Downstream, 96 miles from Teddington Lock, lies Godstow Lock. This isn’t just any lock. Godstow Lock holds the distinction of being the highest hydraulically operated pound lock on the River Thames.
Imagine the year 1790. Daniel Harris built the first lock of stone for the Thames Navigation Commission. Before this, Godstow Bridge acted as a lock. It continued to do so even after Godstow Lock was built. The current Godstow Lock you see today was rebuilt in 1924.
Now, picture this. The lock keeper once lived on a houseboat before the lock house was built around 1896. There was a catch. The lock house couldn’t sell refreshments. This was to protect the interests of The Trout Inn.
Godstow Lock’s history isn’t just about boats and water levels. The nearby Godstow Abbey adds layers of intrigue. The abbey’s ruins are a short walk from the lock. It dates back to the 1100s. Henry II met his mistress, Rosamund Clifford, at the nunnery. Later, the nunnery gained notoriety for its hospitality toward young monks from Oxford.
Henry VIII destroyed Godstow Abbey during the dissolution of the monasteries. Later, during the Civil War, Royalists used the village to defend Godstow Bridge. The Roundheads attacked, burning the whole site down.
But that is not all about Godstow Lock. The Trout Inn inspired Lewis Carroll for Alice in Wonderland. Also, an episode of Inspector Morse was filmed here.
Godstow Lock is more than just a functional structure. It’s a place where history, scandal, and literature converge. It is a place where you can explore the riverbanks, discover ruins and imagine characters like Alice in Wonderland wandering through the meadows. So, take a moment to soak in the stories that flow as freely as the Thames itself right here at Godstow Lock.