Maps
Above Iffley Lock, 2007. Iffley Church
Right bank with moorings for small boats.
There is no access except along the river on foot or afloat.
1800?: Isis Tavern built as a farmhouse.
1840s: Farmhouse became a hotel / tavern.
1875: Isis Hotel, Henry Taunt -
Isis Hotel, Henry Taunt, 1875
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; HT01009
Notice the haystack on the right bank at Haystacks Corner (more or less on the site
of the Isis Boathouse).
Isis Tavern had no road access and beer was brought by punt -
Isis Tavern Beer delivery
1998: Isis Tavern was renovated - and not before time IMHO. Isis Tavern 2007 -
Isis Tavern 2007
Map: Isis Boathouse.
Right bank on bend above Iffley Lock on Haystacks Corner
This was an old ferry crossing (click Map above and then Old OS Map)
The boathouse was Oxford Brookes Boathouse
but is now the headquarters of
Oxford Academicals Rowing Club formed in 2004
for University Staff and postgraduate students, who are members
of the University Club, to row both competitively and recreationally.
Isis Boathouse, 2007
In the building to the right of the boathouse, Coffee, soft drinks and delicious looking homemade cakes
are served weekends 10.30am - 6pm (or maybe later).
They also rent out canoes - pre booking essential 01865 243870 isisboathouse at yahoo.co.uk
And there can be seen some historic rowing photos
and also this splendid bows of the Queen's College Boat of 1837
which defeated Lady Margaret [ie St John's College] Cambridge
in what was viewed in Oxford as the equivalent of a University boat race.
I'm glad I never had to row that monster!
Queen's College Eight, 1837
1837: Oxford challenged Cambridge, designating Henley as the venue;
Cambridge suggested London; the parties were unable to agree and no University boat race occurred.
But it was then agreed that the Head boats should race each other at Henley.
This race is remembered in Oxford as more or less equivalent to a University boat-race -
but, understandably, hardly at all in Cambridge!
OXFORD ROWING -
The next college race with a foreign crew was the famous one between Queen's College and the Lady Margaret Boat
Club at Henley in 1837.
As it was found to be impossible to arrange an Inter-University race, it was agreed that the head
boats in the Eights at Oxford and Cambridge should row
against each other at Henley. A difficulty, however, arose
through Christ Church, who were head of the Isis, finding
it impossible to get leave to race. They solved the difficulty
by taking off on the last night of the Eights, so that Queen's
represented Oxford in their stead.
The race is important for another reason, as it possibly
suggested the idea to the inhabitants of Henley of starting
the regatta, which was first held two years later.
A full account of the race is given in the Oxford Herald,
which we insert:
GRAND MATCH BETWEEN OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE, JUNE 10, 1837.
This match was decided on Saturday at Henley. The visitors were
equally numerous with those of the contest in 1829. Opinion was
greatly in favour of Cambridge, in consequence of the much talked of
talents of the crew [the St. John's (Lady Margaret)], who were at
the head of the twenty-three eight-oars their competitors, and the
reputed excellence of their boat. Until Friday afternoon the odds were
greatly in favour of Cambridge ; but when the Oxford rowers had been
seen practising at Henley, the betting became even, and in some cases
it was in favour of Oxford.
In our last, we stated that the Christ Church rowers had withdrawn
their boat, which on Monday evening had recovered its long-standing
priority. At the race on Wednesday, Queen's boat became victor ;
which decided that it should compete with the Cambridge boat at
Henley. It is impossible to speak too highly of the excellence of the
crew of Queen's. The names are as follows:
Bow. Lee.
2. Glazbrook.
3. Welch.
4. Robinson.
5. Meyrick.
6. Todd.
7. Eversley.
Str. Penny.
Steersman : Berkeley.
These gentlemen appeared to have been formed for the boat, and the
boat for them. All seemed perfection itself.
They left Oxford at noon on Friday in a barouche, the horses of
which were decorated with ribbons. The boat had previously been sent
to the scene of action. This beautiful vessel was built by Mr. T. King
of this city, on whom it reflects the highest credit. Its excellence has
become the theme of general eulogy ; its superiority has been proved
by repeated trials with several boats sent to Oxford by the very first
London makers, and it is acknowledged by all parties to be the very
best that ever floated on the Isis.
