Category: Updates

Temple Bridge, a vital link upstream of Marlow, has suddenly been closed following an inspection by the Environment Agency.

Part of the structure is deemed to be unsafe and the closure is expected to continue all summer.

Also closed are the crossing at Benson and timber towpath at Henley’s Marsh Lock which suggests that after more than 25 years the trail’s infrastructure may need reviewing.

In the early 1970s, long before Temple Bridge had been built, the Harleyford Estate on the left (north) bank considered reopening the ancient Temple ferry which had closed in 1953. However, a revived ferry was thought to be viable only in summer months.

Last week there was a new local call for the return of the ferry.

Another suggestion forty years ago was to allow walkers to cross on the Temple Lock weir which reaches the south (right) bank at Temple Mill Island. The houses had yet to be built and it was thought that future island residents might wish to be able to cross the river and walk into Marlow.

Temple Bridge, a 267 foot West African hardwood span, was completed in 1989 -seven years before the Thames Path was officially opened.

DIVERSION

The temporary diversion from Marlow is across Marlow Bridge and ahead on the main Bisham Road. There is a pavement on the right hand side.

This unexpected and slightly unpleasant diversion does give an opportunity to visit the churchyard of Bisham Church which is usually only seen as part of an attractive view from across the water.

To visit the church (which may not always be open but has lots of riverside seats) turn right after a mile, by an oak tree on a bend, to go down Church Lane. The great attraction is the memorial to the family of Sir Philip Hoby of Bisham Abbey whose body was brought by water from his London house at Blackfriars in 1558. See message below from the churchwarden.

Continue past the Church Lane turning as the main road still with a pavement becomes Marlow Road. Walk through Bisham village, with The Bull at its centre, and having passed the entrance to Bisham Abbey (right) immediately bear right into Temple Lane.

There is double bend round the grounds of the Abbey and before the lane passes the Temple Island entrance (right).

Keep ahead and where the row of cottages (right) ends go through the gate to the left of the entrance to Temple Weir House ahead.

The footpath follows a curving wall before passing through a tunnel.

Go ahead on the wide metalled road. Soon after passing the entrance to Temple House (right) the wide way loses its hard surface and shortly runs up against gates.

Go through the small gate to pass The Old Dairy (left) and at once go right through a kissing gate. Follow the straight path leading to the river. Temple Bridge is to the right. But go left to continue the walk to Henley.

BISHAM CHURCH

Church Warden Stewart Featherstone-Clark writes: All Saints Bisham Church is nestled between the river and the old turnpike, the route of the Marlow flyer to London until it closed in 1888. Take a moment off your route to go down and sit by the river in the tranquil churchyard. Dating from the C12 with a Norman chalk tower. The church was the place of worship for the Abbey family. The Bisham estate saw the Knights Templar and the Earls of Salisbury and was part of Ann of Cleves divorce settlement from Henry VIII. The heyday was in the 1500s with the Hoby family, here for 200 years then the Vansittarts for another 200. Discover a treasure trove of court and political influence in the spectacular monuments which tell their tales.

Contrast with the modern industrial copper of the Williams Chapel, another story. Bisham was the place to be, so why not visit? (Yes it is in the Simon Jenkins book of 1000 best churches). Contact the warden before your visit to ensure the church is open (www.achurchnearyou.com). Go to www.bishamchurchfriends.org to find out more or to join one of our tours.

It is confirmed that the ferry at Benson, replacing the closed weir crossing for walkers, is running 9am to 5pm daily.

Those walking upstream on the towpath from Wallingford will find a notice at Benson Lock displaying the phone number to call the ferry service. The ferry point is just upstream of the lock where the

The landing on the far side is the slipway by the Waterfront Cafe.

The vessel Ferret once operated at Brixham in Devon and has taken month to renovate. The ferry is operating where the Benson Horse Ferry used to carry the horses of the towing barges.

Fare: £2 (child £1).

A new edition of the Cicerone guide Walking the Thames Path is now available.

There are many new photographs and new points of interest such as Truss’s Island, named after the former prime minister’s ancestor, and Agatha Christie’s favourite riverside walk behind her house.

New refreshment stops highlighted include The Medley next to Medley Bridge where in summer pizzas are served in a riverside farmhouse garden.

A route has been added from the Source to nearby Thames Head Inn where you can celebrate the completion of your walk and also stay the night.

Walking the Thames Path (£17.95) is available via Cicerone website.

A ferry boat named Ferret will operate at Benson from Sunday 7 May.

This service is being introduced whilst the foot crossing at Benson Lock is closed. Repair which has yet to commence is expected to take some time.

The ferry is to run upstream of the lock daily from 8am to 6pm; tickets £2 (child £1).

