[3] The need for a pound lock here arose from the opening of the Thames and Severn Canal upstream in November 1789.

It was built by J. Nock in 1790, and in its early days complaints were made of tolls being evaded by bullying bargemen.

[4] The lock can be reached easily from St John's Bridge which is about a mile out of Lechlade on the A417 road.

The Thames and Severn Canal is the subject of a restoration plan, and so navigation beyond Lechlade may one day be possible again.

The River Coln also joins the Thames at the canal junction, where there is sufficient room to wind a 70 ft narrowboat with care.