St John's Lock on the River Thames

St John's Lock

The first pound lock on this site was built in 1790 and it is the highest lock on the River Thames. The lock and its adjoining bridge are named after a priory dedicated to St John the Baptist, which has long since disappeared. With a fall of less than a metre (2 foot 10 inches), this is one of the shallowest locks on the river. The current lock house was built in 1974 and at the same time the paddle and rhymer weir was replaced with a modern radial structure.

Did you know?

St John's Lock is home to 'Father Thames', the famous statue made in 1851 for the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace at Hyde Park. After the palace burnt down in 1936, the statue was moved near the river's source at Trewsbury Meads in Gloucestershire. Unfortunately, the statue was vandalised there so was moved to its current location in 1974.

Contact Details

Telephone: +44 (0)1367 252309
Postcode: GL7 3HA

Find out more about the St John's Lock facilities.

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