At four on Saturday afternoon the rival vessels left Henley Bridge for
the place of starting, two miles and a half below, hailed by the shouts
of an immense assemblage of spectators. Cambridge won the choice of
sides, and of course took the inner the most advantageous, as there
is a considerable turn in the river in the first half-mile.
On the word 'Off!' being given, the start took place, and even during the first ten
strokes it was clearly perceptible to the meanest capacity that Oxford
was gaining on its opponent, although Oxford was pulling a very long
stroke, and Cambridge using the spurting or quick one.
In less than a quarter of a mile from the bridge the stern of the Oxford boat was
level with the bow of the Cambridge, when Mr. Berkeley gave the word.
'Away with her!' And immediately on passing the island at the
bottom of the beautiful reach, the Oxford shot ahead at least 100 yards.
From this point they gradually increased the advantage, and won by
about 150 yards with perfect ease, the crew not being in the slightest
degree distressed. The crew of the Cambridge, on the contrary, appeared
in a state of exhaustion, marked by painful anhelation, when they
shipped their oars.
The triumphant crew were immediately hailed by the flag of victory,
which Mr. Randall had brought from Oxford with a most confident
anticipation of the actual result The distance, as we have before
stated, was about two and a half miles ; the time, fourteen minutes. The
dresses of the crew were much admired. Wearing their emblems of
victory, the crew and the Oxford visitors set off on their return home,
and the road presented a most animating (and animated ?) scene, they
being hailed by all who saw them, the inhabitants of every village
appearing to feel a strong interest in the much talked of contest.
When the issue became generally known here, it was determined by
the crews of the other Oxford boats to present Queen's with some
testimony of the great pleasure they derived from the victory ; and
Mr. Randall, of the High Street, who had supplied the handsome dresses
of the crew, and the handkerchiefs and rosettes worn by the Oxford
men who were present at the match, was requested to make as splendid
a flag by Tuesday as the time would admit of.
This was done, and on
that evening the flag was attached to the stern of the victor boat, amidst
shouts of applause, after which it headed a procession of nearly all the
racing boats, decorated with their various flags, to Iffley and back.
On returning to Christ Church Meadow, the crew of the Queen's boat pulled
in with precisely the same stroke as they had used at Henley. The
crews of the other boats stopped, and standing up, with all their oars
raised, saluted the conquerors with loud cheers, which salutation was
responded to by a very large assemblage of spectators on the banks of
the river, who imagined that it was directed to themselves.
Haystacks Corner
Haystacks Corner with Iffley Church in the distance.
The meadow opposite the Isis Boathouse -
Haystacks Corner Meadow 2007
And either this meadow (on the left bank) or Iffley Meadow on the right bank
(where the haystack is seen in the Taunt view of the Isis Hotel in 1875)
is, I think, one of the places at which the
Alice in Wonderland stories were first
told. I think that is where Alice
Liddell and her sisters sat in the shade of a new hayrick to hear Charles
Dodgson tell more of his story of Alice. Other people are not so sure.
What Alice Liddell said, many years later, was -
I believe the beginning of Alice was told one summer afternoon when the sun was so burning that we had landed in the meadows down the river, deserting the boat to take refuge in the only bit of shade to be found, which was under a new-made hayrick. Here, from all three came the old petition, ‘Tell us a story’, and so began the ever-delightful tale. Sometimes to tease us – and perhaps being really tired – Mr Dodgson would stop suddenly and say, ‘And that’s all till next time’. ‘Ah, but it is next time’, would be the exclamation from all three; and after some persuasion the story would start afresh. Another day, perhaps the story would begin in the boat, and Mr Dodgson, in the middle of telling a thrilling adventure would pretend to go fast asleep, to our great dismay.
The above account matches a poem by Charles Dodgson Listen to 'All in the golden afternoon ...' -
All in the golden afternoon
Full leisurely we glide;
For both our oars, with little skill,
By little arms are plied,
While little hands make vain pretence
Our wanderings to guide.
