LIVE THAMES SHIPPING MAPS
Map: PLA = PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY
From Southend in the east to Staines in the west
View Larger Map
Live tide reading for Southend
Map: The Crow Stone, Southend, left bank
The Crowstone is just off Chalkwell Avenue, Southend
The Crow Stone (or City Stone) is the North Eastern marker
of the Eastern Limit of the Port of London Authority (PLA) opposite Canvey Island in Essex.
The London Stone (picture below) is the South Eastern marker on the Isle of Grain.
The Western (up river) marker is the London Stone just above Staines.
The PLA [ PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY ]
has jurisdiction over the entire tidal River Thames from Teddington in the west to
its seaward limit in the Thames Estuary in the east, a length of over 150 kilometres.
Additionally, the PLA owns the vast majority of
the river bed and foreshore of the Thames
and associated tidal rivers and creeks to the Mean High Water mark from the upper limit to a
line drawn from between the City or Crow Stone (Westcliffe/Leigh) to the London Stone (to
the east of Yantlet Creek).
The Crowstone in
Westall And Owen's Picturesque Tour Of The Thames
Plate No. 26 page 169 S. Owen delint.
Note the date on the stone - 1285 - I think this must be historical reconstruction? -
The Crowstone near Southend
Marking the Eastern Termination of the jurisdiction of the
City of London on the River Thames. July 1, 1815.
In
Cooke's View on the Thames
(1822)
The current Crowstone in place at Southend is one of 2 stones that were in place on the Southend side of the river. The older stone was removed to Priory Park in Southend where it remains today.
The Crowstone Westcliff © Ian James
Some
lovely photos of the estuary
Thames Estuary Yacht Club, Westcliff-on-Sea.
Map: The London Stone, Isle of Grain, right Bank
The London Stone, Yantlet Creek on the Isle of Grain marking the South Eastern limit for the PLA -
The London Stone, Yantlet Creek
© Roger W Haworth ( licence )
Thames Port, right bank
Map: Chapman Sands, left bank
1849: Chapman Sands Lighthouse built
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames -
Chapman Lighthouse is an iron screw-pile structure, painted red, built on Chapman Head, in Sea Reach.
It shows towards the eastward a red light over the sand called the River Middle, and a white light
in the safe channel; to the westward its light is wholly white, and is designed to lead vessels
clear of a danger called the Scar.
The piles have each a Mitchell's screw at the lower end, by means of which they were driven
into the sand when the structure was built, in 1851.
Above the wash of the water, a six sided chamber contains the
accommodation for the keepers, two in number,
which is surmounted by a six sided lantern, enclosing
a dioptric or lenticular apparatus of the second order, in the centre of which is the source of light,
a fountain lamp, with four concentric wicks burning colza oil.
The light since January, 1881, is occulting, disappearing twice in quick
succession every
half minute. The total height of the building from base to vane is 74 feet, and the light is exhibited at an elevation
of 40 feet above high water.
Three keepers are employed: two on duty and one on shore, and the relief is effected once a month,
by a steamer from the Trinity depot at Blackwall, so that each man serves two months at the lighthouse,
and has one month in three on shore.
1930: Jetty and lighthouse -
Chapman Sands Jetty, 1930
Chapman Sands Lighthouse, 1930
1931: The Thames by C Fox-Smith -
Chapman Sands extend along practically the whole of the river side of Canvey Island. and the light at their seaward extremity, standing up out of the mud on its iron stilts like some Cubist's representation of a wading bird, is one of the most familiar objects to all shipping using the London River.
Chapman Lighthouse copyright Mike Millichamp -
The last of the London River lighthouses was built here in 1849.
At 39 miles from London Bridge and known as Chapman lighthouse it was a screw pile structure
with accommodation for three keepers. A rowing boat was suspended for use in high tides.
The lighthouse was painted red and remained so during both World War I
and World War II
as it was an important meeting point for many convoys waiting an armed escort
before leaving the estuary.
The light was evacuated in 1956 when it was discovered that the iron screw piles
were rusting away and by 1958 all trace of the lighthouse had been removed.
Map: Canvey Island, left bank
1610: Camden -
Afterwards this river, passing by places lying flat and unholsome,
with a winding returne of his water, severeth the Island Convennon,
which also is called Counos (whereof Ptolemee maketh mention) from the firme land.
