Canal locks · South East England
Benson Lock
In or near Ewelme.
Benson Lock — lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 20 min–45 min
- Nearest railway station
- Wallingford · 2.4 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Benson Lock, the nearest railway station is Wallingford, located 2.4 km away. The postcode for your sat-nav is OX10 8LQ. Entry is free.
About
Benson Lock is a canal lock in the United Kingdom. Wikidata describes it as: "lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England". Coordinates: 51.6163°, -1.1175°.
Photo gallery
Official information
Benson Lock is a lock on the River Thames, providing access for boats navigating the river. Visitors can enjoy the scenic views and observe the operation of the lock.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Chilterns
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: North Wessex Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Benson Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England, close to Benson, Oxfordshire but on the opposite bank of the river. The first pound lock here was built by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1788 and it was replaced by the present masonry lock in 1870. The distance between Benson Lock and Cleeve Lock downstream is 6.5 miles (10.4 km) - the longest distance between locks on the River Thames. The weir runs from the lock island level with the lock across to the Benson side. There is a footbridge over the weir which replaced the ferry which operated here previously. The Thames Path crosses the river here.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The history of the weir can be traced back into the late 14th century when there was a mill at "Bensington". The mill island and stream are on the Benson side downstream of the lock although the mill itself is long gone. There was also a flash lock, although the first definite reference to this is in 1746. The pound lock was built of oak in 1788 and it is noted that, uniquely for this lock, "Low Country men" were employed at a higher than average wage. Thacker conjectures that these were Dutch specialists. The lock was rebuilt of masonry in 1870. Originally the lock was attended (or not - according to some accounts) by the miller, but there is reference to a (deserted) lock house in 1865.…
Visiting
The lock is a short distance from the village of Benson and can be reached across the weir. The weir is currently closed for refurbishment until 2025.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.6163, -1.1175
- County
- Oxfordshire
- District
- South Oxfordshire
- Parish
- Brightwell-cum-Sotwell
- Postcode
- OX10 8LQ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Didcot and Wantage
- Nearest railway station
- Wallingford — 2.4 km
Sources
- wikidata: Q4890269 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Benson Lock (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Benson Lock - geograph.org.uk - 2536402.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Benson War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.7 km
Benson, Oxfordshire
Museums · 0.7 km
The Castle Inn Public House
Historic pubs · 0.8 km
Howbery Park
Parks · 1.2 km
Benson Veteran Cycle Museum
Museums · 1.3 km
Wallingford Phone Box Museum
Museums · 1.3 km
Wallingford School
Natural landmarks · 1.4 km
Wallingford Castle
Castles · 1.5 km
Riverside Campsite
Campsites · 1.6 km
Town Arms
Historic pubs · 1.7 km
St Michael's House
Historic houses · 1.7 km
George Hotel
Hotels · 1.7 km
Nearby
📷 3Memorials & monuments · South East England
Benson War Memorial
Benson War Memorial is a memorial in the United Kingdom.
📷 5Museums · South East England
Benson, Oxfordshire
Benson is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire, England. The 2011 Census gave the parish population as 4,754. It lies about a mile and a half (2.4 km) north of Wallingford at the foot of th
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The Castle Inn Public House
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Benson Veteran Cycle Museum
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Wallingford Phone Box Museum
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Where to eat & stay near Benson Lock
Places to stay
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Riverside Campsite
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Ridgeway View Campsite
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The George Hotel
The George Hotel — a hotel in england west midlands.
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The White Hart Hotel — a hotel in england west midlands.
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The Castle Inn Public House
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Town Arms
Town Arms — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.
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The Six Bells Inn
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Benson Lock?
- Benson Lock is in Oxfordshire, the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode OX10 8LQ), in the parish of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.
- What is Benson Lock?
- Benson Lock — lock on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England.
- How do I get to Benson Lock?
- The nearest railway station is Wallingford, about 2.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode OX10 8LQ.
- Is Benson Lock a protected site?
- Yes — Benson Lock is part of the Chilterns National Landscape (AONB) and the North Wessex Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- Is Benson Lock free to visit?
- Yes, Benson Lock is free to enter.
- How do I get to Benson Lock?
- The nearest railway station is Wallingford, about 2.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode OX10 8LQ.