herlei. Many buildings close to the river here were part of a Benedictine Monastery mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086.

Did you know?

A Hurley boy was put on trial for starting the 1666 Great Fire of London.

Contact details

Telephone: +44 (0)1628 824334
Postcode: SL6 5ND

Find out more about the Hurley Lock facilities.