Shepperton Lock, River navigation lock in Surrey, England
Shepperton Lock is a chamber lock on the River Thames that allows boats to pass between different water levels by raising or lowering them in a controlled space. The structure handles the regular flow of vessels moving upstream and downstream along this section of the river.
The lock was built in 1813 by the City of London Corporation to improve navigation on the Thames after a natural watercourse called Stoner's Gut had long posed an obstacle. This construction marked a significant turning point in how boats could travel this section of the river.
The lock appears in Charles Dickens' novel 'Our Mutual Friend' and H.G. Wells' 'War of the Worlds' as a setting for key scenes.
The lock can be reached via a lane on the left bank with two entry points that connect to the Thames Path walking trail. Visitors can easily walk around the site and watch the lock operating from the footpaths nearby.
Just nearby sits Pharaoh's Island, a Thames island that was given to Admiral Nelson as a gift following his naval victory at the Battle of the Nile. This connection links a famous British naval commander to this stretch of the river in an unexpected way.
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