Streatley Paddle and Rymer Weir

Streatley Paddle and Rymer Weir

This paddle and rymer weir was built in 1929 to replace the mill race and stands on the site of a 16th-century mill. The weir is 4.9 metres wide. Its structure consists of a base plate set on the river bed with an upper timber beam, contained within brick retaining walls. The working parts are removable timber paddles and rymers (upright posts). The original mill has been demolished. Paddles and rymers are traditionally stored leaning against timber racks. The late 20th-century rack on the south bank may replicate the original arrangement but is not considered of special interest.

Paddle and rymer weirs represent an early technology known to have been used on the River Thames by at least the 17th century. They superseded the true flash lock and provided greater control, enabling navigation of the upper reaches of the river. During the 1790s the Thames Commissioners improved the navigability of the river by installing new weirs and locks upstream. In the 1880s and 1890s, as part of a major overhaul, most weirs were rebuilt, further sites with weirs and pound locks were established at new locations such as Northmoor and Radcot, and existing facilities were upgraded. Some weirs replaced mill races during the 1920s and 1930s, including at Iffley, Goring and Streatley. A refurbishment programme took place across the range in the 1990s, with some weirs completely rebuilt. Since 2004, Marsh and Shepperton paddle and rymer weirs have been removed.

Streatley weir is not an early example of the type. However, like Goring, it is of interest that traditional technology, relatively cheap to install and maintain, continued to be used in the inter-war period. The late 19th and early 20th centuries also saw increased tourism on the river, and picturesque associations may have influenced the choice to use this technology. The weir occupies a rich historic context on the site of a former mill race, recognised within the conservation area and among the listed buildings there. It forms part of a significant group of locks and weirs at Goring and Streatley.