Building record 0456301000 - WITTINGTON WINCH

Flashlock at Hurley Weir superseded in 1773, but winch for hauling barges up through weir survives, rotten & overgrown. Drum & 5 of original 6 capstan bars survive. Drum 1.8m high, but base, where rope wound, is buried (scale drawing)(B1).
18th century winch for a flash lock last used in 1774 when Hurley pound lock was opened. Wooden capstan with metal cap and metal tie arms to 5 wooden arms. Part sunk into pit with 2 retaining beams. Used to haul barges up flash lock at Hurley Weir. It was worked by 6 men, the rope being wound up on a vertical shaft. An important example (Drawings, photographs) (B2).
Winch survives as described in source 1 above (B3).
Grade II. Winch. C18, last used in 1774 when Hurley Lock was opened. Wooden capstan with metal cap and metal tie bars to 5 wooden arms. Part sunk into pit with 2 retaining beams. Used to haul barges up flash lock at Hurley Weir.
(Country Life July 5th 1984 p. 32. A.H. Plaisted, The Manor and Parish Records of Medmenham, 1925) (B4).
Restored by Christopher Wallis (Chiltern Society) in 1997-8 (B5).