Canal locks · South East England
St John's Lock
In or near Watchfield.
St John's Lock — lock on the River Thames in Gloucestershire, England.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 20 min–45 min
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
About
St John's Lock is a canal lock in the United Kingdom. Wikidata describes it as: "lock on the River Thames in Gloucestershire, England". Coordinates: 51.6893°, -1.6803°.
Photo gallery
Official information
St John's Lock is a notable lock on the River Thames, providing a scenic spot for visitors to enjoy the waterways. It is part of the historic infrastructure that facilitates navigation along the river and offers opportunities for walking and observing local wildlife.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Cotswold Water Park SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Cotswolds
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
St John's Lock, below the town of Lechlade, Gloucestershire, is the furthest upstream lock on the River Thames in England. The name of the lock derives from a priory that was established nearby in 1250, but which no longer exists. The lock was built of stone in 1790 by the Thames Navigation Commission. The main weir is downstream, just below St John's Bridge, where the River Cole and the River Leach join the Thames on opposite banks. A statue of Old Father Thames by Raffaelle Monti is outside the lock house. The statue was commissioned in 1854 for The Crystal Palace's grounds, was later moved to the traditional source of the Thames at Thames Head, and then in 1974 relocated to St John's Lock. The statue is Grade II listed.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The need for a pound lock here arose from the opening of the Thames and Severn Canal upstream in November 1789. It was built by J. Nock in 1790, and in its early days complaints were made of tolls being evaded by bullying bargemen. The first lock house was built in 1830, the lock-keeper being required to give up residence at the Trout Inn in accordance with Commission's rule that lock-keepers should not be publicans. The lock was reported to be in a poor state by 1857 and in 1867 was repaired. In 1905 the lock was rebuilt and a new lock-keeper's bungalow built on the other side of the lock.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.6893, -1.6803
- County
- Oxfordshire
- District
- Vale of White Horse
- Parish
- Buscot
- Postcode
- GL7 3HA
- Parliamentary constituency
- Witney
Sources
- wikidata: Q7593598 (CC0)
- wikipedia: St John's Lock (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Father Thames, St John's Lock, Lechlade.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Father Thames
National landscapes (AONB) · 0.0 km
Trout Inn
Historic pubs · 0.2 km
River Leach
Museums · 0.2 km
River Cole, Wiltshire
Museums · 0.2 km
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Priory Mill
Mills · 0.4 km
Giles Monument, About 50 Metres East South East Of Raven Monument In Churchyard Of Church Of St Lawrence
Memorials & monuments · 0.8 km
Pace Monument, About 1 Metre North Of Matthews Monument In Churchyard Of Church Of St Lawrence
Memorials & monuments · 0.8 km
Hobbs And Lambert Monument, About 5 Metres South Of Second Aisle Window From East In Churchyard Of Church Of St Lawrence
Memorials & monuments · 0.9 km
Yeatman Monument, About 21 Metres North Of North Vestry In Churchyard Of Church Of St Lawrence
Memorials & monuments · 0.9 km
Church of St Lawrence
Historic churches · 0.9 km
Three Walker Monuments, About 2 Metres North Of Single Walker Monument In Churchyard Of Church Of St Lawrence
Memorials & monuments · 0.9 km
Bridge House Campsite
Campsites · 0.9 km
Nearby
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Father Thames
Father Thames — Public artwork (statue) by Raffaelle Monti.
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Trout Inn
Trout Inn — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.
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River Leach
The River Leach is a river and upper tributary to the Thames, in England which runs almost entirely in Gloucestershire. It is approximately 18 miles (29 km) long, springing from the limestone uplands
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River Cole, Wiltshire
The River Cole is a tributary of the River Thames in England which flows through Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, forming part of the border between the two counties.
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Priory Mill
Priory Mill — mill in Lechlade, Cotswold, Gloucestershire, England, UK.
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Giles Monument, About 50 Metres East South East Of Raven Monument In Churchyard Of Church Of St Lawrence
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Where to eat & stay near St John's Lock
Places to stay
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Places to eat & drink
📷 7Historic pubs · South East England
Trout Inn
Trout Inn — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is St John's Lock?
- St John's Lock is in Oxfordshire, the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode GL7 3HA), in the parish of Buscot.
- What is St John's Lock?
- St John's Lock — lock on the River Thames in Gloucestershire, England.
- How do I get to St John's Lock?
- Drivers can use postcode GL7 3HA.
- Is St John's Lock a protected site?
- Yes — St John's Lock is part of the Cotswold Water Park SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Cotswolds National Landscape (AONB).
- Is St John's Lock free to visit?
- Yes, St John's Lock is free to enter.
- How do I get to St John's Lock?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode GL7 3HA. It sits within the Witney parliamentary constituency.