1 min read

Sheep Drive pictures

The last Sunday in September sees sheep being driven across Southwark Bridge. In medieval times sheep farmers drove their sheep northwards across London Bridge into the City of London to sell them at Smithfield Those farmers who were Freemen of the City were excused paying the bridge toll. This century the City’s ancient Woolmen’s Company, […]

Written by

Leigh Hatts
1 min read

Trump visit: Thames closure & salute

Walkers will find the path between Albert and Victoria Bridges in Datchet closed today Wednesday 17 September due to the US State Visit. Datchet has good views of Windsor Castle and its Home Park across the river. The Red Arrows will be over Datchet just before 4.45pm but the best place to view the fly […]

Written by

Leigh Hatts
1 min read

Doggett’s Coat & Badge

Doggett’s Coat and Badge rowing race is on the River Thames today Wednesday 10 September. You may see the single sculling boats being raced by apprentice watermen from London Bridge to Chelsea. Founder Thomas Doggett used to commute by water from his home in Chelsea to the City of London. This is the world’s oldest […]

Written by

Leigh Hatts
1 min read

Georgina Moore’s Thames novel

Award-winning author Georgina Moore’s second novel is set around her home on the River Thames. Her houseboat is moored at Tagg’s Island a little upstream from East Molesey and Hampton Court. The island is named after Royal Waterman Tom Tagg who ran a boatyard and hotel there in the 19th century. It was originally Walnut […]

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Leigh Hatts
1 min read

Cookham’s Ferry inn closed this month

The Ferry inn at Cookham is closed for refurbishment. Reopening is planned for Friday 26 September. The riverside terrace is depicted in Stanley Spencer’s 1936 painting The Ferry Hotel Lawn, Cookham.

Written by

Leigh Hatts
1 min read

Goring’s boathouse sorting office listed

Goring’s Royal Mail sorting office which closed last year has been listed by Historic England. The building next to the bridge will be familiar to many walkers who take a break at the next door Pierreponts CafĂ©. The former sorting office, which is now for sale, is a boathouse best seen as you start to […]

Written by

Leigh Hatts
2 min read

Viking Longship in London

The Saga Farmann longship is being rowed up the Thames on Tuesday evening 26 August. Tower Bridge is due to open at 10pm but there will be chance to see the Viking vessel depart in daylight at 4pm the following day when she will berth for a week at nearby St Katharine Dock. The Saga […]

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Leigh Hatts
1 min read

Nine Elms: Heathwall Quay path opens

Walking from Vauxhall towards Battersea Power Station it has long been necessary to briefly join the main road opposite Waitrose before returning to the river at Tideway Walk. The obstruction was the Heathwall Quay pumping station but following completion of the Tideway Tunnel Project work there is now a continuous path joining Prescott Wharf to […]

Written by

Leigh Hatts
1 min read

Marchioness Disaster 36th anniversary

An Act of Remembrance for the 51 passengers who died on the night of 20 August 1989 in the Marchioness Disaster will take place at Southwark Cathedral today Wednesday 20 August. The river collision happened at night between Cannon Street and Southwark Bridges. The memorial is just inside the door and the annual remembrance will […]

Written by

Leigh Hatts