Camping Marston Meysey, left bank: Second Chance Caravan Site, Marston
Meysey, nr Swindon, Wilts, SN6 6SN
01285 810675 Map ref: SU 140960
26 pitches, 1st March to 11th November. WC, Showers, Laundry, Wash basins, Power. No
dogs.
Marston Meysey Camping Site.
Camp site now has no slipway – it would be
difficult to launch anything more than a canoe here -
(the current is too high for children’s water activities).
Tributary? Right bank -
Here on the right bank the footpath is
carried on a footbridge over what is now a dry tributary – but shows signs of
recent floods.
Water Eaton Footbridge -
Water Eaton Footbridge.
Site of Water Eaton Weir.
Water Eaton Mill was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Godstow Priory had a settlement here, probably “Nun Eaton Mill”.
1307: A dispute about rights of way here.
1535: Sir Walter Stonor to Cromwell -
I have pulled up the weir of Water Eyton according to the King’s commandment.
The current is building up again quite significantly.
Eysey Footbridge -
Eysey Footbridge.
So much current that I had difficulty taking this picture.
An ancient ford “well known to hunting men”.
1791: Samuel Ireland, Eisey Bridge -
Eisey Bridge, 1791, Samuel Ireland
1920: Fred Thacker says “Eisey Trestle Bridge”
1897: Eisey Footbridge, James Dredge -
Eisey Footbridge, James Dredge, 1897
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; D230429a
Meadows at Cricklade, Ashley Bryant
River Ray, Right bank.
1692: Baskervile - Rey fflu [ flumen = river ]
Here Roughton River called Ree
Joynes with the Tems as you may see.
Ampney Brook, left bank.
Footbridge -
A new footbridge, not on my map.
Hatchett’s Bridge.
1920: Fred Thacker says "a mere crazy trestle framework".
"Turn from hell" -
"Turn from hell" (Seen from upstream).
A sharp bend with a
high current and a total width between banks of perhaps 30 feet.
The current sweeps strongly under a
thorn bush on the left bank. The right
bank has reeds and shallows.
The punt grounded (3”!) on the bend and
I had to come off backwards. Moving more
out into the centre threatened being swept into the thorns which were right
down to water level with weeds and debris.
I nearly got out and hauled the punt
through – but just managed to punt through.
1896: 'A Tale of the Thames' by Joseph Ashby-Sterry - [coming downstream Cricklade towards Lechlade]
After leavng Cricklade, the navigation of the river in a canoe is mighty pleasant.
Not only does the stream widen, but it has increased in rapidity by the addition of the Churn and Rey,
which join it just above the bridge.
It was indescribably soothful, gliding along between the tree-fringed banks
and watching the changes perpetually wrought by the cloud shadows from time to time.
...
After passing beneath Eisey Footbridge, they stepped the tiny mast and hoisted an enormous sail,
...
Saint Mary's Church Eisey, may now be sighted over the port bow!
...
The stream gurgled musically as the light craft flew over the waters.
Occasionally the haymakers looked at them with open-mouthed surprise,
and fancied that they had seen a daylight ghost.
Sleepy cows gazed at them more in sorrow than in anger;
and indignant youngsters of the bovine order lowered their heads and whisked their tails
as if they would like to have had a game of pitch-and-toss with the strange white winged bird
who dared to approach so closely to their domain.
They nearly came to grief at Water Eaton footbridge, but, fortunately, lowered the sail just in time.
Once clear of the bridge, they hoisted it again and had a pleasant run - passing the picturesque
mansion of Water Eaton Hall on the right - till they reached the cut about a half mile below.
Here they were not quite sure with regard to shoals and other impediments, so they lowered the sail.
...
(Upstream to A419 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