A brief history of Chalmore Lock, Wallingford

YOU are probably familiar with the locks and weirs that are to be found on the River Thames.

Between Maidenhead and Oxford, these largely had their origins in connection to the building of water mills, even though – with the exception of Mapledurham Mill which still produces flour – most mills have disappeared or been converted for housing.

Wallingford is located between Cleeve and Benson locks and so has the longest unobstructed Thames reach of some 10.5km which today is valued by rowers.

This was not always the case: for years Wallingford Bridge had been an obstruction to barges carrying goods due to the narrow and low arches and the shallow water under the bridge.

A winch was installed to help haul barges through the bridge while the extreme flood of 1809 so damaged the bridge that several arches were rebuilt giving greater clearance – but the water depth was still a problem.

This was resolved by the building of a lock and weir at Chalmore Hole, some 800 metres downstream of the bridge.

Opened in 1838, it was normally only used in the summer months to raise the water level upstream, and so through the bridge, by between 40 and 50cm.

Unfortunately the river trade rapidly declined following the opening of the railway around this time.

The reduced tolls meant there was less money spent on the river and the lock had become such a hazard that in 1865 John Woodhouse, a barge operator, reported that ‘the lock at Wallingford is in a very bad state indeed but that it can easily be set right’ leading to pressure on the Thames Conservancy to remedy the situation.

Local residents complained that removing the lock would create health hazard due to the exposed mud banks.

The problem was deliberated for some time and John Hedges (Thames Conservator and Wallingford resident) pushed for repair but could not get agreement so little was done.

Eventually a report was commissioned from Sir John Hawkshaw, an eminent civil engineer.

He wrote in April 1882, recommending removal of the lock and weir with dredging to remove any exposed mud banks. This was done and largely completed in 1883, although some obstructions remained for several years.

Incidentally Chalmore ferry, dating from 1787, operated here but itself was closed in 1953.

The removal of the lock caught Jerome K Jerome off-guard as recorded in his book ‘Three Men in a Boat’ published in 1889.

Rowing down from Benson they had expected to encounter the lock and moor for the night but could not find it.

After a time they hailed a passing boat and had the reply: "Lor' love you, sir, that's been done away with for over a year. There ain't no Wallingford lock now, sir. You're close to Cleeve now. Blow me tight if `ere ain't a gentleman been looking for Wallingford lock, Bill!"