Sandford Lock
Telephone: 01865 775889
Postcode: OX4 4YD
Sandford is the site of one of the first three pound locks built on the Thames in 1630. It was built in stone and was rebuilt in 1795 and 1836. Over the years the lock has undergone many modifications and updates, and little of the original construction remains.
The existing lock, the deepest on the non-tidal Thames, was built alongside an earlier one - you can still see the long indentation in the grass. On the lockside there are three large lumps of granite, which remain from the old lock.
In 1875 the nearby Sandford Paper-Mill was re-built requiring the head water level to be raised by 5 feet. This may explain the need for such a deep lock-chamber.
Lock keeper
Andy Lovell has been the lockkeeper at Sandford since 2006, having worked before as a relief lockkeeper in the Upper Thames area. He loves working here as a member of the Sandford community and is proud to be a part of the long history of lock keepers caring for the river here.
An interesting fact
The name Sandford possibly originates from a sandy river crossing, or 'sans ford' - without a ford. Sans is Middle English for 'without'.
Location and facilities
For a map and a list of all the facilities at the lock visit...
> Location and facilities at Sandford Lock