This hath not yet wholie forgone the old name, but is called Canvey.
It lieth against the coast of Essex, from Leegh to Hole Haven, five miles in length,
some part whereof appertaineth to the Collegiat church of Westminster.
But so low that often times it is quite overflowen, all save hillocks cast uppe,
upon which the sheepe have a place of safe refuge.
For it keepeth about foure hundered sheepe, whose flesh is of a most sweet and delicate taste,
which I have seene young lads, taking womens function, with stooles fastened into their buttokes to milke,
yea and to make cheeses of Ewes milke in those dairy sheddes of theirs that they call there wiches.
There adjoyne to this Island along in order, first Beamfleot, fortified with deepe and wide trenches
(as saith Florilegus) and with a Castle, by Hasting the Danes, which King Aelfred wonne from them;
then Hadleigh, sometime the Castle of Hubert de Burgo, afterwards of Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester,
and now defaced with ruines;
and in the last place Leegh, a proper fine little towne and verie full of stout and adventurous sailers;
with Pritlewel fast by, where Swen de Essex built long since a Cell for Monkes.
And heere the land shooteth forward to make a Promontory, which they call Black-tayle Point and Shobery Nesse,
of Shoberie, a village situate upon it, which sometime was a citie named Sceoberig.
For in the old Annales of the English Saxons we read thus,
The Danes, being driven from Beamfleot, goe to a City seated in East-sex called in the English tongue
Sceobirig, and there built themselves a sure and strong Fort.
Heere by reason that the bankes on both sides shrinke backe,
the Tamis at a huge and wide mouth rowleth into the sea.
This doth Ptolomee tearme Aestuarium Tamesae, and corruptly in some other copies Temesae,
and we commonly call the Tamis Mouth.
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, Map [Canvey Island to Gravesend] -
Canvey Island to Gravesend, Dickens, 1885
Chapman Sands Sailing Club, left bank
All Hallows on Sea, right bank
Thorney Bay, left bank
Canvey Island, left bank
11 Frith photos of Canvey Island
1953 floods
Deadman's point, left bank
Hole Haven, left bank
Leigh Beck, left bank
1906: The Mirror of the Sea, by Joseph Conrad -
The sea-reach of the Thames is straight, and, once Sheerness is left behind, its banks seem
very uninhabited, except for the cluster of houses which is
Southend, or here and there a lonely wooden jetty where petroleum
ships discharge their dangerous cargoes, and the oil-storage tanks,
low and round with slightly-domed roofs, peep over the edge of the
fore-shore, as it were a village of Central African huts imitated
in iron.
Bordered by the black and shining mud-flats, the level
marsh extends for miles.
Away in the far background the land rises, closing the view with a continuous wooded
slope, forming in the distance an interminable rampart overgrown with bushes.
Then, on the slight turn of the Lower Hope Reach, clusters of
factory chimneys come distinctly into view, tall and slender above
the squat ranges of cement works in Grays and Greenhithe.
Smoking quietly at the top against the great blaze of a magnificent sunset,
they give an industrial character to the scene,
speak of work,
manufactures, and trade, as palm-groves on the coral strands of
distant islands speak of the luxuriant grace, beauty and vigour
of tropical nature.
The houses of Gravesend crowd upon the shore with
an effect of confusion as if they had tumbled down haphazard from
the top of the hill at the back.
The flatness of the Kentish shore ends there.
A fleet of steam-tugs lies at anchor in front of the various piers.
A conspicuous church spire, the first seen
distinctly coming from the sea, has a thoughtful grace, the
serenity of a fine form above the chaotic disorder of men's houses.
But on the other side, on the flat Essex side, a shapeless and
desolate red edifice, a vast pile of bricks with many windows and a
slate roof more inaccessible than an Alpine slope, towers over the
bend in monstrous ugliness, the tallest, heaviest building for
miles around, a thing like an hotel, like a mansion of flats (all
to let), exiled into these fields out of a street in West Kensington.
Just round the corner, as it were, on a pier defined
with stone blocks and wooden piles, a white mast, slender like a
stalk of straw and crossed by a yard like a knitting-needle, flying
the signals of flag and balloon, watches over a set of heavy dock-
gates.
Mast-heads and funnel-tops of ships peep above the ranges
of corrugated iron roofs.
