Temple Lock, Navigation lock on River Thames in Buckinghamshire, England
Temple Lock is a functioning water gate with timber doors and a weir that controls water levels on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire. The installation allows boats to pass between different water heights as they travel along the river.
The original lock was built in 1773 and was converted to a timber pound lock by the Thames Navigation Commissioners in 1782. A replacement structure was built in 1890 while keeping the original beside it for use by smaller craft.
The lock is part of a long history of river travel on the Thames, where boats have used this route for generations. Visitors can see how the waterway remains active for both leisure and commercial traffic today.
The location is accessible on foot with viewpoints where visitors can watch boats passing through. The best time to visit is during the boating season when traffic is most active on the river.
Two lock structures operate side by side here: a smaller older one for rowing boats and flat-bottomed craft, and a larger newer one for regular vessel traffic. This arrangement is uncommon and shows how the river adapted to different types of boats.
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