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Beardmore’s Report 1870: Harlow Lock is in good repair Childs’ Report 1880: Harlow; Brick built, about ¼ has recently been refaced recently, remainder requires doing. Upper gates fair but hanging posts bad require renewing and sill lowering 1 foot. Lower gates deepened in 1859 and new gates put in, now in fair condition. This lock will require an outlay of about £500 within a couple of years. Fall about 8’ 6’’. Lockhouse plaster built and slated (date 1803) wood buildings in fair repair. Childs' 1884 Report: "Brick built, one side refaced recently., other side requires doing.. Upper gates bad, but new ones ready for fixing; Hanging posts bad, require renewing and sill lowering 1 foot: Lower gates deepened in 1859 and new gates in - now in fair condition. This lock will require an outlay of about £500 within a couple of years - fall about 8' 6''. Lockhouse, plaster built and slated (date 1803) , wood buildings in fair repair." Tween's 1901 Report: "Brick built. South side good, North side very bad and bulged out. Upper gates, 1884, in good order. Lower gates 1859. Gates in very bad condition. This lock will require an outlay of about £400. Lowers sill should be lowered 6 inches. Fall about 8' 6'', the greatest on the river. Lockhouse, plaster built, and slated (date 1803). Wood buildings in fair repair."
The image below is from the 1901 Report
The Mill was next to the lock, where a sluice gate now stands. The mill was demolished in the first half of the 20th century.
Harlow Mill Lock was one of only two brick-sided lock chambers built when the Navigation was canalised between 1766 and 1769. The chamber was too deep and the mill too close to build safely a turf-sided lock.
The timber-framed lock house was built in 1803 but was replaced by British Waterways in the 1960’s.
The date and composition of this postcard suggest that this is possibly Henry Clayden and Frederick Ward standing outside the house on or soon after 31.3.1901. See the census record below.
13.7.1912 "The lower gates of this lock collapsed...the offside gate is in the bottom of the lock and the other one is completely shattered and is now pointing the reverse way. I am glad to say that no-one was hurt, the lock was being filled at the time...I am preparing plans for new gates with a deeper sill to give us increased depth of water" C Tween (LMA/ACC 2423/012)
Photo: Paul Rixon
This photograph shows the lock shortly after rebuilding following the collapse (compare the lockside in the two images above). The lock keeper here is Joseph Salmon, appointed in 1911.
This is another photograph of him, possibly taken the same day, unless he always left the bottom button of his uniform undone! He is accompanied in both pictures by his dog Laddie.
Photo: Paul Rixon
In 2008 this sculpture "The Flowing River" by Antony Lycycia was erected on the eastern side of the lock chamber. The words paraphrase the legend on the missing plaque from Latton Lock house.
Harlow Mill Lock House
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This site was last updated 09-Oct-2021
Griggs’ Report
1844:No 8 Lock called Harlow Brick Lock is affected by a mill. The
brickwork below the lower gates is rounding next the horse (no
Occupation Bridge at this lock). The brickwork next the horse in the
lock is bulged and out of repair. The upper gates in good repair dated
1829. The lower gates dated 1817 are old and weak. Depth of water on the
lower sill 3’ 3’’. No 4 Lock house at Harlow Brick Lock in good repair.
The wharfing from Harlow Lock to the last poplar tree is in good repair.
The wharfing from this tree to the Turnpike Road Bridge in middling
repair. 
