Sitting at the junction of the River Avon and the Cumberland Basin in Bristol, Entry Lock occupies a historically significant position in the city’s waterway network. Also known as Howard Lock, after the engineer responsible for its construction, this water lock was designed by Thomas Howard and completed in 1873. Its primary function is to control the passage of vessels entering the Cumberland Basin from the tidal River Avon, managing the difference in water levels between the two bodies of water.
Design and Engineering History
Thomas Howard’s design reflects the industrial ambition of Victorian Bristol, a period when the city was investing heavily in its docks and waterway infrastructure. The lock was built to allow ships to pass more reliably between the river and the basin regardless of tidal conditions on the Avon. The dual naming convention – Entry Lock for its functional role, and Howard Lock in recognition of its designer – means it occasionally appears under either name depending on the source, though both refer to the same structure. The coordinates place it at approximately 51.4492 degrees north, 2.6235 degrees west, firmly within Bristol’s historic docklands area.
Visiting Entry Lock
The lock sits within a broader docklands setting that draws visitors interested in Bristol’s maritime and industrial past. The Cumberland Basin and its surrounding infrastructure form part of the wider Floating Harbour area, which connects to the city’s well-known waterfront. Walkers and cyclists frequently pass through this part of Bristol, following the waterside paths that run along the Avon and into the basin. The lock itself is a relatively understated but genuinely interesting piece of civil engineering, and its continued presence in the landscape speaks to the durability of Victorian construction methods. Those exploring the western end of Bristol’s harbour will find it a worthwhile stop when tracing the route of the water from the river into the historic dock system.