Ponders End Lock

PONDERS END LOCK

Lock	State	Date	Length	Length - Working Distance	Width	Fall	Removed or bypassed
Sotheby's Lower Weir (on Old River Lea)	Extant	1725	~	~		8' 3''	1770

Ponders End Lock	Built	1770					1858
Ponders End Lock (in new position)	Rebuilt	1858	90' 0''	86' 0''	16' 0''	7' 4''
Ponders End Lock (Brick and stone)	Report	1917			16' 0''
Ponders End Lock (West chamber)	Duplicated	1959	90' 6''	84' 0''	18' 10''	7' 4''

Ponders End Halflock	Built	1770					1852

Ponders End Lock rebuilding 1858 LMA ACC 2423/P/465

Until 1861, this lock was also called Enfield Mill Lock after the nearby Mill.

The Lee Navigation channel from Kings Weir, just south of Broxbourne, is all man-made. From Enfield, the old Barge River course lies under the reservoirs that flank the east bank all the way to Tottenham. Maps (with the exception of relatively recent publications) show the river’s tortuous course as the county boundary between Essex and Middlesex.

In March 1836, a letter of complaint from Mr Henry Puddicombe of the Pike and Anchor, Ponders End as to the sale of refreshments and teas by the Lock keepers at Ponders End and Picketts Locks was read and on 30^th April the Engineer reported that he approved of the Lock keepers acting thus. (NA Rail 845/23)

The 26.10.1877 survey recorded that the “present house be pulled down and the old materials used in building a new house on a different site” (NA Rail 845/21). 4.10.1878 "Lockhouse nearly completed - workmanship good" (NA Rail 845/56).

On the same survey on 4th October 1878, an example of the permanent battle between the Millers and the Navigation Authorities, was noted. "Ponders End Mill - The Engineer complains that the Miller frequently draws down the water of the Enfield Mill Stream to the great inconvenience and obstruction of the Navigation and that Notice has many times been given him to desist but without effect; Your Committee Recommend: That a formal Notice under the Act of Parliament be given to the Miller in reference to this, and as to the penalties attaching to him. Mem: In getting to Enfield Lock a case in point was observed by the Committee - the water was 9 inches below head and a barge could not get into the Lock in consequence." (NA Rail 845/56)

It seems that the old cottage was not demolished, because, on 20.4.1883, the “cottage back of Ponders End Lock” was insured for £120 (NA Rail 845/23). The position of the cottage is shown on the plan above

20.4.1883 The new lock house was insured for £250 (NA Rail 845/23)

5.8.1897 "The Scullery...being cracked from the main building ... I am having it pulled down and the Tiles, Timber and Bricks cleaned - ands when this is done and new foundations put in, a Tender can be obtained to rebuild it." (C Tween - LMA ACC 2423/006)

28.10.1897 "Tender from Mr Pollett for £32.10.0 for reconstructing the kitchen....reasonable" (C Tween - LMA ACC 2423/006)

7.4.1905 "The old lock house which was in a very delapidated (sic) state and likely to fall, has been pulled down, and as part of it was used as a wash house for the lock keeper, I am having a small wash house built adjoining the present lock-house with the old bricks and material ...." C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/009)

Ponders End Lock 1903 Ponders End Lock 1950

Ponders End Lock 1993

Ponders End Lock was the first of the Lee locks to be duplicated, in 1959. The Lee Conservancy lock house was demolished to make way for the new, mechanised, chamber. The original lock remains manual.

In between the present Ponders End and Picketts Locks was a half lock called Bates’s Lock or Bates's Halflock from its first record in the survey in 1791 until 1826 (although it was Enfield Half Lock in 1780 and Enfield Mill Half lock on 30.9.1782, when the Surveyor was ordered to make new upper (?) gates, apron and piers (NA Rail 845/51)), then it became Pallett’s Lock, which name it held for ten years.

From 1837 until it was removed in 1857* it was Ponders End Halflock. You will find Bates and Pallett in the list below.

