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Boulter's to Cookham,
Boulter's to Bray,
Environment Agency 'Out and About' Guides
Map: BOULTERS LOCK
Right bank, tel: 01628 624205, length: 199'6", width: 21'3"
Boulter's Weir for canoists.
Jubilee River for canoists.
Boulter’s Inn on Boulter's Island which is connected to Ray Mill Island
1346: William atte Raye of Reyelond is assigned Ray
Mill (and therefore weir)
1392: Ray Mill jointly owned by Thomas Cruchefield
1580: Bishop – mentions a flash lock, Rea Locke
belonging to Harry Merry one of the Yeomen of the Chamber, kept by Robert
Weston.
1637: Plan. Copied by Fred Thacker, 1920 –
Boulters in 1637
1746: Griffiths –
It apears there is no lock on this river from London Bridge till you come to Bolter’s Lock, which is 51 miles and a half” (Less now!)
1772: Boulter’s Pound Lock opened at Michaelmas.
It was on the left bank near
Taplow Mill. The Lock was for barges up
to 130 feet x 18 feet drawing up to 3 feet.
The ancient winch might be removed by the tenant of Winch Meadow
provided it would be replaced at the Commissioners cost if it was
required. The winch was at the head of
the present lot cut on the lock island.
1773: An Irish member of the footguards complained
about the bargees’ language and behaviour.
The crews were continually trespassing in the woods and walks, and
destroying shrubs and trees;
and “very much misbehaved themselves by their indecent
conversation and horrid oaths and imprecations”. (Which being translated means they needed to
relieve themselves, collect wood for cooking, and told him what to do when he
objected?)
1780: The pound lock “in as bad a state as Marlow if not worse”.
1792: Phillips, Inland Navigation –
The water above the lock appears to be about five feet deep, but below, the vast force of water coming down from such an unmechanical lock, has worked or dug a hole of twenty feet perpendicular depth, and above one hundred feet in length; beyond which rises a hill thrown up by the great force of the current, where the bed of the river has little more than three feet depth of water.
1825: -
The best plan would be to build a new lock on the Berkshire side of the river.
1826: -
The old lock is completely worn out, inaccessible and impassable at low water, from the height of its cill, and the crooked, shallow channel below it, lying at the distance it does from the towing path.
1828: A new lock and cut on the modern site was
opened on 30th March, 1829. It was known as Ray Mill Pound.
1880: Boulters Lock, Henry Taunt -
Boulters Lock, Henry Taunt, 1880
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; HT03092
1881: George Leslie -
Boulter's Lock, in the days of its former
keeper, had lovely roses on standards down the garden side, of which the
lock-keeper was so proud, that he never would part with a single bloom.
On the occasion of a boating picnic, I once
bribed the keeper’s wife to give me one for a young lady, promising a sketch in
exchange. I got the rose, and I gave a
sketch of the lock garden and the little house.
The lock-keeper lost his place shortly after this, and I believe his wife
now treasures the sketch very much as a reminiscence of their former abode.
The garden is not nearly so pretty now.
1881: W.H.Turner became lock keeper.
W H Turner
Keeper of Boulter's Lock 1881 - 1905, ex naval Gunnery and cutlass instructor.
... well built and muscular with bronzed face and hands
and a sturdy look which fears no man ...
"Now, gentlemen", I say, "Go quietly", and so they do.
I'll bet they did!
1881: George Leslie -
In the season, on a fine day, Turner's lock is crowded with boats.
I came through the lock once simultaneously with H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge.
He was steering the boat he was in, and I
accidentally touched his rudder with my punt’s nose, which did not seem to
please him.
If, after the lock, you pass round to the weir,
observe the pretty mill garden, and the fine lines of the mill itself.
Mr. Storey made a charming drawing of this bit. The old weir was extremely
picturesque, and I painted a small picture of it with an evening effect, which
is now in America,
in the possession of my friend W.D. Morgan, with whom I have had many happy
days on the river.
1887: Lucien Davis, 'On the Way to Henley Regatta' -
Boulter's Lock, 1887, Lucien Davis
1891: Boating Life on the Upper Thames, by F. Campbell Moller, M. D. -
Boulter’s Lock has been happily and aptly named the “Ladies’ Mile of the Thames.”
As in that world-famed stretch of Hyde Park roadway the best of London people congregate,
so on the waters and lounging about the lockside and towpath of Boulter’s they assemble likewise.