Ah, cruel Three! In such an hour
Beneath such dreamy weather,
To beg a tale of breath too weak
To stir the tiniest feather!
Yet what can one poor voice avail
Against three tongues together?
Imperious Prima flashes forth
Her edict "To begin it" -
In gentler tone Secunda hopes
"There will be nonsense in it!" -
While Tertia interrupts the tale
Not more than once a minute.
Anon, to sudden silence won,
In fancy they pursue
The dream-child moving through a land
Of wonders wild and new,
In friendly chat with bird or beast -
And half believe it true.
And ever, as the story drained
The wells of fancy dry,
And faintly strove that weary one
To put the subject by,
"The rest next time -", "It is next time!"
The happy voices cry.
Thus grew the tale of Wonderland:
Thus slowly, one by one,
Its quaint events were hammered out
And now the tale is done,
And home we steer, a merry crew,
Beneath the setting sun.
Alice! A childish story take,
And with a gentle hand
Lay it where Childhood's dreams are twined
In Memory's mystic band,
Like pilgrim's wither'd wreath of flowers
Pluck'd in a far-off land.
[ Notice the parallels with Alice Liddell's account.
Of course it is always possible that as an elderly lady she used that poem
to refresh her memory when she wrote her account, in which case it is less reliable evidence ...
Other people have assumed Alice Liddell
got it wrong and that she should have said "up river" to Godstow -
but there were several different trips in Dodgson's diaries (see Nuneham)
and Alice was used to
boats and steering and going up and down locks - and she also became an
undergraduate at Oxford - so I have chosen to believe her when she says "Down
the river".
If she went upriver they would have had to go up Osney Lock and then up
Medley weir which was still in place -
so they would then have had either to haul over the Medley boat rollers and
on their return shoot the weir.
I cannot imagine not remembering that.
‘The meadows down the river’
could of course be anywhere – however it was a burning hot day and I would
reckon this destination to be the nearest meadows near Haystacks Corner, either on the left bank, opposite
the Isis Boathouse, or on Iffley Meadows at what is now the Isis Boathouse.
This would make it a short trip - but the heat perhaps explains it.
The third confirmation is merely the coincidence of the name 'Haystacks' with
Alice's description of sitting under a hayrick.
In case I'm wrong I have also quoted the above poem in the
Trout at Godstow section. ]
Pictures of Alice Liddell are on the Nuneham Park page. But here she is as an adult -
Alice Liddell
The name Alice Liddell is still remembered in Oxford -
The Alice Liddell
Iffley Meadows Nature Reserve
Left bank above Isis Boathouse and below Donnington Road Bridge (and also below Iffley Lock down to the road) -
Iffley Meadows Nature Reserve
Welcome to Iffley Meadows Nature Reserve.
These ancient wet meadows surrounded by the River Thames are one of the best places in the country to
see drifts of snake's-head fritillary.
In spring, fritillaries erupt from the ground in their thousands forming patches of purple-chequered
heads dotted with the occasional white flower and the more widespread dandelions and pink-white
cuckoo-flower. Search beneath these showy flowers and you will find the tiny adder's-tongue fern,
named after the shape of its fertile frond.
In summer, reed bunting, sedge warbler and Cetti's warbler can be found raising young
among the reed fringed ditches that cross the site.
The tall common meadow-rue with its dense head of yellow-green flowers is the last plant to bloom
before the hay is cut in July and then cattle allowed to graze.
Winter rainfall floods the meadows, softens the soil, and so allows wading birds such as snipe
to use their long thin bills to probe for earthworms and insect larvae.
Look for this shy mottled-brown bird within the sedge-dominated grass.