This is the entrance to Tilbury Dock,
the most recent of all London docks, the nearest to the sea.
Between the crowded houses of Gravesend and the monstrous red-brick
pile on the Essex shore the ship is surrendered fairly to the grasp
of the river.
That hint of loneliness, that soul of the sea which
had accompanied her as far as the Lower Hope Reach, abandons her at
the turn of the first bend above.
The salt, acrid flavour is gone out of the air,
together with a sense of unlimited space opening
free beyond the threshold of sandbanks below the Nore.
The waters
of the sea rush on past Gravesend, tumbling the big mooring buoys
laid along the face of the town; but the sea-freedom stops short
there, surrendering the salt tide to the needs, the artifices, the
contrivances of toiling men.
Wharves, landing-places, dock-gates,
waterside stairs, follow each other continuously right up to London
Bridge, and the hum of men's work fills the river with a menacing,
muttering note as of a breathless, ever-driving gale.
The water-way, so fair above and wide below, flows oppressed by bricks and
mortar and stone, by blackened timber and grimed glass and rusty
iron, covered with black barges, whipped up by paddles and screws,
overburdened with craft, overhung with chains, overshadowed by
walls making a steep gorge for its bed, filled with a haze of smoke
and dust.
Map: St Mary's Marshes, right bank
Halstow Marshes, right bank
A proposal for a large airport here was withdrawn in 2003. RSPB report
Blythe Sands, right bank
1660: Samuel Pepys his diary -
Saturday 7 April.
This day, about nine o’clock in the morning,
the wind grew high, and we being among the sands lay at anchor;
I began to be dizzy and squeamish. Before dinner
my Lord sent for me down to eat some oysters,
the best my Lord said that ever he ate in his life,
though I have ate as good at Bardsey.
After dinner, and all the afternoon I walked
upon the deck to keep myself from being sick,
and at last about five o’clock, went to bed and got a caudle made me,
and sleep upon it very well. This day Mr. Sheply went to Sheppy.
"Among the sands" probably refers to Blythe Sands.
1809: Fishing upon the Blythe-Sand, Tide Setting In, J M W Turner -
Fishing upon the Blythe-Sand, Tide Setting In, J M W Turner, 1809
Map: Shellhaven, left bank
Coryton Wharves, left bank
Thames Haven, left Bank
A ship passes the oil refinery at Thames Haven
Map: Mucking Bight Light, left bank
1849: First light here.
1851: Permanent structure built.
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames -
Mucking Flat Lighthouse, Sea Reach:- Built of iron upon a hollow pile foundation.
A temporary light was first exhibited from this position in October 1849,
and the present structure was built in 1851.
It is painted black and white in
alternate horizontal bands, and is
connected with the shore by a long footbridge,
also built on piles and coloured white.
The height of the light tower from base to vane is 66 feet,
and its central lamp burns at 40 feet above high water.
The lamp is under occultation once in every half minute, and the apparatus used is
lenticular, giving forth a white beam with red sectors.
A fog bell is sounded during foggy weather.
There are two keepers employed in tending the station,
who, having their dwellings at hand, with coals, light, and furniture provided
for them, and living with their families, have a much more comfortable billet
than their neighbours at Chapman lower down.
Mucking Bight Lighthouse © Mike Millichamp -
At the end of Lower Hope Reach is the beginning of Sea Reach and the limit for sea going tankers
and where the oil installations are.
Mucking Bight or Flats is a mud bank which starts
at Coalhouse Fort and extends down the river to Shellhaven.
At 33 miles from London Bridge
Mucking Bight lighthouse was built here on piles in 1851, maintained by two keepers and
connected to the shore by a long footbridge. It was painted in black and white bands
and in 1881 it was raised to 70 feet high and painted red. The 1953 floods and a
collision with a barge in 1954 led to its removal ...
Lower Hope Reach (End of Sea Reach)
Lower Hope Point, right bank
Map: Coalhouse Fort
Left Bank fortifications. Coalhouse Fort website
Coalhouse Fort
[ I've read enough Hornblower to know you always attack such a fort from the rear. This apparently always took foreign gunners by surprise. It looks as though someone belated noticed that and added some rear defences! ]
Map: Cliffe Fort, site of the Irish wired torpedo station
right bank - opposite Coalhouse Fort.