* although it was described in the Engineer's report of 17.12.1853 as ".... bulging and otherwise ruinous and during the next year it can be cut out all together"

Ponders End Lock and Ponders End Halflock

Census/Date	Name	Title		Wife	Location given by enumerator/Comments	Source Reference
1987	Danny Ford	Lock keeper		ex Feildes Weir Lock		Tony Ford
13.9.1944	A H Hawley	Lock keeper		Appointed ex Burnt Mill Lock at £4.1.0 per week. £5.7.0 (n.d.)		NA Rail 845/126 LCB Records
12.9.1944	E Morris	Lock keeper		Retired at own request. Pension to be advised		NA Rail 845/126
7.2.1941	E Morris (65)	Lock keeper		Asked to continue in service for the duration of the war. Earning £2.5.0 plus 5/- war bonus with house and uniform. Agreed so long as he is capable of carrying out his duties		NA Rail 845/125
1.4.1938	E Morris	Lock keeper		£2.1.0 to £2.5.0		NA Rail 845/122
1.4.1937	E Morris	Lock keeper		£1.18s to £2.1s (inc house and garden)		NA Rail 845/121
9.5.1924	E Morris	Lock keeper		Appointed ex Harlow Lock		NA Rail 845/108
9.5.1924	A Chapman (71)	Lock keeper		Transferred to Ware Weir as the work at Ponders End was too much for him		NA Rail 845/108
14.11.1919	A Chapman	Lock keeper		38/- + house, garden, and uniform		NA Rail 845/46
15.2.1918	A Chapman	Lock keeper		26/- per week		NA Rail 845/66
19.5.1916	Chapman	Lock keeper		Increase from 21s to 23s per week (subject to revision at the end of the war)		NA Rail 845/43
8.5.1916	"Sir, We, the undersigned servants in your employ, beg to approach you for an increase in Wages. The enormous increase of prices of foodstuffs, etc., has made our lot nothing but a bare existence. Hoping you will give our application your kindest consideration. We remain, your humble servants (Signed) S. H. Chappell, J Brennan, J. Tear, A Chapman."					LMA ACC 2423/15
25.12.1915	A Chapman	Lock keeper	£3 War bonus			NA Rail 845/42
4.3.1915	A Chapman	Lock keeper	+2/- per week			NA Rail 845/42
28.2.1913	A Chapman	Lock keeper		Wages increased by 1/- per week		NA Rail 845/40
2.4.1911	Abraham Chapman (57)	Lock keeper		Elizabeth Charlotte	Lack House, Tae Valley Road, Mddx	RG14PN7424 RG78PN358 RD132 SD6 ED17 SN362
1.4.1909	A Chapman	Lock keeper		Increase of 1/- per week, now on 18/-		NA Rail 845/36
29.7.1904	Abram Chapman	Lock keeper		Bargeman, appointed		NA Rail 845/31
14.7.1904	A. England	Lock keeper		Died this day after several month's illness		NA Rail 845/31
31.3.1901	Alexander England (57)	Lock keeper		Wdr	Lock House	Mx/Enfield/20/50
18.3.1898 "Application for increase of Pay from the Lock-keepers at Ponders End, Picketts and Stonebridge Locks...I recommended that the Lock-keepers...be granted Uniforms. We (Mr Corble and myself) are of the opinion that this would be sufficient for the present, as when the River is opened for the Launch and Barge Traffic on Sundays, application will undoubtedly made by the Lock keepers for an increase of pay and if their wages were now increased to say 18/- per week; when the extra Sunday work commences, they would probably ask for as further raise. We are therefore of the opinion that the question of extra pay should be deferred for a time" (C Tween LMA ACC 2423/006)
5.4.1891	Alexandra (sic) England (47)	Lock keeper		Sarah A	River Lee Lock house	Mx/Enfield/14/17
14.11.1889	Henry Bristowe	Lock keeper		Died (see below). Widow granted £20		NA Rail 845/25
