Spelthorne Locks

Bell Weir Lock

This lock is named after its very first lockkeeper, Charles Bell, who was employed by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1917.

He earned a good wage of £4 per month, but for this he had to provide his own residence. He already owned a house close by, so he had no problems. Charles fought in the first World War but sadly, he didn't return. His wife was believed to have taken over the job. Despite its proximity to Heathrow Airport, Bell Weir attracts a good selection of wildlife. Regularly seen are woodpeckers, parakeets, kingfishers, sparrowhawks and kestrels, plus the occasional buzzard. On the ground are foxes, badgers and muntjac deer.

Penton Hook Lock

In the 1700s the Thames at Penton Hook swung suddenly south in a short loop, the river course almost completing a full circle before continuing its way downstream.

In those days, there was no lock here, which meant that when the river flowed fast, such as during a flood, the water rushed against the outside of the first bend in the river and burst its banks. The powerful currents frequently broke across the 'neck' of the loop, causing many problems for boaters and local residents alike.

Penton Hook Lock was opened in 1815. After the lock was built the farmer retained his right to graze cattle on the Hook, so he drove them across the gates, or they had to swim across the river.

The balance beams on the gates were removed during the 1909 rebuild, as they were too heavy for the new gates. The lock was only out of use for six weeks during this work.

In prehistoric times there was a ford at nearby Laleham, used possibly by the residents of Laleham Abbey, which owned a mill on the Thames here in the 14th century. The ford fell into disuse and a ferry took its place. You can still see the remains of the road and path, which led down to the river on both banks.

A lovely quiet, secluded, wooded island hidden away on the River Thame. There is also a network of grass and bare earth paths on the island which undulate in places, and the opportunity to fish. 

Chertsey Lock

Way back in the 16th and 17th centuries there was a ford across the Thames here at Chertsey, although this was later discarded in favour of a ferry carrying people and goods across the river.

This part of the river was referred to as Laleham Gulls - an area of shallows causing all sorts of difficulties for barges and other river traffic. Eventually the Corporation of the City of London realised the need to improve navigation here and between 1811-1815 they built a series of large locks along the Thames, Chertsey being one of them. This project was described at the time as 'one of the most outstanding examples of river engineering in history'.

Shepperton Lock

In the early 1800s it was becoming obvious that there was a definite need to improve the Thames navigation at Shepperton. River craft were stuck in the shallows, sometimes for days at a time. There were also worries about flooding, especially after heavy rains. So, some form of lock was required, and in 1813 the City of London Corporation built a timber pound lock here.

The wooden lock lasted for 86 years, when a new stone lock was built alongside the original. The lock is still very similar to that built in 1899, although the oak beams have been removed and hydraulic operation installed.

Sunbury Lock

Sunbury Lock is a lock complex of the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey, the third lowest of forty four on the non-tidal reaches. The complex adjoins the right, southern bank about 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) downstream of the Weir Hotel.

The complex is two locks, old and new, and a narrow concrete divide, which are downstream of the original lock built in 1812. The older, hand-operated, was originally built in 1856, seldom used. The newer was opened in 1927 by Lord Desborough. Rollers and a slope adjoins for the portage (hauling) of small boats. The lock adjoins Sunbury Lock Ait.

The lock has three associated weirs, upstream. The main weir is between Sunbury Lock Ait and Wheatley's Ait (north); the latter has two other weirs, one is a small part-time storm weir.