River Thames – Page 3

The River Thames – Cookham (NaBloPoMo – Day 11)

In 2015 I travelled to Cookham in Berkshire, primarily to visit the Stanley Spencer Gallery.

It just so happenes that the village is by the River Thames, part of the Thames Path. Did I need any more excuses to go?

It was a perfect day, hot and sunny. Getting there was fun though. There was some trouble on the railway and I had to get off the train at an earlier station. Staff normally lay on rail replacement buses which this happens. However, that day there were cars! I had to bundle in tha back of a car with two others and each of us was dropped at the station we going to. One of the strangeest experiences I have ever had. We also just missed being a crash, as a lorry shed its load! Thankfully, after that the day improved.

After visiting the Gallery (a long wished for visit that didn’t disappoint), I wandered along the Thames Path towards Bourne End. I didn’t quite get all the way, but I was within touching distance.

I recently found out that Stanley’s daughter Unity, died in 2017 and is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Cookham. Being the daughter of Stanley was difficult in her younger years. Like most artists (it seems) he wasn’t the easier man to live with. She led a distruptive life according to a book I read recently. However, according to her son John, Unity found being Stanley’s daughter later in life more of a pleasure. You can read more here.

Here are some pictures from that day.

Stanley Spencer – The Last Supper (1920)

Wandle Trail – final leg

The above photo was taken after conpleting the second part of the River Wandle Trail in February (the first part I walked in January of this year). I posted about the previous legs on this blog back in the beginning of the year. A week ago I came back to walk the final leg.

River Wandle between Wandle Park and Wandle Meadow Nature Park

The start of this leg begins on the other side of the road from where the top photo was taken. I always enjoy walking somewhere new, and this was quite surprising. I never knew all this countryside was here, a vast open stretch in Wandle Meadow Nature Park. Firstly, we walked through Wandle Park itself (not to be confused with Wandle Park in Croydon, where the first leg began!). Out onto a lane and then into the Nature Meadow with its plyons and old sewage works.

Pylons and old sewage words (Wandle Meadow Nature Park)

After this we got a litle lost and had to double back as we realised we were in a different park than we should be! I had two different maps with me (plus Google Maps) and even then it was sometimes hard to follow the small turns. Sometimes we had to leave the river and walk along roads and rejoin it further along. This happened at Earlsfield where we walked a stretch of a busy main road, passed the the station and veered off left by the Wandle Trail Pub and down a long road before a right turn took us into King George’s Park. This is one of the biggest parks I think I’ve ever walked in (except in central London).

Somewhere behind us is Plough Lane, the home of AFC Wimbledon (they are rebuilding a new stadium)

The park is split into several parts, and being a Saturday, football was taking place – Little League teams and some adult teams, plus some sort of touch rugby which seemed to be a charity event as people were dressed in weird costumes! There was so much activity going on here including the small play areas and tennis courts. So many people walking, but part of this park is behind the town of Wandsworth itself.

The Wandle Trail Pub at Earlsfield and St George’s Park (Earlsfield end)

Wandsworth was also busy with Saturday shoppers, and we stopped to get a hot drink, and I used the facilities in the shopping mall (the river runs through the shopping mall!). We took our drinks over the road into an old churchyard, minus the church. We found out that this was the former site of the Society of Friends Meeting House (Quakers). The graves were still here and benches dotted around, making it a quieter place to sit for a breather.

The fountain in St George’s Park is defunct and fuil of old plastic bottles

Touch Rugby, charity style! (St George’s Park)

I’ve found my place! (Gardens, St George’s Park, Wandsworth end)

We were now not far from the River Thames. Rain had started to spit, but luckily it came and went, and thankfully waited until we were home before it set in. We followed the main road round and crossed over taking a right to meet the A3 into London. Here we picked up the river once more and followed it to where it met the River Thames. After around five miles we had reached our destination.

The River Wandle passing through Wandsworth

The churchyard of the former Quaker’s Meeting House

The Wandle Flow by the old churchyard. Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to find the name of the artist.

The Causeway. Nearly there now.

The River Wandle joins the River Thames at Wandsworth. Journeys end.

