•2 min read

In the Footsteps of Henry Taunt

Many will be familiar with Henry Taunt’s photographs of the River Thames which are often reproduced in books about the river in the 19th century. Now Graham Diprose and Jeff Robins, two photographers on the staff of the London College of Communications, have selected seventy of the Victorian pictures from the thousands taken by Gaunt […]

•1 min read

Samuel Adamson’s Thames Path play

Those who know the Thames Path between Deptford and London Bridge will enjoy Some Kind of Bliss at the Trafalgar Studios in Whitehall. The seventy minute play is a solo performance by Lucy Briers and was written for her by playwright Samuel Adamson who knows the Thames Path well. His last play Southwark Fair was […]

•1 min read

Spice Island becomes Old Salt Quay

The Spice Island pub in London’s Rotherhithe has been renamed Old Salt Quay. The pub, built in 1995 to resemble a boathouse, stands on the site of the former Dinorwic Wharf alongside the old Surrey Basin Entrance. The interior is little changed but it is now describing itself as a ‘Steak and Seafood Restaurant’. Fish […]

•1 min read

Cricklade closure

A short stretch of the Thames Path just upstream of Cricklade is to be closed from Monday 24 September for about four weeks. This is to allow for the laying of electricity cables. The diversion is on the Wiltshire-Gloucestershire boundary at the far west end of North Meadow where the Latten-Swindon canal used to cross […]

•1 min read

Foot and Mouth closes path

There is some confusion about path closures in the Egham area following the discovery of Foot and Mouth disease earlier this week. Surprisingly, the towpath along Runnymede remains open. However, a short section downstream to the south at Chertsey is closed. This is Dumsey Mede (also known as Dumsey Meadow) alongside Chertsey Bridge. The alternative […]

•2 min read

Walking after the flood

I have been walking the Thames upper reaches following the recent floods. In some places the gound is still not firm and it is fascinating to see the flood plain often clearly marked by debris. Residents have lots a stories about paddling to work or being thankful that they live in a raised home. Walking […]

•2 min read

New Castle Eaton-Water Eaton route

This is the first year that it has been possible to walk by the river all the way from Castle Eaton to Cricklade. Until now there had been a long road walk to Water Eaton before the Thames could be seen. The new directions from Castle Eaton are: “At the west end of The Street […]

•1 min read

Diversions at Gatehampton and Goring

There are two temporary diversions between Gatehampton and Goring. The first is at Gatehampton railway bridge just after the path returns to the river following its gentle downhill run through Hartslock Wood. Thames Water is laying a pipe from its Gatehampton Farm boreholes to Oxford. The signposted alternative route is expected to be in place […]

•1 min read

Cookham towpath restored

After years of pressure by the Ramblers’ Association the towpath which runs under Cookham Bridge has been reopened. It is the path seen in Stanley Spencer’s famous painting Swan Upping which shows the bridge spanning the path. This addition does not affect the Thames Path route which still passes through the churchyard. But having reached […]

•1 min read

Flood watches continue

Flood watches are still in place on several sections of the River Thames west of London. This means that some flooding of low-lying land is a possibility. However, the ground continues to drain leaving the Thames Path again passable in most places where there has been severe flooding. But there has been some rain and […]