Sulhamstead Lock was built between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury, and this stretch of the river is now administered by the Canal & River Trust as part of the Kennet Navigation. It has a change in level of 4 ft 1 in (1.24 m). The lock is 6 mi 5 furlongs (11 km) from the confluence with the River Thames.
The lock was rebuilt in 1966 by a collaboration involving staff from British Waterways and volunteer labour.