(Upstream to Donnington Road Bridge)
Introduction
Estuary
PLA
QEII Br
Barrier
Tower Br
Custom Ho
London Br
; Frost Fairs
Cannon St Rb
The Great Stink
Southwark Br
Millenium Br
Blackfriars Rb
Blackfriars Br
Waterloo Br
Charing Cross Rb
Westminster Br
Lambeth Br
Vauxhall Br
Victoria Rb
Chelsea Br
Albert Br
Battersea Br
Battersea Rb
Wandsworth Br
Fulham Rb
Putney Br
Hammersmith Br
Barnes Rb
Chiswick Br
Kew Rb
Kew Br
RICHMOND
Twickenham Br
Richmond Rb
Richmond Br
TEDDINGTON
Kingston Rb
Kingston Br
Ditton Slip
Hampton Br
MOLESEY
SUNBURY
Walton Br
Desborough Cut
SHEPPERTON
Chertsey Br
CHERTSEY
M3 Br
Laleham Slip
PENTON HOOK
Staines Rb
Staines Br
Runnymede Br
BELL WEIR
Magna Carta Is
OLD WINDSOR
Albert Br
Datchet
Victoria Br
Black Potts Rb
ROMNEY
Eton
Windsor Br
Windsor Rb
Windsor Slip
Elizabeth Br
BOVENEY
Dorney Lake
York Cut
Summerleaze Fb
MonkeyIsland
New Thames Br
BRAY
Bray Slip
Maidenhead Rb
Maidenhead Br
Below Boulters
BOULTERS
Cliveden
Hedsor
COOKHAM
Cookham Slip
Cookham Br
BourneEnd RFb
Quarry Woods
A404 Br
MARLOW
Marlow Br
Bisham
TEMPLE
HURLEY
Medmenham
Culham Ct
Aston Slip
HAMBLEDEN
Temple Is
Fawley Ct
Remenham
Regatta
Phyllis Ct
Henley Slip
Leander
Red Lion
Henley Br
Angel on Br
Landing
Hobbs Boatyard
Hobbs Slipway
MARSH
Hennerton
Bolney
Wargrave
Shiplake Rb
R.Loddon
SHIPLAKE
Sonning Br
SONNING
Dreadnought
K&A Canal
CAVERSHAM
Reading Br
Caversham Br
Reading Slip
Purley
MAPLEDURHAM
Hardwick Ho
Whitchurch Br
WHITCHURCH
Hartswood Reach
Gatehampton Rb
Goring Gap
Goring Br
GORING
Swan
CLEEVE
Moulsford
Moulsford Rb
Papist Way Slip
Winterbrook Br
Wallingford Br
BENSON
Shillingford Br
R.Thame
DAYS
Burcot
Clifton Hampden
Clifton Church
Clifton H Br
Barley Mow
Long Wittenham
CLIFTON
Appleford Rb
Sutton Courtenay
Sutton Br
CULHAM
Culham Cut Fb
Abingdon Slip
Abingdon
Abingdon Br
ABINGDON
Nuneham Rb
Nuneham
Nuneham Park
Radley Boats
SANDFORD
Rose Island
Kennington Rb
Isis Br
Iffley Mill
IFFLEY
Oxford Rowing
Isis
Donnington Br
Riverside Slip
Boathouses
Punting
Lower Cherwell
Upper Cherwell
Islip
Head of River
Salters Steamers
Folly Br
Bacons Folly
Oxford Fb
Osney Fb
Weir stream
Osney Rb
Bullstake Stream
Osney Marina
OSNEY
Osney Br
Four Rivers
OLD RIVER
CANAL
Medley Weir Site
Medley Fb
Bossoms
Perch
Trout
GODSTOW
Godstow Nunnery
Godstow Br
Thames Br
KINGS
River Evenlode
EYNSHAM
Swinford Br
Oxford Cruisers
PINKHILL
Farmoor
Stanton Harcourt
Bablock Slip
Arks Weir Site
NORTHMOOR
Harts Fb
Rose Revived
Newbridge
Maybush
River Windrush
below Shifford
SHIFFORD
Shifford Fb
Tenfoot Fb
Trout Inn
Tadpole Br
RUSHEY
Old Mans Fb
RADCOT
Radcot Cradle Fb
Swan Inn
Radcot New Br
Radcot Old Br
GRAFTON
Eaton Hastings
Kelmscott
Eaton Fb
BUSCOT
Bloomers Hole Fb
Trout Inn
St Johns Br
ST JOHNS
Halfpenny Br
Marina Slip
LIMIT
Inglesham
Hannington Br
Kempsford
Castle Eaton Br
Marston Meysey
A419 Br
Cricklade
SOURCE?
THAMES HEAD
SEVEN SPRINGS