Cliffe Fort website
Cliffe Fort pdf report
If you click the Old OS Maps link on the Cliffe Fort Map link above
you will find that neither Cliffe Fort nor Coalhouse Fort appear. These were still militarily sensitive.
Cliffe Fort is the site of Britain's first guided missile.
An Irishman invented a guided torpedo powered by revolving wires from the launching station.
The Brennan Torpedo Station was here from 1890 to 1906.
Coalhouse Point, left bank
Shornemead Light
right bank opposite Coalhouse Point
Shornemead Lighthouse , © Mike Millichamps -
Shornemead Lighthouse 1913 - 2003
Coming out of Gravesend Reach into the Lower Hope, Shornemead lighthouse can be seen on the Kent
shore almost opposite East Tilbury Fort.
This is No. 9, our last lighthouse at 30 miles
from London Bridge, Shorne lies a couple of miles inland and is named after Sir John Shorne
who was supposed to be able to cure malarial fever so prevalent at that time in the North Kent
marshes; he is also credited with imprisoning the Devil in a boot.
It was established in 1913 by Trinity House on the edges of the Kent shoreline of Shorne Marshes
and Higham Saltings where Gravesend Reach meets Lower Hope Reach.
The whole structure is 48 feet high and consists of a red painted iron work cylindrical
galleried tower supported by four metal legs which in turn stands on a plinth resting
upon piles driven firmly into the river bed.
The whole lighthouse area is surrounded by a
stout metal fence and is reached by an enclosed metal walkway also supported on piles.
The constant erosion here on the bank is a continuous problem and as the bank erodes further
from the lighthouse an additional modern extension to the walkway has been added and it is
only a matter of time before its position is inappropriate.
Since my visit in April 2003 the light has been replaced with a modern pile like
structure inaccessible from the shore.
The remains of the old lighthouse, which was cut off at the base, now stands at the PLA's
Denton Wharf waiting for its future to be determined.
The lighthouse has never had a permanent keeper and has relied upon weekly inspections
and cleaning sessions, first by a keeper on bicycle, and then by one using a car who could
only approach the light by using the old
military road through the adjacent rifle range
on his way to Shornemead Fort.
A fire in the timber of the approach pier in 1991 caused problems;
firstly with the local fire engine having to cross the railway line;
then with the need to arrange for rifle practice on the firing range to cease forthwith;
and finally when the heavy laden fire engine could go no further on the rough ground.
The firemen armed with axes, ladders and buckets freed the burning timber
and doused it with river water.
The light was originally fuelled by acetylene gas stored in bottles but and then lit with mains
electricity from the shore but with a standby generator and batteries in case of power failure.
The new solar powered light continues to give its unique flash every 10 seconds
to some 3,000 vessels that pass it each year.
New Shornemead Lighthouse 2004-
Map: Higham Creek
Right bank
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, Map [Gravesend to Erith] -
Gravesend to Erith, Dickens, 1885
Gravesend Reach
THAMES STRATEGY EAST Part 4 - Reach 7-9 - This covers the following Reaches:
Long; Fiddler's; North Fleet Hope; & Gravesend. A large (6.79Mb) pdf file.
Thames Strategy East
has the overall details.
REACH 9: GRAVESEND REACH
NORTHERN BANK: TILBURY
SOUTHERN BANK: GRAVESEND
CHARACTERISATION
This Reach stretches from the eastern extent of Tilbury Dock to Tilbury Power
Station on the northern bank, and from Gravesend town centre to the National
Sea Training College adjacent to Eastcourt Marshes on the southern bank. ...
Here the River Thames runs due east, widening from approximately 650m by Gravesend
town centre, to approximately twice that width, 1300 m including the mudflat
areas, at the eastern extent of the Reach. The northern bank has a
predominantly rural character with grazing marsh extending down to the river
around Tilbury Fort but with the imposing Tilbury Power Station to the west.
In contrast, the southern bank has an urban character with Gravesend town
centre overlooking the Thames from rising ground.
Gravesend, and Tilbury Power Station mark the gateway to the developed part
of the Thames: from here, almost continuous urban and industrial
developments line the banks of the river. To the east the character changes
dramatically to a more rural, and truly estuarine character where flat, open salt
marsh and grazing marsh provide the setting for the river which continues to
widen, with mud flats becoming more extensive.
