Jerome, ‘and come and
mooch around the lock with
their dogs, and flirt, and
smoke, and watch the boats
. . . one of the gayest sights I
know of near this dull old
London town’.
The lock was also the site
of races, such as those carried
out by the Ilex Swimming
Club. In the summer of 1873
the banks were crowded with
spectators – the press noted
‘amongst whom were many