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The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our online HER enquiry form.


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HER Number MWB1502
Record Type Monument
Name Monkey Marsh Lock (Lock 90)

Grid Reference SU 524 662
Map Sheet SU56NW
Parish Thatcham, West Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

Scheduled Monument 193, c1723 lock originally with turf-sided chamber, but extensively reconstructed in 1990

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

  • Scheduled Monument 1006971: MONKEY MARSH LOCK, KENNET AND AVON CANAL

Other Statuses and Cross-References

  • Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 01032.00.000
    on Kennet and Avon
  • Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 05050.36.000
    Duplicate Monkey Marsh Lock record had Canal sequence Pref Ref
  • National Monuments Record No.: SU 56 NW 34
    SU 524 663

Monument Type(s):

  • CANAL LOCK (18th century to Cold War - 1723 AD to 1991 AD)

Full Description

SM 193, built 1723 as a turf sided lock. One of only 2 locks out of 13 on the Kennet navigation section which retains c18th features: horizontal plank lining supported by iron railings every 6ft. Only the upper gates remain. Lock chamber is turf-sided. Until recently retained turf sides and GWR rail and sleeper sides. 1989/90 rebuilt. Extensive archaeological recording indicates rebuilt by 1767 to take Newbury barges. Narrower by 1831 and further rebuilt since. To be reconstructed to appear turf sided.

Tree-ring analysis of the timbers revealed that oak and elms were used in the lock. The timber tended to be fast-grown, so that it was not possible to obtain dating evidence from the growth rings <7>.

Sources and further reading

<01>Clew, K R. 1973. The Kennet & Avon Canal. [Monograph / SWB6828]
<02>Dalby, L J. 1973. The Kennet Navigation. [Unpublished document / SWB14602]
<03>Pattray Publications. 1974. Map of the Kennet & Avon Canal - Reading to Hungerford. One inch to the mile. Lock No 90. [Map / SWB14605]
<04>Clew, K R & The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Ltd. 1974. The Kennet & Avon Canal Guide. Number One - Historical Background. [Unpublished document / SWB14604]
<05>The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Ltd. 1990. The Kennet & Avon Canal (Pictorial Journey). Photo. [Monograph / SWB14608]
<06>Wessex Archaeology. 1990. The excavation of a turf-sided lock at Monkey Marsh, Thatcham, Berks. 2016 WBC Network. [Unpublished document / SWB13482]
<07>Historic England (previously English Heritage). 1990. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Monkey Marsh Lock, Thatcham, Berkshire. 121/90. WBC Network. [Unpublished document / SWB14410]
http://research.historicengland.org.uk/redirect.aspx?id=4074 (Accessed 27/06/2018)
<08>The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. 1991. Monkey Marsh Lock. [Monograph / SWB13483]
<09>Lindley-Jones, P. 2002. Restoring the Kennet & Avon Canal. p94-7. [Monograph / SWB147997]
<10>Berry, W. 2009. The Kennet and Avon Navigation - A History. [Monograph / SWB147998]
<11>Thatcham Vision & Thatcham Historical Society. 2009. Thatcham - an historic town in a changing world. online. p34, 52. [Monograph / SWB147814]
<12>Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group. 1966-1991. Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group Gazetteer of Industrial Sites & Monuments. 2023 WBC Network. OG33. [Unpublished document / SWB12762]

Related Monuments

MWB5758KENNET & AVON CANAL - General record (Monument)
MWB5824KENNET & AVON CANAL - COLTHROP TO MONKEY MARSH LOCK (Monument)
MWB5827KENNET & AVON CANAL - MONKEY MARSH TO WIDMEAD LOCK (Monument)

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

EWB342The excavation of a turf-sided pound lock at Monkey Marsh, Thatcham
EWB1415Berkshire County Council/Babtie general monitoring
EWB176Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group Survey