Another year of Teddington Launch Lock Refurbishment

This set of major work to the Launch Lock started almost a year ago, in October 25, and this useful information board says that it will continue next until winter 26/27.

Footpath closed

The ongoing works at Teddington Lock have consumed a significant amount of space in the area for equipment and storage etc. and this includes the section of the towpath between the two paths connecting to the main path to Riverside Drive and beyond.

On this occasion all the space seemed to be used for was parking one machine.

Draining the lock

The Launch Lock at Teddington Lock is still in the middle of some serious reconstruction work, as it has been since the end of last year, and there is little sign of the work ending any time soon. I wanted to post an update and with everything looking much the same I used the excuse of the lock being drained through the pipe on the left.

Teddington Lock garden

Teddington Lock is dominated by the extensive works to the Launch Lock, and has been for several months, so it is good to see that the garden there is still looking good.

Steel supports

The scale of the work being done to Launch Lock can be seen by the number and size of the steel supports that cross the lock.

Teddington Lock in context

I took this picture to capture the delightful jumble of the maintenance works at Teddington Lock and was pleased to also get the equally delightful jumble of the Wharf development behind it and the still reflective river in front.

Major Launch Lock works

The works at Launch Lock looked pretty big when I reported on them earlier in the month and they have since grown with a large section of the towpath closed for pedestrians, marooning the coffee van.

And new signs show that the encampment along the footpath is also connected with the works and that these works are projected to run until Summer 2026.

That is a lot of work on locks that were worked on for an equally long period only last year.

More Launch Lock works

Major works were done to Launch Lock over several months last year so I was surprised to see so many people back working there again.

Clearing a raft

The raft that arrived at the moorings by Teddington Lock late last year has been moved to the other side of the bridge where it is being cleared piece by piece.

Forlorn garages

The area just north of the lock keeper's cottages has been tidied up and cleared a little exposing these three garages to anyone strolling along the towpath.

Launch Lock barriers

The latest works at Teddington Lock have finished after several months and the most visible difference is the second set of barriers at Launch Lock.

Very high tide

I have seen many high tides at Teddington Lock, and elsewhere locally, but never quite as high as this one. Previously I have seen the water on either side of the weir at the same height but this time the water was visibly flowing upstream over the weir at some pace.

Busy lock

Teddington Lock is a busy scene at the moment due to all the work going on around Launch Lock and it was made even busier by the passing of a large boat through Barge Lock.

Fondly remembered

I posted an in situ photo of this memorial bench for Ken Knight at Teddington Lock when it appeared almost two years ago and I though that it could do with close-up of one of the photos too so that it looks more like a memorial and less like a bench.

Lock maintenence

Given how relatively unimportant waterways are now and how little traffic goes through Teddington Lock, I am surprised at how often major maintenance works has to be done there.

Whatever they are doing here seems to be slightly upstream of the lock gates and is blocking access to the Launch and Skiff Locks.

Ken Knight fondly remembered

Ken Knight must indeed be fondly remembered by his colleagues to justify such an impressive memorial bench. The inscription reads "Ken Knight, 'endearingly grumpy' Lock Keeper 1965 - 2003. Fondly remembered."

Reopening Teddington Lock Island

Teddington Lock Island is open to the public again and there is a sign to prove it.

The confusing thing, for me at least, is that Environment Agency are calling the space between the two main locks Teddington Lock Island whereas I have always called the island under the footbridge that. The two spaces are connected so I'll now assume that they are both part of one island.

Emergency throwbag

There always had been (and still are) some lifebuoy rings around Teddington Lock and these have been joined by an emergency throwbag which I guess is more useful as you can use it to pull the person in trouble to shore rather than just keeping them afloat in the middle of the river.

Barriers

I am really struggling to understand the argument that Richmond Council used to erect these unsightly barriers on Teddington Lock Island to try and stop people getting to the beaches there, less than two years after steps were installed to make access easier.

Apparently they were put there to stop antisocial behaviour, which is ridiculous. I cross the bridge many times a week and have never witnessed any such behaviour there, there are no properties nearby and innocent people are being punished for the perceived crimes of a few. It is a ridiculous decision.

 

But then Richmond Council has an unimpressive record of making ridiculous decisions, such as coating this section of the bridge with more barriers to stop people from jumping off.

They would counter that with arguments around safety but then consider how little they do to make roads safer.

New roof at Teddington Lock

There always seems to be some sort of work going on at Teddington Lock and now it is the turn of the lock keeper's cottage which is getting a new roof.