Since that walk the weather has taken a nose dive, with only some afternoons with sunshine. We’ve had days of rain and our garden has been flooded two days in a row. This has never happened like this before. Back in 2007 we did have one deluge which flooded the garden, but never two days in a row. The weather forecast doesn’t look that great for this week either. Everything is so wet. The local park, where I jogged during the worst of lockdown, has an impromptu lake! I had planned a walk with a friend later this week, but I fear we will have to cancel, as it seemes to be a day of nothing but heavy rain.

Kingston upon Thames: A Royal Town

Back in late June I wrote about a walk along the River Thames from Kingston to Molesey Lock. This time I am back in Kingston at special request!

This is for a friend of mine who has been unable to visit lately and misses a couple of his ‘watering holes’. I hope this will cheer you up!

Kingston is a royal town, a royal borough of London. Kings have been crowned here. Back in AD 838 Kingston was known as Cyninges tun and went through various versions of the name until 1589 when it became Kingestowne upon Thames. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle two kings were consecreated here, AEthelstan (925) and AEthelred the Unready (978). It is said that others were also crowned here, but the evidence is less substantial. It is believed the coronations were held in the chapel of St Mary’s (which collapsed in 1730) and that a large stone recovered from the wreckage played an important part in the coronations.. This stone now stands in the grounds of the Guildhall.

Today Kingston is a thriving town with lots of history. There is a mix of old and new, and Kingston has been featured greatly on TV for films and TV drama, and during the Olympics in 2012 the cycling road race ran through here. In fact there is a yearly road race now held here. The Olympic Torch came through here too, and I was luckily enough to be there for that.

Kingston boats two big department stores that face each other on a corner – John Lewis and Bentalls. Bentalls was founded in 1867 by Frank Bentall who bought a drapery store and the buildings were completed in 1935. The stonework on the facade was designed by Eric Gill, whose work I came across only a few years ago and I really admire his engravings. Bentalls went on to open stores in Tunbridge Wells, Bracknell, Worthing and Bristol. However, in 1992 Bentalls in Kingston developed into The Bentall Centre, as more franchise stores located there. In 2001 Bentalls sold out to The House of Frazer, who went on to sell top Fenwick who are the current owners. The other stores had been sold off gradually due to loss-making, though I believe the store in Bracknell remains. Bentalls is rather dear to me because my family have all worked there over the years from grandparents onwards, and I had my first job there!

John Lewis opened in 1990. You can read more here. When excavating for the store remains were found of the old Kingston Bridge and Undercroft. Some of these can still be seen today at the back of the building on the river side. I don’t think these are open to the public daily, but you can see them through a glass window. However, I have been observed them close up on a day when they were opened for a special viewing. See here for more information.

There is so much more to Kingston that I could say – the ancient market place has been here since 1242. A statue of Queen Victoria stands over it, and Old London Road with its antique shop (featured in TV’s Bargain Hunt!) and Lovekyn Chapel founded in 1309, which can be hired for weddings and can be viewed on Open House Weekend in September. There is Nipper Alley (where the famous dog and gramaphone logo of HMV is commemorated) and the Clattern Bridge. The most famous person to originate from Kingston was Eadweard Muybridge born in 1830. A strange man (he like to change the spelling of his name now and then!), but a brilliant one. He famously photographed a horse running to prove that at one point all feet were off the ground. He is a most interesting man and worth reading about. I have seen his work in various exhibitions and the Kingston Museum is home to some of the best. Have a look at this website for information about these and other places in Kingston.

The River Thames at Kingston looking towards Hampton Court

My final mention must go to Turks Boatyard who run river cruises to Hampton Court and Richmond. They have been running a service for over three hundred years. The boatyard has now gone, but services continue. Turks got a mention in a book I was reading recently about Istanbul by Bettany Hughes. The family have connections to medieval times in Kingston, but their business goes back further. Read here for more information.

I hope I have done Kingston justice!

