Aldermaston Lock, lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Aldermaston, Berkshire, England, UK
Aldermaston Lock is a Grade II listed structure on the Kennet and Avon Canal featuring distinctive scalloped brick walls. It allows boats to pass between different water levels through a system of gates that open or close to manage the flow.
The lock was built between 1718 and 1723 under engineer John Hore's direction, initially with turf walls that were later replaced with brick during the 1700s. A major restoration in 1984 raised the walls to full height, marked by a blue brick line showing the original scalloped wall height.
The lock's former name, Brewhouse Lock, came from Strange's Brewery that once operated beside it. The distinctive scalloped brick walls reflect how locals have valued this waterway as a vital part of their community's working life for centuries.
The lock is easy to reach by car with nearby parking or on foot from the local train station just minutes away. Well-maintained paths run alongside the lock, and viewing platforms allow you to stand close to the water and watch boats pass through.
A line of blue bricks marks where the original scalloped walls ended before the 1984 enlargement, creating a visible timeline of the lock's evolution on its own structure. This detail reveals how practicality rather than preservation drove changes to the lock over the decades.
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