The landing on the Benson bank is at the Waterfront Cafe.

LATEST: On Wed 5 April Thames Path National Trail office said that the path is open. Updates expected from Network Rail over coming days.

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The Thames Path is closed under Nuneham Railway Bridge.

The bridge is thought to have developed a structural fault, maybe due to flooding, and trains have stopped crossing the river.

Nuneham is a remote area between Abingdon and Radley.

Walkers reaching Abingdon may wish to catch the bus to Radley (or take a road route) where you can rejoin the river above Nuneham Bridge.

There is a shuttle train from Oxford Station to Radley Station.

Those wishing to travel by train between London Paddington and Oxford are having to change at Didcot Parkway and use a replacement bus services.

Disruption is expected to continue beyond Easter Bank Holiday Monday and into Easter Week.

Walkers on the Thames Path over the past week at dusk have been noticing the spire on Rotherhithe Church tower lit up.

It is also being seen from some distance away including by those crossing London and Tower Bridges.

The unannounced switch-on had been long planned and is made possible by the US Embassy downstream at Nine Elms. Rotherhithe has a resonance for the USA as it was from there that the Mayflower set out for America with the Pilgrim Fathers.

The 400th anniversary was commemorated by the Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi with low key ceremonies during the pandemic.

The Christopher Jones memorial in the churchyard is also illuminated until 11pm. Jones was Master of the Mayflower and after bringing her back from America he continued to live in Rotherhithe until his death in 1622. His statue by Jamie Sargeant was commissioned to mark the 375th anniversary of the voyage to America in 1995.

An official switch-on ceremony on the riverside is expected to be announced shortly.

The East Greenwich Residents Association has expressed concern about dust blowing along the Thames Path on Saturday 4 March.

The epicentre appeared to be at Tunnel Wharf, between Morden Wharf and downstream Bay Wharf, where work was in progress on that Saturday morning.

This section of path is well-known for its willow trees which are under threat of being felled.

A spokesperson for the nearby upstream Victoria Deep Water Terminal, which once had tunnels to shelter walkers, says that the dust is unlikely to have emanated from its operations.

‘As a result of our recent investment the plant has extensive mitigation measures built in, including for dust suppression.’

The annual Blessing of the River Thames t0ok place on Baptism Sunday 8 January with prayers for those working on the river. A wooden cross, inspired by the Epiphany Orthodox tradition on twelfth day of Christmas, is cast into the water.

Processions of clergy and congregation from Southwark Cathedral on the south bank and St Magnus the Martyr Church on the north bank met in the middle of London Bridge’s downstream side.

St Magnus, the northern gateway church, has the pavement of Old London Bridge, which was a different alignment, running through the base of tower entrance. The church also displays a model of Old London Bridge.

Pictures by Claire Meunier.

A statue of Virginia Woolf has been unveiled on the Thames Path at Richmond.

The writer lived in the town for a decade from 1914 and liked to walk along the Thames every day.

Now she is depicted sitting on a long seat where today’s walkers can join her to look at the river.

Virginia and her husband Leonard lived at Hogarth House in Paradise Road where they founded the Hogarth Press on the kitchen table.

At first the couple published their own work on a small hand-printing press but later expanded the business to include work by emerging authors such as Katherine Mansfield.

The first UK edition of TS Eliot’s The Wasteland was published a century ago by the Hogarth Press with the typesetting for the 450 copies being undertaken by Virginia.

The bronze figure is by Laury Dizengremel and was unveiled by Virginia Woolf’s great great nieces Sophie Partridge and Emma Woolf.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday afternoon as the tide fell to one of its lowest levels during the current draw-off when the lock gates are left open to allow for the riverbed to be exposed.

The seat with Virginia Woolf can be found up a few steps on Richmond Riverside opposite the former Jesus College Oxford barge immediately downstream of Richmond Bridge.

Day’s Lock Meadow beside the River Thames has been voluntarily registered by landowner Keith Ives.

Mr Ives bought the land in 2020 and, as a person with a strong sense of community, agreed voluntarily to register the site so that it can continue to be enjoyed by the public.

Thanks to a long campaign by residents of nearby Dorchester-on-Thames and the Open Spaces Society, the meadow has been added to the village green register.

The struggle began in 2016 when an earlier landowner of Bishops Court Farm erected fencing.

Keith Ives has also made it possible for the nearby ancient Dyke Hills, crossed if walking into Dorchester, to be registered at the same time.

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, says: ‘We are delighted to have helped secure people’s access to these special place for ever. 

‘We congratulate the residents for their perseverance and determination, and we thank Mr Ives most warmly for his gift to the community.  He is a fine example to other landowners.  The society is encouraging landowners voluntarily to register their land as greens to protect it for public enjoyment.