Bridge over the Hogsmill River which flows into the Thames

Hogsmill River running under the Clattern Bridge (Guildhall – with weather vane – the background)

The front of the new Bentall Centre (see above for the older part which still remains)

Quiet London

Last week I ventured into London. I wanted to see it before everything opens up again. The train journey in wasn’t busy, nor was the station. Everywhere was really quiet, though there were a few joggers out. I walked along the River Thames on the south side down as far at Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge, briefly walked to The Globe, and then came back and crossed the bridge. Along the north bank it was also quiet.

The Embankment gardens were occupied mostly with workmen taking breaks from whatever building they were working on behind the park. Temple Station appeared still to be shut. I came up to Embankment tube and then up to Charing Cross. There I crossed over and went to Martins-in-the-Fields, where a pretty empty Trafalgar Square was before me on the other side. What I was after was a photo of Oscar Wilde’s statue, which usually has someone sitting on it, or groups of people hanging around it. Today, it there was no one. However, road work barriers marred the shot. It’s like I’m not meant to get a good photo!

Walking back, I turned off to some side roads and then walked back over Hungerford Bridge, where there is a one-way walking system in place – very wise. By then I was hungry and weighing up my options. I decided to buy a sandwich from the station and go over to St John’s Churchyard to enjoy it. It was a nuisance having to keep putting my mask up and down to go in and out of the station. I admit I hate wearing a mask. Because I wear glasses, there is a knack to getting it just right otherwise every time I breathe my glasses steam up. It’s also hot and annoying! However, I’ll put up with it to get out and about again.

St John’s Churchyard (Waterloo) is one of my favourite places, and today it was almost empty. Normally it is buzzing with people. I sat on a bench to relax and eat my sandwich. As I was leaving I noticed the church was open, so I decided to go in for a few minutes. I’ve not been inside a church since February. At the door was hand sanitiser, and chairs spaced apart in a semi-circle. There was a lady at a desk keeping an eye on things, but otherwise I was the only one there.

Known for its Mosaic garden (created by Southbank Mosaics) this is a lovely example in St John’s Churchyard

River Walk – Kingston to Hampton Court & Molesey Lock

River Thames from Kingston Bridge – looking towards Hampton Court

This is a walk I have done many times over the years, well to Hampton Court anyway. Last week I ventured out on public transport for the first time since early March. I’d taken stock of buses and trains and how empty they were and decided I was happy now to use them. I had my face covering ready.

The day was hot, but it hadn’t reached the 30c of later in the week. The walk began at Kingston Bridge and followed the pathway all the way to Hampton Court Palace. Home Park (a lovely park I’ve also walked) is on the right. I’m sure at one time it was possible to enter Hampton Court gardens from there, but these days there is a railing at the end of Long Water to stop that.

Although the Palace is still shut, I knew that the gardens were due to open and I had thought it would be a good place to stop and eat my sandwich. However, the gates were closed. An official looking man was standing around so I asked him what the situation was. He said the gardens were only open Wednesdays to Fridays and tickets had to be booked online (though the gardens are free). He also added that it wasn’t easy to get hold of tickets at the moment. I could imagine that everyone and his wife wanted a change of scenery after being cooped up for so long. In fact a friend of mine tried to get online tickets for a National Trust garden and all the tickets went in half an hour!

On the other side of the river (opposite Hampton COurt Palace) people bathed and swam

Instead it was a short hop over the road and Hampton Court Bridge and down onto the other side of the river. Shortly, there was Molesey Lock (cafe closed), but no place to sit. There were a lot of people here too. Perhaps it was more noticeable because the path is more narror here. Finally, I came across a small children’s park (play equipment still sealed), with benches. There was a nice shady place under a tree, far enough from the overflowing rubbish bin to suffice. This was a cool spot in which to relax. Afterwards it was a short walk to Hampton Court Station for the train. The train was almost emptuy – no one in the carriage I was in at first, and never more than two or three people afterwards.

Hampton Court Bridge from the Molesey side

It was lovely to go somewhere different, even though it’s a well trodden path for me. Do have a look at the websites of the Palace and Home Park for more information and some lovely photos.

Empty train carriage

I realise I took no photos of the Palace on this walk, though I would have had to take one through the railings. Anyway, so as not to disappoint you, I’ve delved into the archive for the one below.