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The Source of the Thames
Having completed the walking section between Oxford and Marlow, we turned our attention to the Upper Thames from the point where the water rises from the ground to start its long journey to the sea.
We rented a National Trust cottage on the banks of the Thames and this allowed us to walk several sections from Kelmscott upstream. The river was immensely pretty and provided a totally different scene to the wider river we had enjoyed. We visited during drought conditions and the river was running low, particularly noticeable at the official source where the high Thames meadows were dry and the locks and weirs were much calmer than usual.
I have sorted the images into sections:
Artwork on display in the cottage
The Cottage
LOCK COTTAGE - BUSCOT
Lock Cottage Buscot National Trust
Sheila The "Lock Keeper" !!
Garden furniture to enjoy the view
Absolutely charming
One of two weirs just by our cottage
The tiddly dining room with door to garden
The Kitchen
The kitchen sink view onto the Thames
We were lucky to have chosen the week of a super moon. This taken at 3.00am from our garden
One of many wild water swimmers. Lock Cottage is in the background
The Source
THE SOURCE OF THE THAMES
Where's the water gone?
3 Miles down and still no water. Drought Conditions
We had examined the map and found that above the official source of the Thames
was a Water Pump located next to a disused canal. This water pump stood at the head of the valley where the Thames flowed and local information suggested that when the pump was put into use for the canal, the water emanating from the official Thames start, would dry up.
The first picture below shows the old pumphouse, next to which was a now derelict cottage
The canal was known as the Thames and Severn Canal built in 1789 and connecting these two major rivers. Its main claim to fame is the Sapperton Canal Tunnel which at the time it was built was the longest in England at 3.49kms. It is looked after by the Cotswold Canal Trust who have an interesting website if you are interested in canals. Click HERE.
The canal towing path is all that is left of the canal structure at the point we visited but there are many long-distance trails which have adopted it along parts of the route. We decided to explore the path down to a railway bridge which is a rather fine structure. The archway is of a brick construction and if you have looked at the canal trust website above you will have read that the brick tunnel roof has fallen in.
Imagine our consternation when we found that a layer of bricks on the working mainline bridge (London to Gloucester) line had also given way. There are some pictures of the bridge below and you will be pleased to hear that we reported the matter to the railway engineering team who promptly jumped into their vans to investigate.
The railway mainline
Hole where bricks have fallen out.
New cracking
Kemble Station
I must put in a shout for Kemble Mainline Station which is immaculately maintained and it felt as though we were visiting a Heritage Line station run by volunteers.
We parked in the station car park and followed the Thames Path signage through the station, over the platform bridge and stopped for a coffee and cake in one of two lovely waiting rooms. We then followed the Thames Path signage out to a lane and across fields.
The Thames Path is signed from the platform
The railway water tank - a Listed structure
The delightful cafe - full of character.
Thames Scenery in 6 images
Sheila working the lock gate for a late boat arrival
Footpath Scenery
St John's Lock - the first on the Thames
Our Cottage at sunset
Colourful boat making its way downstream
Buscot Lock
River Boat, a Wartime Pillbox, Lechlade Church and a flock of Canada Geese.
The Canada goose is a large goose, with a distinctive black head and neck and large white throat patch. What the RSPB doesn't say is that they have white bottoms too. Important when looking at a picture like this when the geese have all turned away!
I should have called this page Sauce of the Thames because
what's sauce for the Goose is ....
Stop Press - I uploaded these images on 23rd July 22. Imagine my surprise when I watched the late National News to find that the Lechlade canal linkage at Ingleton Lock had been opened to the public during that day.
https://cotswoldcanalsrestoration.co.uk/404-2/
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS WEBPAGE. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.
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