Right bank, length: 179'5", width: 21'0", 01491 872687
The Thames Path - between Wallingford and Reading from FoxysIslandWalks
Goring on the Right bank and Streatley on the Left bank.
At Goring the Ridgeway crosses the Thames. There is high ground to the North East and high ground to the South west and between the two the river forces its way through the Goring Gap.
The Ridgeway Path
1538: When the Goring Priory was suppressed, at the
dissolution of the monasteries, John Stoner was granted the house and site and
weir called Goring, a windmill and the ferry.
&n
1787: The Pound Lock built (by workmen working 14
hours a day, seven days a week for One and a half pence per hour)
1791: Mylne -
Here is another instance of the impropriety of the miller having care of the pound lock. The millers of Goreing and Streatly Mills, having a spurt of Business to do, were using all the water as fast as possible, to the great detriment of the navigation, shutting down 2 hours in the night only. A small boat, drawing eighteen inches of water only, could not move off a shoal at the tail of the lock; and the miller refused to give a flash for that purpose, (altho official keeper of the Pound Lock) unless a flash was first let off from Clieve(sic) above.
[ We somehow assume that the state of the
river in our time is normal, but then, the river levels were generally lower
and it was customary to start a flash three times a week from Lechlade which
went right down the length of the river at about 1 mile an hour.
The miller was unwilling to lose his head of
water for the mill unless it could be replaced immediately from upriver.
Miss Mitton in 1906 even says weirs stop running in the summer! Not the British
summers I know!
The foregoing was written in 2003 - now in the summer of 2006 the weirs are ceasing to flow ... ]
1792: Picturesque Views on the Thames, Samuel Ireland -
... we reach the
picturesque combination of objects at the
village of Goring, whose romantic and sequestered situation it is not possible for the
eye of observation to pass unnoticed. The
Berkshire hills form a richly variegated background,
and the easy ascent of the lawns in
the front happily intersect the principal objects, and give a charming relief to the whole.
In the annexed view this scene is faintly represented ; yet faint as it is, it cannot fail to
strike the admirer of simple nature in landscape, as a combination of objects worthy to
be impressed on the mind.
THE village of Streetly on the opposite side the river, has equal claim to notice ;
it is situated on a Roman highway near Ickenild Street, which here enters Berkshire, and runs
across the neighbouring downs ...
Goring by Samuel Ireland, 1792
1793 Boydell
Streatley and Goring June 1, 1793.
J. Farington R.A. delt. J.C. Stadler sculpt.
by J. & J.Boydell, Shakespeare Gally. Pall Mall & (No. 90)
Cheapside
1873: Taunt's Map and Guide to the Thames -
The twin villages of Goring and Streatley are separated by the river, which expands to some width,
and contains several islands. The two places are connected by a picturesque wooden toll bridge.
Goring is on theRIGHT bank, and close to the mill stands the Church, an object of interest,
the finest view of which is to be had from the bridge ...
Streatley, on the opposite bank of the river, is well known, from the beautiful and extensive views
to be obtained from its lovely hills. The view for miles, both up and down the river, is of that soft,
flowing character which is essentially English;
and the Thames, winding along the bottom of the hill to the extreme distance, gives life and motion
to a magnificent prospect. The exquisite series of scenes also formed by the village,
with the weirs and overfalls in the foreground, are some of the prettiest on the whole of the river.
Streatley is said to owe its name to Icknield Street, which here entered Berkshire by a ford through
the river.
Goring Lock, Henry Taunt -
Goring Lock, Henry Taunt
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; H00199
Goring Lock house, weir and bridge from upstream, lantern slide 1883-1906, W.C.Hughes, research by Dr Wilson, courtesy of Pat Furley
1906: G.E.Mitton -
We do not, alas! hear the wash of the water tumbling over the weir, for weirs in summer often run dry, or give only a small trickle, though it is just the time when their gay music would most appeal to the heart of man. The lock-keeper has stories to tell of the days before the pound locks, as they used to be called, were made. What we call the weirs were then the locks. The great barges had to be towed up the weirs by means of rope and capstan; and sometimes, when the water ran low, they had to wait for weeks for a freshet that would enable them to get up.
1960: Goring Lock, Francis Frith -
2004: My punt entering Goring Lock. The barge's rudder is three times as long as my punt is wide!
Goring Lock, 2004
Goring Weir, 2004
1881:George Leslie, "Our River" -
The water in the short reach between Goring and Cleve Lock is very deep and sluggish, bad of course for punting.
It is deep in places, deeper than I can reach with my 20' pole in one or two spots.
And there appears to be a rock bottom where there is not silt.
Few punters will have found this stone because what I have found is over 16' deep.
It is of course important - [ statement of the obvious imminent ] -
when coming downstream, with a central weir, either keep to the Swan, Left bank side, for a good [ tea? ]
OR keep well to the Right bank side for the lock.