Northmoor Lock
Telephone: +44 (0)1865 862923
Postcode: OX13 5JP
Click the link below for a map and a list of facilities at the lock.
Location and facilities for Northmoor Lock
Northmoor Lock - the seventh on the Thames - is one of the latest to be built along the river, constructed as it was in 1896 and replacing the ancient Hart's and Ark flash weirs. It is located just east of the beautiful Cotswolds, near Lambourn Downs.
Although a 'recent' lock, Northmoor follows the early pattern of manually-operated wood beam pound locks. Interestingly, its associated weir is one of only three on the Thames that are still operated using only paddles and rymers.
Lock Keeper
Mark Winks is one of the youngest Lock Keepers on the Thames. He has been resident at Northmoor Lock since April 2004 and is a keen boatman, owning a 50ft narrowboat.
Although not a deep lock, Northmoor has its fair share of inexperienced boaters, as it is the first lock that they encounter after they've collected their holiday hire craft from a nearby boatyard. 'We keep an especially close eye on hire boats and they all find the locks much easier than they originally thought,' says Mark.
Mark remembers one of his first days at Northmoor Lock. 'I was talking to a Dutch man and his wife who were coming through the lock. Assuming the boat was a hire craft, I asked him 'Just picked her up, then?' The Dutch man said, 'How dare you. I've been married to my wife for seven years!'
Did you know?
A ferry service has been operating on and off by the local pub, The Ferryman, for 1000 years. During the summer months the landlord of the Ferryman keeps the tradition alive with a small passenger boat.