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Pub History along the River Thames.

The pub history site now covers all of England, except large parts are still missing!

I thought a little amble along the River Thames may be of interest. The River Thames appears to have a source about five kilometres west of Lechlade, in Gloucestershire. According to Google maps, there appear to be feeder rivers, i.e. the river Rey and river Key at this point, just south of Marston Meysey. According to my sources the first pub along the river is the Red Lion, Castle Eaton, in Wiltshire; then a short distance to the George inn, Kempsford, in Gloucestershire; and then onwards to Lechlade, Gloucestershire.

# I have completed some research on the Red Lion, in Castle Eaton. The first clear entry is in 1871 for a licensed premises (probably the Red Lion); and before this the area is marsh and pit grounds, i.e. not navigable. I still think it it is the pub at the source of the Thames. I am often wrong, terll me about it, or send me pictures for the pub history site.

The Thames winds along through a series of Locks, past the Anchor at Eaton Hastings, in Berkshire; and past the Trout, Tadpole Bridge, Berkshire; then starts heading northwards, passing the Ferry, Bablock Hythe, Oxfordshire; and heading towards Eynsham, in Oxfordshire; and then Oxford itself.

I am yet to confirm which pub the Ferry refers to at Bablock Hythe; and am now certain it was in fact later called the Chequers.

The River Thames then takes a southern passage down to Abingdon, in Berkshire' and then eastwards past Appleford, Long Wittenham, including the Barley Mow, at Clifton; meandering around Dorchester and Warborough, we are again back in Oxfordshire, past Shillingford and Benson; then southwards past Moulsford, in Berkshire; and Wallingford. Through South Stoke, Goring on Thames, and Whitchurch , which is opposite Pangbourne. We skirt north of Purley on Thames, and Reading; then through Sonning.

The next stop along the river Thames is Wargrave, Shiplake, and Henley on Thames, Hambledon, Hurley, and Marlow, in Buckinghamshire; and Cookham, Berkshire - e.g. the Ferry Hotel.

Then south via Taplow and Maidenhead on either side of the Thames; past Bray, and then Windsor and Old Windsor.

After passing through Runnymede, we arrive at Egham, Surrey, quickly followed by Staines, in Middlesex. In Middlesex, as it is nearing London, we have Laleham, Chertsey, Shepperton,  Walton on Thames, Sunbury, Hampton, Hurst park, Hampton Court, and Kingston upon Thames. The Thames passes Teddington and into Twickenham, and up through Richmond.

The Thames passes the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, passes Mortlake, and through Chiswick. Under Hammersmith Bridge, and Hammermsmith,  Putney Bridge and Putney, Wandsworth Bridge and Wandsworth,  Battersea Bridge with Battersea and Chelsea on either side.

London gets a bit mad, and includes Lambeth, Vauxhall, etc; and I will spend a little more time on this area; and update this page properly at a later date....

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The River Thames passes Deptford, and then Greenwich on the south bank of the river, whilst we have Millwall and the Isle of dogs, on the northern side; and then Blackwall. As the Thames passes over the current Blackwall Tunnel, we pass Silvertown on the northern bank and Woolwich to the south.

Beckton (north) and Thamesmead to the south, before we pass through Dagenham marsh area, Barking Reach, and Erith to the south. Next comes the Rainham marshes, a conservation area, and originally a river side resort for Londoners, then Purfleet and its marshes and industry just before reaching the Dartford river crossing.

The River Thames continues towards the North Sea, and English Channel; passing Thurrock to the north and Greenhithe to the south. It reaches Tilbury Docks, and the newly constructed Ebbsfleet area, passes Gravesend (south); and finally before the sea, there is the brand new gateay to Europe and the World - the DP World London Gateway Port.

Probably the last land before the sea is Canvey Island in Essex, and Sheerness in Kent.

Here is a good cross-reference site for riverside pubs.