Death of H Bristowe at little before 11 pm "Bristowe had been down to Kied's Weir to see to the gates and returned home .... It is supposed that he went to the lower gates to draw off the still or lock which he is instructed do before going to bed - and the night being intensely dark and foggy he must have fallen into the lock - he leaves a wife and 3 children" (J Child)						LMA ACC 2423/003
19.2.1886	Henry Bristow	Lock keeper		Appointed at 16/- per week		NA Rail 845/24
18.9.1885	Douglas Hillier	Lock keeper		Resigned over reprimand		NA Rail 845/24
15.7.1885	D Hillier	Lock keeper		Appointed at survey		NA Rail 845/24
9.4.1885	Biscoe	Lock keeper		Transferred to Picketts Lock		LMA ACC 2423/002
28.12.1883 J Biscoe “be … fined 5/- (to be deducted out of his wages) for this neglect of duty( the passing of barges without signing the Permits); and that he be severely reprimanded; (NA Rail 845/23)
20.4.1883	J Biscoe	Lock keeper		16/- per week			NA Rail 845/23
6.7.1883	J Biscoe	Lock keeper		Appointed at survey			NA Rail 845/23
12.7.1882	J Biscoe	Temporary Lock keeper		Appointed at survey			NA Rail 845/23
6.5.1881	Wybrow	Lock keeper		Appointed, new man, on trial			NA Rail 845/22
5.5.1881	Charles Williams	Lock keeper		Died. He has been suffering from a complication of diseases, including asthma or consumption and rupture. He has been attending at Tottenham Hospital as long as he was able to get about. He has only been a lock keeper about 4 years having previously worked on the river for about 12 or 14 years as labourer. He leaves a widow but no children. (J Child)			NA Rail 845/22 LMA ACC 2423/001
4.4.1881	Charles Williams (66)	Lock keeper		Sarah	River Lee Cottage		Mx/Enfield/10/11
14.9.1877	William Clarke	Lock keeper		Appointed ex Enfield at 18/- per week			NA Rail 845/21
2.6.1871	Henry Smith	Lock keeper		Appointed at 16/-			NA Rail 845/18
2.4.1871	William Pallett (47)	Lock keeper		~	House nr River Lee		Mx/Enfield/10/22
22.2.1871	William Pallett	"(is) sick and quite unable to attend (his) dutiesand it has been necessary to have assistance at (his) lock...Pallett is quite a young man and will probably be soon able to resume his duties as heretofore"					NA Rail 845/18
8.4.1861	William Pallett (38)	Lock keeper		~	River Lee Lock Cottage		Mx/Enfield/10/24
17.11.1855	William Pallett	Lock keeper		14/- per week			NA Rail 845/14
21.10.1854	William Pallett	Lock keeper		14/- per week			NA Rail 845/14
30.3.1851	William Pallett (28)	Lockman		~	The Halflock, South Marsh		Mx/Enfield/1m/27
7.9.1850	William Pallett	Lock keeper		Son of Thomas Pallett. Appointed at 14/- per week			NA Rail 845/14
7.9.1850	Thomas Pallett	Lock keeper		Died			NA Rail 845/14
7.6.1841	Thomas Pallett	Lock keeper		Susan			Mx/Enfield/10/31
18.1.1821	Thomas Pallett	Lock keeper		Appointed in room of Bates			NA Rail 845/9
26.10.1820	William Bates	Lock keeper		“at the bottom of Ponders End…resigned on account of age			NA Rail 845/9
26.7.1779	John Cooper			To look after Enfield Mills to Tottenham Mills at £58 pa			NA Rail 845/5
18.12.1775	John Cooper			To look after Enfield Mills to Tottenham at £58 per year. Agreed for the term of three years			NA Rail 845/5
17.8.1773	Joseph Brooks			"...undertook to look after all the Locks, Cisterns and Tumbling Bays from Enfield Mills to Tottenham Mills for the sum of Twenty Pounds a year"			NA Rail 845/51

This site was last updated 03-Mar-2021