Surrey Lock - Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe, London, UK
N 51° 30.249 W 000° 02.870
30U E 704879 N 5710023
This lock was designed to let ocean-going timber ships enter the Surrey Docks from the tidal River Thames.
Waymark Code: WMFN2F
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/06/2012
Views: 3
The lock is orientated in a north
west/south east direction with the north west gate being at the River Thames.
The lock is no longer used and fell into disuse in the late 1960s when the
locked docks ceased to operate.
The lock gates, bollards, capstans and
other features of a commercial lock still exist and are Grade II listed. The
lock still retains water and the gates appear to be in good condition judging by
the minimal amount of water leaking out at low water in the Thames.
Between the Thames and the outer lock
gate is a bascule bridge that used to carry motorised traffic over the lock.
This fell into disuse at the same time as the lock and is still there, but
non-operational, for pedestrians and cyclists to cross. Motorised traffic has to
use a bridge near the inner lock gate which is sealed and forms a part off the
Salter Road bridge.
Some water bird nesting platforms have
been placed in the lock so that passers by can watch their activities from the
seats that line the lock.
As mentioned, the lock and equipment is
Grade II listed and the enry at the English Heritage website [visit
link] tells us:
"Lock. c1860 By Jennings, engineer.
Brick lined with granite kerbs, cast-iron bollards and capstans. Double
iron-clad lock gates, originally hydraulically powered. Lock side now restored
and lock filled up to gates. Industrial archaeological interest. A good example
of lock design at the start of the second period of dock
expansion."