Land use on the northern bank of the river is predominantly reclaimed
agricultural marsh land surrounding Tilbury town, a small settlement consisting
mainly of low rise residential development with a few high rise blocks. Tilbury
town was founded to serve Tilbury Docks and has grown in response to the
expansion of the Docks. Along the riverfront, Tilbury Fort, one of Britain’s best
examples of a star-shaped bastion fortress, is the main historic attraction of
the Reach. A small sewage works separates the Fort from Tilbury Power Station.
The Power Station is the largest feature within the Reach with its large jetty
protruding into the river, large scale block buildings and two tall chimneys that
are visible for miles around. Further inland beyond the reclaimed marshland,
the land rises steeply and forms a notable ridge line from where there are
impressive elevated panoramic views. The historic village of West Tilbury is
located on the higher ground close to the ridge to the north east of Tilbury
town. The spire of the village church provides an important landmark and is
visible from most of West Tilbury Marshes. Chadwell St Mary is also located on
the higher ground behind the ridgeline to the north of Tilbury Marshes.
Gravesend town occupies the southern bank. Land use includes Gravesend town
centre, low rise residential development, a small area of commercial and light
industrial development east of the town centre, a small sewage works and
marshland. Gravesend town centre is located on higher ground close to the
riverfront. It is an attractive and bustling town centre with a pedestrianised
high street, recently restored traditional shop fronts, and narrow lanes running
north south towards the river front. The town has good examples of Georgian
architecture and there is a spectacular elevated panoramic view of the town,
river and northern bank from Windmill Hill. The historic character of the town
is reinforced by the church spires and the town hall spire that dominate the
skyline. The town was a popular holiday resort for Londoners in the 17th and
18th century, and the resort character is retained through the distinctive Town
and Royal Terrace Piers, New Tavern Fort Gardens, and Gordon Promenade by
the riverfront.
On the northern bank of the river the edge is predominantly hard and vertical
from Tilbury Docks to Tilbury Power Station. The riverbank is predominantly a
hard vertical edge on the southern bank from Gravesend town centre to Denton
Wharf. Steps lead down to the foreshore by Gordon Promenade. East of Denton
Wharf and east of Tilbury Power Station, the river widens into the Thames
Estuary and both river banks take on a rural estuary character with mainly soft
and sloping edges.
River related infrastructure includes two launching sites at New Bridge
Causeway and Gravesend Canal Drawdock. There are no watersports centres on
the northern bank and on the southern bank there is J and R Starbucks (Marine
Centre), Gravesend Yacht Club, Denton Slipway (Marine Centre), and Denton
Wharf (Marine Centre). In Gravesend there are three piers: Town Pier, Royal
Terrace Pier, and a commercial terminal with jetties. A ferry for pedestrians,
cyclists and motorcycles runs between Tilbury Riverside Pier and Gravesend
West Street Pier. This is a regular service that runs every half hour from 5.40am
to 7.00pm. There is no riverside steps in this Reach.
On the northern bank, there is public access to the riverfront by Tilbury Fort
and along the riverside except in front of Tilbury Power Station. There is
continuous public access between Tilbury and Coalhouse Forts although it is
necessary to cross over the sea wall. On the southern bank, there is access to
the riverfront by Town Pier and along Gordon Promenade adjacent to New
Tavern Fort. East of New Tavern Fort and the Marina, there is a small area of
industrial development with no access to the riverfront, but beyond Denton
Wharf, the Saxon Shore Way long distance footpath follows the riverfront to
Cliffe Fort (which is beyond the Strategy Area).
This part of the Thames Estuary supports a large variety of marine and
estuarine species reflecting the inter-tidal mud and sand flats. There is a more
obvious connection here between the aquatic and terrestrial habitats including
salt marsh, reed beds, mudflats and grazing marshes. Sites of biodiversity
importance include the South Thames Estuary and Marshes SSSI, the Canal and
Grazing Marsh Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC), Tilbury Marsh
SINC, Hall Hill SINC, and Gun Hill SINC. ...
Tilbury Fort and Gravesend town centre and piers are the key sites of
importance for built heritage, and are also the main tourist attractions. There
are several Conservation Areas in Gravesend town centre. West Tilbury is also
designated as a Conservation Area. ...
