Richmond Lock and Weir

L2 Day 12. Cycled along the towpath to Richmond Lock and Weir on a very grey day! This was built in 1894 to stop water in the upper tidal Thames from draining away when the tide goes out. The weir is made up of three vertical steel sluice gates suspended from a footbridge. Each gate weighs 32 tonnes, is 66 feet wide abd 12 feet in depth. For around two hours each side of high tide, the sluice gates are raised, allowing boats and water to pass. For the rest of the day the gates are closed but the integrated lock allows river traffic to pass through .
This is the only lock operated by the Port of London Authority. By operating in this way it ensures that the water levels between the Richmond and Teddington Locks are always at or above half-tide allowing boats to stay afloat and providing a stable habitat for wildlife.
Pedestrians can cross the bridge.