Author: Leigh Hatts

Reports of a blaze on Eel Pie Island over the weekend will have concerned many. We all knew it must be serious as a fire boat was called upstream. Unfortunately it was low tide on Saturday night which did not help with pumping.

We now know that the house which has burnt down belongs to architect Clive Chapman who has worked on several local projects including one for Twickenham riverside. The remains of his house, which he designed, can be seen from the towpath.

The disaster brings back memories of Eel Pie Island Hotel which burnt down in 1971 and another serious fire on the island in the 1990s.

Inventor Trevor Baylis who also lives on the island said that the flames were above the trees.

See page 61.

Walking downstream from Richmond to Kew this afternoon I was surprised to see -I had to look twice- that the lion was missing from the top of Syon House. I wondered about my eyesight.

This evening I learn that I was not mistaken. The lion was lifted down in March for restoration.

The lion is the crest of the Percy family, better known as the Duke of Northumberland family, and this big version dates from 1749. He first stood downstream on the top of riverside Northumberland House which gave way to Northumberland Avenue off Trafalgar Square. Since the 1874 he has been on the roof of the Duke’s country house at Syon.

ALSO

At Kew Green I found a cricket match and the church open. On the way to the station I called in at the teashop in Kew Road to buy  some Maids of Honour cakes which are made to a secret Tudor recipe. Back home I warmed them up as instructed. Delicious.

Very good news on the front page of South East Walker.

‘New path opens up a mile of Thames riverside’ says the headline.

I had been waiting for the result of a public inquiry over a disputed path at Shiplake linking the road with the isolated towpath.

I can remember in the 1980s walking from Shiplake Station into Mill Road where I turned left at the wooden Lashbrook Mission Room. This path led to open ground and the river.

Unfortunately the path was not on the definitive map when the Thames Path was opened and a new landowner disputed the path status. This why the Thames Path misses out a long and lovely stretch of towpath opposite Wargrave.

A government inspector has now confirmed an order made by Oxfordshire County Council to add the path to the map.

A confirmation order will be posted within the next few weeks and, providing there is no appeal, the path should be declared to be part of the Thames Path  sometime next year.

See page 121.

I walked past the Blacksmiths Arms in Rotherhithe on Saturday not knowing that it was being featured that day in The Independent as one of ‘50 Best Gastro Pubs‘.

I did not know that it was a gastro pub. Along with my companion I had just had a wonderful lunch for £5 at Surrey Docks Farm . The meat was from the farm and real apples were just 30p each. We sat sheltered from the sun on the terrace with hops spilling over the fence.

I see that the paper also listed The Trout at at Tadpole – although the location is given as Buckland Marsh. Sadly it’s now rather expensive.

But back in London we also tried the new Tassili Coffee Shop on the path in East Lane next to Chambers Wharf. Seems to be popular with walkers.

See pages 21, 22 and 26.

A section of the Thames Path between the Founders Arms near Tate Modern and Blackfriars Bridge is being closed for at least two years from  next month.

The closure will take place in the week beginning 14 September which is just after the Thames Festival.

The path diversion will be signposted behind the Bankisde Gallery and down Hopton Street, right along Southwark Street to pass under the railway and right into Blackfriars Road.

The long closure will allow work to continue on the building an entrance from the south side Thames Path to the new Blackfriars Station which will span the river. The work is part of the much delayed Thameslink rail project.

See page 34.

Expect to see flowers on the Marchioness memorial at the back of Southwark Cathedral over the weekend.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the disaster when 51 people drowned after the Marchioness was hit by the Bowbelle. The pleasure boat was between Southwark Bridge and Cannon Street Railway Bridge.

The names of the dead were read at today’s two masses at the cathedral and tonight there is choral evensong sung by a choir recalled from holiday for the occasion. Among those due to present are Odette Penwarden who helped to organise the river trip and is now a volunteer at the cathedral.

See page 33.

The Forbes family is selling some of the pictures in Old Battersea House which was restored by the late Malcolm Forbes. He paid a peppercorn rent to Wandsworth Council in return for a massive restoration. The house can be seen peeping above  a wall across the road from the Thames Path between Battersea Old Church and Battersea Railway Bridge.

I see that I claim that the house dates from 1899. This is nonsense. It’s more like 1699. How did I miss that one?

Although much restored after long neglect, the house is at least late 17th-century.

It’s good to know that it is now in good shape. The Evening Standard says that Prince Charles’ art students visit for sketching.