A number of archaeological finds have been made in the area. Prehistoric
remains include an area of Scheduled Earthworks to the north west of Tilbury
town, and Roman burials have been found in Tilbury Marshes. Gravesend was
the site of an early Romano-British settlement, and both West Tilbury and
Gravesend are mentioned as manorial holdings in the Domesday Book (1086).
This part of the Thames was clearly important for defence reasons, in particular
for protecting access to London and the royal dockyards of Woolwich and
Deptford. ...
Key Characteristics and Influences
• Open estuarine character with views across open, flat marshland around
Tilbury and east of Gravesend. Paradoxically, the northern bank has a rural
character providing the setting for Tilbury Power Station, Sewage Works and
Fort; this contrasts with the urban waterfront of Gravesend.
• Gravesend, a historic market town and former holiday resort, is positioned
strategically on the first area of high ground in the Estuary, and
characterised by church spires and piers.
• The Reach is particularly important for its strategic defence position.
Tilbury Fort, New Tavern Fort and further down river on the northern bank,
Coalhouse Fort, which is outside the Strategy Area, historically defended
the river route into London.
• The main landmarks in the Reach are Tilbury Fort, Tilbury Power Station,
the Church at West Tilbury, Gravesend Town Pier, New Tavern Fort and the
Church of St George, Gravesend.
1814: Danish Greenlandsman Breaking up below Gravesend -
Danish Greenlandsman Breaking up below Gravesend. Drawn by L. Francia. Oct. 1, 1814
Map: Gravesend
Right bank
74 Frith photos of Gravesend
1321: In the Fort Gardens is Milton Chantry, Gravesend's earliest existing building of the late
13th century. It was refounded about 1321 on the site of a hospital founded in 1189. It is marked
on the StreetMap view
1689: '
The Mary', Yacht, Arriving with Princess Mary at Gravesend in a Fresh Breeze, 12 February 1689.
1792: Picturesque Views on the River Thames by Samuel Ireland -
GRAVESEND, the first port on our river is well situated for commerce, and is famed for fish, filth, and asparagus.
Gravesend. June 1, 1795
J. Farington R.A. delt. J.C. Stadler sculpt. (Published) by J. & J. Boydell, Shakespeare Gally. Pall Mall & (No. 90) Cheapside (London)
1814: Gravesend -
Gravesend 1814
J. Farington R.A. delt. J.C. Stadler sculpt. (Published) by J. & J. Boydell, Shakespeare Gally. Pall Mall & (No. 90) Cheapside (London)
Drawn by S. Owen. March 31, 1814.
1839: Gravesend from the Terrace Pier -
Gravesend from the Terrace Pier
in TROTTER'S SELECT ILLUSTRATED TOPOGRAPHY OF THIRTY MILES AROUND LONDON (1839) .
T.C. Dibdin. J. Henshall. London, Simpkin, Marshall & Co., C. Tilt and the Proprietors, 1 Cloudesley Terrace, Islington.
1895: February, River frozen at Gravesend -
1895: February, River frozen at Gravesend
1895: Later in November 1895 a particluarly high Spring tide flooded Gravesend-
1895: November, a particularly high Spring tide flooded Gravesend.
The photographer used a very long exposure making the water look like ice,
everybody had to keep very still, but then a dog wandered in front of the camera!
1930s: The Lure and Lore of London's River, A G Linney -
At present the anchorage below Gravesend is not particularly interesting to the voyager passing by:
barge and coal tiers, several hulks, the training ship Cornwall
and the Gravesend Sea School's Triton, pleasure craft, and so on.
Probably the most striking feature to the casual observer is the tug fleet.
Bunches of stout tugs represent on of Gravesend's industries, though no longer do Thames tugs
go questing down Channel, their skippers chaffering with shipmasters as to terms for a tow home.
In the days of sail Gravesend tugs might get as far as the Scillys.
The tug-owning firm of Watkins is a century old,
and their red-banded funnels have been a familiar sight
ever since the days when Turner painted 'The Fighting Temeraire'
being brought upstream by Watkins 'Monarch' -
The Last Voyage of the Fighting Temeraire, Turner - towed by Watkin's Monarch
Sample Port of London Survey of this reach Zoom in to see the details.