It is here newcomers are criticised and pronounced “good form” before the approval of the exclusive
sets is given to one’s mere presence, to say nothing — unless properly vouched for — of the
social entrée being extended to the aspirant for boating recognizance.
Vulgarity of action or word, offensive clumsiness when in contact with other boats or horseplay of any kind will be
indelibly marked against the aggressor.
1888: A boat launch (rollers)
1905: W.H.Turner retired.
1909: The Conservancy acquired Ray Mill Island for the purposes of a new lock, a
boat conveyor, and other improvements.
The boat conveyor was built and operated and the site is still there.
[see photos in section below Boulters]
1912: Rebuilding Boulter's Lock.
There must have been an immense sense of achievement in making something as large as that by hand! -
Rebuilding Boulter's Lock, 1912
1912: This photo was simply dated 1912. On 29th June, 1912 the newly rebuilt lock was opened by the Right Honorable the Lord Desborough K.C.V.O., Chairman of the Thames Conservancy. I suspect this photo is of that occasion -
Boulter's Lock Opening? 1912
1912: Fred Thacker – Map
I roamed and dreamed over Ray Mill Close one day of March in 1912, while these new works were in progress; and discerned before it was too late what a little kingdom the island once formed for the soul and the hand of a man. At the lower end was his material living, the mill: busy enough in old centuries when England was wise to feed herself; and close by stood his home. Here lay all his intercourse with the outer world. Within lay secluded what an earthly paradise, surrounded with living Thames! Still I beheld shady undulating alleys leading by little bridges across artificial brooks; still ancient barns and bowers of honeysuckle and clematis; still tiny sandy capes and bays where, a long lifetime ago, you might have sat golden hours and watched the last Thames salmon leap below the weir. Above the garden extends a triangular meadow, narrowing to the weir; which continues northward in its curve at least six centuries old. On the right main Thames flows down in tumbling foam, muttering of the sea, huddling along as though already late. Across the foam is Taplow Warborough island and then the Taplow millstream; all backed by Taplow hill: the 'Mai dun' which gives the town its title. On the left runs the Ray millstream; beyond which is the lock island and the cut. A memory of Boulter’s this, which compensates for all the alien things of Maidenhead.
1913: Boulter’s Lock, Francis Frith -
1913: Boulter’s Lock, Francis Frith
1913: Boulter’s Lock, Francis Frith
Boulters Lock Upper Cut
1940: Boulters Lock with Bren anti-aircraft guns
1989: Boulters Lock refurbished.
[ There is a problem unique to punters in Boulters Lock -
and that is that when the lock is full it is around 18 feet deep.
The usual punt pole is 16 feet long. I can just punt up from the lock with my
20 foot pole - but those less well endowed will need to use the pole as a paddle
(or use a paddle) ]
1881: George Leslie -
Above Boulter’s Lock there
is a long canalized channel to the main stream, and by its side, and parallel
with this, the mill-stream runs. Here
are two boat-houses of picturesque construction, from one of which I painted a
picture;
I had models from town to sit for the figures, and the lookers-on were much troubled
to know why the two young ladies kept so long in the same attitudes. One day the wind took my picture and easel
clean out of the punt;
I was so securely moored, that before I could get away to the
rescue, the canvas had drifted down to within a very short distance of the
mill-wheel. I managed to recover it
however in time; I stuck it up in the sun for a good baking
before I did anything more to it, and
I don’t think it is in any way the worse for its bath.
I have seen it since, when it looked sound
and unaltered.
For those who love solitude
and peace on the river I recommend the mill-stream on the Bucks side, which
runs a long way behind the weir to the paper mills below;
very few people ever go along there,
and kingfishers and other wild birds may be seen, sometimes, enjoying the
undisturbed state of things.
Boulter’s Lock Bridge, Doug Myers © 2005
Map: Boulter’s Cut
Right bank Lock cut
Botany Bay
Left bank above weir
Glen Island
Left bank above weir
Map: Jubilee River
left bank, start of flood prevention channel that comes out below Windsor.
The entrance posts were not yet in position when the Virtual Earth View was taken
Canoe England -
the entrance to the upper Jubilee River comes into view almost immediately on the right and is easily identified by a barrier system to only allow canoes and small craft to pass through. The half mile or so tranquil tree lined backwater leads to Taplow Mills where there is no egress and necessitates returning to the Thames.
