Have you ever wondered about the silent guardians of London’s waterways? Right before you stand the Bow Locks a testament to centuries of engineering ingenuity and the relentless flow of trade. These aren’t just locks they’re living history.
For centuries this spot has controlled the water’s flow. The first mention dates back to the reign of Edward I. Henry de Bedyk the prior of Halliwell Priory and owner of nearby tide mills erected a structure here before 1307. Despite legal battles to remove it the structure remained. It was a simple flash lock a dam with a navigable channel. Flashboards controlled the water levels above.
Through the years the Bow Locks saw many changes. Mill owners and bargees clashed over water levels. The millers needed high water levels for their mills. The bargees needed consistent water levels for navigation. This conflict shaped the locks’ evolution.
In 1573 the mill owners rebuilt the lock. The City of London even hired a Dutch surveyor to ensure navigation remained on the Lea. A report from 1588 suggests that the gates operated automatically. They opened when Bow Creek’s level exceeded the level above the lock. They closed when the tide fell. This system caused complaints. Neap tides sometimes failed to open the gates. The lock keeper wouldn’t open them manually because the millers used the water.
Later engineers like John Smeaton got involved. Smeaton suggested a cut from Bow Locks to Limehouse. This cut would provide a better route to the Thames avoiding Bow Creek. He also suggested converting the flash locks to pound locks. The Limehouse Cut was built but the lock remained unchanged for a while.
A pound lock was finally built between 1851 and 1852. It could accommodate barges up to 108 by 20 feet. The river’s use was toll-free until the Old Ford lock. A toll was imposed for using the new lock which wasn’t popular. Eventually a compromise was reached. A toll was charged for the lock but not for using the adjacent flood gates.
The locks were rebuilt in 1900 and again in 1930. A second lock was added in 1931. High tides still flowed over the lock until 2000. A flood wall and a second set of gates were added then. This enabled the locks to be used at all tide states preventing overtopping.
The Bow Locks are more than just a means of navigating waterways. They’re a chronicle of human endeavor. A constant negotiation between nature’s power and humanity’s ambition. They continue to stand a silent guardian of the River Lee Navigation. They are a tangible piece of London’s rich and sometimes turbulent past.