Thames Path: Pangbourne to Cholsey

Introduction

On 2 January 2010, Mum and Dad and I did one more stretch of the Thames Path, continuing from Pangbourne to Cholsey (which isn't actually on the Thames, but has a railway station).

Pangbourne and Whitchurch

As we'd arrived late in the day last time, we took the opportunity to have a look around Pangbourne and Whitchurch during daylight, starting with Pangbourne church.

The church.
1/250 at f8, 22mm, ISO200 51°28′59″N 1°5′17″W
Tomb with statues.
1/8 at f4.5, 22mm, ISO800 51°28′59″N 1°5′16″W
A skull complete with cobwebs.
1/20 at f4.5, 131mm, ISO800 51°28′59″N 1°5′16″W
Gravestone in the floor.
1/8 at f4.5, 12mm, ISO200 51°29′8″N 1°5′17″W

Crossing the river on the toll bridge, we passed again by Whitchurch, er, church too.

Whitchurchchurchchurchchurch...
1/350 at f8, 15mm, ISO200 51°29′17″N 1°5′13″W

The Thames Path leaves the river through Whitchurch and runs uphill on a rise above the Thames for some distance.

A promise...
1/60 at f5.6, 22mm, ISO200 51°29′59″N 1°6′4″W
...delivered. Rather picturesque steps, though.
1/125 at f8, 14mm, ISO200 51°30′2″N 1°6′8″W
Presumably this pillbox was intended to stop the Germans invading. Somehow.
1/125 at f8, 22mm, ISO200 51°30′32″N 1°6′42″W

Gatehampton railway bridge

The path rejoined the river in time to meet Gatehampton railway bridge; designed by Brunel and very nice too.

The main arch.
1/750 at f8, 10mm, ISO200 51°30′42″N 1°7′40″W
Yellow steps up to the line.
1/350 at f8, 14mm, ISO200 51°30′43″N 1°7′41″W
Tree shadows on the grey netting they've put up to stop things growing.
1/500 at f8, 13mm, ISO200 51°30′43″N 1°7′42″W

After having lunch by the bridge, we continued along the towpath.

Snowdrop; a boat in a boathouse.
1/250 at f8, 250mm, ISO200 51°30′49″N 1°8′17″W
Inside another boathouse.
1/250 at f8, 250mm, ISO200 51°30′56″N 1°8′30″W

Goring

Goring is another small and disturbingly rich/expensive town on the river.

One of our guidebooks described this bridge as hideous, while the other (older) one said it was a wonderful example of how concrete could look just like the older wooden bridge...
1/750 at f8, 16mm, ISO200 51°31′22″N 1°8′28″W

We had a look inside the church.

Goring church.
1/250 at f8, 10mm, ISO200 51°31′19″N 1°8′22″W
Screen in church. (You get the impression the church isn't short of money either.)
1/45 at f8, 22mm, ISO400 51°31′19″N 1°8′22″W
More nice lettering (especially the 'A.D. 1670' part) and interesting spelling. Poor Ivdith.
1/15 at f4.5, 22mm, ISO800 51°31′19″N 1°8′23″W
Patterned light in the church.
1/350 at f8, 22mm, ISO200 51°31′19″N 1°8′23″W

After that (and buying snacks), we crossed the river on the hideous/wonderful bridge.

The river was very high, but this yellow ducky looks set to survive any flood.
1/250 at f8, 250mm, ISO200 51°31′22″N 1°8′29″W
Light pattern on back of sign attached to bridge.
1/90 at f8, 22mm, ISO200 51°31′22″N 1°8′36″W

The town on the other bank is called Streatley and yes, this has a church too...

The porch.
1/90 at f8, 20mm, ISO200 51°31′24″N 1°8′41″W
Plain window.
1/125 at f8, 55mm, ISO800 51°31′25″N 1°8′39″W
Window with lettering (on wall).
1/180 at f5.6, 55mm, ISO200 51°31′25″N 1°8′41″W

There was a fun moment as we headed toward the river again and found a lake in the way - but a brave traveller passing the other way demonstrated that it wasn't very deep, so we splashed through the floodwater, getting rather wet feet, and back to the towpath.

Flooded field.
1/125 at f8, 55mm, ISO200 51°31′31″N 1°8′26″W
Across the river. Sign: 'Breeding birds keep out'. Not sure they can read, though.
1/350 at f8, 154mm, ISO200 51°32′23″N 1°8′12″W

Moulsford

We left the river at a place called Moulsford which has an expensive private school and not too much else.

But one building had a clock with a rather nice lamp.
1/180 at f8, 100mm, ISO200 51°33′3″N 1°8′58″W
Graveyard of a small chapel.
1/20 at f5.6, 19mm, ISO200 51°33′10″N 1°8′52″W

After walking some distance along the road and then on a footpath beside the railway, we got to Cholsey station and the end of the walk. We didn't see much of Cholsey itself - maybe next time.

All images © Samuel Marshall. All rights reserved.