Contrary to what we reported last week, the closure at Shifford Lock is still in place. The Path had to be closed due to fallen trees. The alternative route is to cross the river at Tenfoot Bridge and follow the path to Duxford and then follow the “natural Thames” rather than Shifford Cut. Full details on our Facebook Group
The National Trails volunteers have been busy again this week: this time clearing overgrown vegetation between Sandford-on-Thames and Radley.
And resurfacing work is ongoing at Bourne End. There may be diversions in place for the next few days.
Plans have been approved for a bench dedicated to Virginia Woolf to be placed by the riverside at Richmond. She lived between 1915 and 1924 in Paradise Road, Richmond which now looks directly onto a multi-story car park. The proposed placement of the statue next to the river is not without controversy as she died tragically in the River Ouse in Sussex.
If you are aware of any issues with the Path do join our Facebook Group and let us know.
The fabulous Danesfield House, found between Hurley and Marlow, is laying on some Christmas opera followed by a 2 course supper. Expect music from Carmen, Marriage of Figaro, Magic Flute and the Mikado. This takes place on December 11 and 12. Tickets available here.
Henley Choral Society will be hosting a Christmas Concert on December 11 at St Mary’s Church. The concert will feature carols and a performance of Handel’s Zadok the Priest. Tickets available here.
Hogarth’s House at Chiswick has re-opened. It closed temporarily due to a power supply issue. The celebrated artist’s home, which lies a few minutes from the Thames Path, is open from noon until 5pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Christmas has started at Kew Gardens where a series of illuminated trails will lead you to food and drink stalls. The gardens are open from 4pm to 10pm.
Reminders:
A new exhibition at the Stanley Spencer Gallery opened on November 4 entitled “Mind and Mortality, Stanley Spencer’s Final Portraits”. It focuses on some of his work as the artist approached the end of his life in 1959.
An exhibition of Hogarth’s work has opened at Tate Britain. The gallery is passed if walking on the left bank of the Thames just past Chelsea.
The Museum of London Docklands, part of the Museum of London, has a new exhibition entitled London: Port City, exploring how the port shaped the city, its people, places and language. The exhibition is free and runs until May 2022. The museum can be found close to Canary Wharf on the left bank of the Thames.
Goring Gap Wildlife are hosting a series of owl photography workshops throughout November and December. The workshops are held in a private garden near Didcot, Oxfordshire and feature Barn, Tawny, Long-Earred and Little Owls.
Accommodation News
We’ve made further updates to our route planner:
We’ve added the Roseate in Reading as a gold hotel. This dog friendly hotel is situated close to the Abbey ruins.
The Riviera Hotel in Maidenhead, which has been closed for refurbishment since early summer, is now taking bookings for next year. As expected, their rates have increased significantly (in excess of £200 for bed and breakfast). We will hold off putting this on our planner until the prices come down. The owners also run the Olde Bell at Hurley.
A Closer Look: Hambledon to Temple via Medmenham
Here we take a look at an alternative route between Hambledon and Temple Lock on the “wrong side of the river”. Hambledon Lock provides a glorious opportunity to cross the river to Mill End (where there is nearby parking) via a 200 meter-long gantry above the weir. Even if you’ve no intention of carrying on down the wrong side, it’s worth the walk across the gantry for the views.
Mill End is so called because there used to be a mill at Hambledon. This has been tastefully restored into luxury apartments. Just 2 minutes down the A4155, a quiet lane takes you past Hambledon Place, where the Ferry at Aston would have once landed, and to the river bank. The path here was the original towing path and leads all the way to Medmenham where, again, a ferry would have taken you back to the other side. You get a good view of Culham Court, which the Thames Path runs through, across the river.
If following the Thames Path on the right bank you might not be much aware of the village of Medmenham lying across the river. But Medmenham is famous for two reasons. Firstly, it was home to a Cistercian Abbey, founded in the 12th century. Following the dissolution of monasteries it subsequently became infamous as the location of the Hellfire Club headed by Sir Frances Dashwood, who later moved his “activities” to West Wycombe, where the Dashwood Arms remains as his legacy. The best view of the Abbey remains is seen from the other side of the river on the Thames Path.
It’s second claim to fame is monument celebrating the victory of Lord Davenport in the Court of Appeal securing the ferry as a public right of way.
At Medmenham, the left bank walker now has to walk up the lane towards the Dog and Badger (which has dog friendly accommodation…not sure about badgers) and through marshy fields before taking a lane back to the river front in the grounds of Danesfield House.
Danesfield is relatively new, dating back to around 1900, although it replaced earlier houses. It changed hands a number of times prior to World War II when it became a temporary home for boys at a boarding school in Hammersmith. It was then requisitioned by the Air Ministry for their intelligence unit. In 1977 it was sold to Carnation, the condensed milk company, who used it for their headquarters. It has been a hotel since 1991. George and Amal Clooney held their wedding reception there.
Sadly the public footpath is completely fenced in and there are no opportunities to see, let alone visit, Danesfield House.
Beyond Danesfield, a path takes you through Harleyford Estate which dates back to William the Conqueror and is still in private hands. The estate has been developed to include a golf course, a marina and lodges. The path runs alongside the golf course where it is impossible not to admire the series of wooden animal sculptures.
You can rejoin the Thames Path just past Temple Lock, a couple of miles short of Marlow.
What did we miss by following this alternative route between Hambledon and Temple? The Flowerpot at Aston; the deer park at Culham Court; the view of Medmenham Abbey; refreshments at Hurley.
What did we gain? The walk across Hambledon Lock; the view of Culham Court; the sculptures at Harleyford Golf Course; a change from the riverside.
A narrow win to the Thames Path.
That’s all folks.
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