Month: November 2013

The Velma Boathouse near Broom Water at Teddington is thought to have an uncertain future following proposals to move the two-storey building and redevelop the site. The boathouse was built in 1884 by physician John Langdon Down who lived in nearby Broom Close and gave his name to Down’s syndrome. Broom Water is a natural creek […]

The Thames Path national trail starts at the Thames Barrier but there is now a viable and mainly riverside path which starts downstream at Erith. However, Chris Smith is suggesting pushing further east into Kent and through Gravesend. His route, called Kentish Thames Walk, would start next the Isle of Grain where the lonely London […]

A temporary bridge has been installed at Oxford’s Osney Lock to keep the Thames Path open whilst work on the lock is completed over the winter. The two weirs are being refurbished and a hydro installed to generate enough electricity to power more than 50 houses. Some of the weir timber has been dated back […]

Bugsby’s Reach is to be renamed Watermen’s Reach. This change, which appears to have the support of the Port of London Authority, takes place  next year to mark the 500th anniversary of the Watermen’s Company. Bugsby’s Reach is the name of the River Thames between Woolwich Reach (where the Thames Barrier was built) and Blackwall […]

Archbishop of Canterbury St Edmund of Abingdon grew up by the Thames which he knew well at home and at Oxford where a college is named after him. He was born on 20 November 1174 and died on 16 November 1240. Death came in France where he is buried at Pontigny Abbey. Today Saturday 16 […]

The Artists Christmas Open Day weekend at Eel Pie Island is on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December; 11am-6pm. Original arts and crafts made during the year by resident artists will be on sale. Access is from the footbridge on the Twickenham bank. Homemade food available in the garden.

There is a flood alert for  central London today Monday 4 November which means that potentially affected locations around 1.45pm are Greenwich, Mayflower pub at Rotherhithe, Angel pub at Bermondsey Wall and Bankside.