Upstream to Cliveden Reach
Estuary
PLA
QEII Br
Barrier
Tower Br
Custom Ho
London Br
; Frost Fairs
Cannon St Rb
The Great Stink
Southwark Br
Millenium Br
Blackfriars Rb
Blackfriars Br
Waterloo Br
Charing Cross Rb
Westminster Br
Lambeth Br
Vauxhall Br
Victoria Rb
Chelsea Br
Albert Br
Battersea Br
Battersea Rb
Wandsworth Br
Fulham Rb
Putney Br
Hammersmith Br
Barnes Rb
Chiswick Br
Kew Rb
Kew Br
RICHMOND
Twickenham Br
Richmond Rb
Richmond Br
TEDDINGTON
Kingston Rb
Kingston Br
Ditton Slip
Hampton Br
MOLESEY
SUNBURY
Walton Br
Desborough Cut
SHEPPERTON
Chertsey Br
CHERTSEY
M3 Br
Laleham Slip
PENTON HOOK
Staines Rb
Staines Br
Runnymede Br
BELL WEIR
Magna Carta Is
OLD WINDSOR
Albert Br
Datchet
Victoria Br
Black Potts Rb
ROMNEY
Eton
Windsor Br
Windsor Rb
Windsor Slip
Elizabeth Br
BOVENEY
Dorney Lake
York Cut
Summerleaze Fb
MonkeyIsland
New Thames Br
BRAY
Bray Slip
Maidenhead Rb
Maidenhead Br
Below Boulters
BOULTERS
Cliveden
Hedsor
COOKHAM
Cookham Slip
Cookham Br
BourneEnd RFb
Quarry Woods
A404 Br
MARLOW
Marlow Br
Bisham
TEMPLE
HURLEY
Medmenham
Culham Ct
Aston Slip
HAMBLEDEN
Temple Is
Fawley Ct
Remenham
Regatta
Phyllis Ct
Henley Slip
Leander
Red Lion
Henley Br
Angel on Br
Landing
Hobbs Boatyard
Hobbs Slipway
MARSH
Hennerton
Bolney
Wargrave
Shiplake Rb
R.Loddon
SHIPLAKE
Sonning Br
SONNING
Dreadnought
K&A Canal
CAVERSHAM
Reading Br
Caversham Br
Reading Slip
Purley
MAPLEDURHAM
Hardwick Ho
Whitchurch Br
WHITCHURCH
Hartswood Reach
Gatehampton Rb
Goring Gap
Goring Br
GORING
Swan
CLEEVE
Moulsford
Moulsford Rb
Papist Way Slip
Winterbrook Br
Wallingford Br
BENSON
Shillingford Br
R.Thame
DAYS
Burcot
Clifton Hampden
Clifton Church
Clifton H Br
Barley Mow
Long Wittenham
CLIFTON
Appleford Rb
Sutton Courtenay
Sutton Br
CULHAM
Culham Cut Fb
Abingdon Slip
Abingdon
Abingdon Br
ABINGDON
Nuneham Rb
Nuneham
Nuneham Park
Radley Boats
SANDFORD
Rose Island
Kennington Rb
Isis Br
Iffley Mill
IFFLEY
Oxford Rowing
Isis
Donnington Br
Riverside Slip
Boathouses
Punting
Lower Cherwell
Upper Cherwell
Islip
Head of River
Salters Steamers
Folly Br
Bacons Folly
Oxford Fb
Osney Fb
Weir stream
Osney Rb
Bullstake Stream
Osney Marina
OSNEY
Osney Br
Four Rivers
OLD RIVER
CANAL
Medley Weir Site
Medley Fb
Bossoms
Perch
Trout
GODSTOW
Godstow Nunnery
Godstow Br
Thames Br
KINGS
River Evenlode
EYNSHAM
Swinford Br
Oxford Cruisers
PINKHILL
Farmoor
Stanton Harcourt
Bablock Slip
Arks Weir Site
NORTHMOOR
Harts Fb
//Rose Revived
Newbridge
//Maybush
River Windrush
below Shifford
SHIFFORD
Shifford Fb
Tenfoot Fb
Trout Inn
Tadpole Br
RUSHEY
Old Mans Fb
RADCOT
Radcot Cradle Fb
Swan Inn
Radcot New Br
Radcot Old Br
GRAFTON
Eaton Hastings
Kelmscott
Eaton Fb
BUSCOT
Bloomers Hole Fb
Trout Inn
St Johns Br
ST JOHNS
Halfpenny Br
Marina Slip
LIMIT
Inglesham
Hannington Br
Kempsford
Castle Eaton Br
Marston Meysey
A419 Br
Cricklade
SOURCE?
THAMES HEAD
SEVEN SPRINGS