Map: Northfleet, right bank, opposite Tilbury Docks
6 Frith photos of Northfleet
1859: First light here
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames -
Northfleet Light - this the first of the Trinity House lighthouses, is an iron pillar-light illuminated by gas. It was transferred to the care of the Trinity House by the Thames Conservancy in 1870.
Tilbury Ness
left bank, opposite Northfleet and just below Tilbury Docks
Tilburyness Lighthouse 1892-1931
Map: Tilbury Fort
The Virtual Earth view is quite striking!
Tilbury Fort website
The first fort here was built by Henry VIII.
1672: Present fort begun by Charles II.
1776: In this year occurred the worst bloodshed associated with Tilbury Fort.
Following a cricket match there were two fatalities.
1792: Picturesque Views on the River Thames by Samuel Ireland -
IN the year 1380 [ Gravesend ] was burned by
the French and Spaniards, who came up the
Thames in row gallies, and committed this
outrage in return for the ravage and plunder
of the English army in France commanded
by the Lord Nevil.
Henry VIII to prevent
a repetition of this outrage, raised a platform
of guns to the east of the town, and erected
Tilbury Fort on the opposite shore, which
has been since improved as a regular fortification
from a plan of Sir Martin Beckman,
chief engineer to Charles II.
The bastions
are said to be the largest in England : it is
doubly moated, with a counterscarp, ravelins,
&c. and on the platform are placed one hundred and six cannons, from twenty-four
to forty-fix pounders, besides smaller ones
planted on the bastions and curtains.
Tilbury Fort by Samuel Ireland, 1792
Tilbury Fort. Drawn by S. Owen. March 1, 1814
in COOKE'S VIEWS ON THE THAMES (1822)
Wind against tide in a shallow estuary - where Thames smooth waters glide! ...
from ‘The Genius of the Thames’ by Thomas Love Peacock –
To where the wide-expanding Nore
Beholds thee, with tumultuous roar,
Conclude thy devious race,
And rush, with Medway's confluent wave,
To seek, where mightier billows rave,
Thy giant-sire's embrace.
1828: Tilbury Fort -
Tilbury Fort.
S. Owen delt. R.G. Reeve sculpt. Published 1828 by R.Ackermann, 96 Strand, London
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames -
Tilbury Fort is in Essex, opposite Gravesend.
The original Tilbury Fort was built by Henry VIII in 1539, and when Elizabeth's army
was encamped at West Tilbury was but a small building.
King Henry's Fort was considerably enlarged by Charles II when the Dutch fleet
were making themselves very officious in the Thames and Medway.
There is not much to see in Tilbury Fort, the principal object of attraction
being the room in the old gateway once occupied by Queen Elizabeth.
At Tilbury is a station of the London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway,
and a steam ferry to Gravesend.
FARES to Fenchurch-Street: 1st - 2/5d, 3/9d; 2nd - 1/9d, 2/10d; 3rd - 1/2d, 2/-
Tilbury, left bank
Tides this week
34 Frith photos of Tilbury
1610: Camden, (Coming downstream from Barking and the River Roding) -
From the mouth of this Roding, this Tamis hasteneth through a ground lying verie flat and low, and in most places otherwhiles overflowen (whereby are occasioned strong and unholsome vapours exceeding hurtfull to the health of the neighbour inhabitants) to Tilbur, neere unto which there be certaine holes in the rising of a chalky hill, sunke into the ground tenne fathom deepe, the mouth whereof is but narrow, made of stone cunningly wrought, but within they are large and spatious, in this forme, which he that went downe into them described unto me after this manner:
Camden's picture of holes at Tilbury
Of which I have nothing else to say but what I have delivered already.
As for Tilbury (Bede nameth it Tilaburg), it consisteth of some few cotages by the Tamis side,
yet was it in ancient time a seat of Bishop Chad, when about the yeare of our salvation 630
hee ingrafted the East-Saxons by baptisme into the Church of Christ.
Tilbury Docks
1914: A pontoon bridge / barrier was built from Gravesend to Tilbury -
Some time close to the start of the 1914/18 war it was decided to build a bridge of boats across the Thames from Gravesend to Tilbury both as a barrier on the river and also to provide a rapid means of getting soldiers across the river. Some 70 Thames swim head lighters were used in the construction which had a centre section that could be withdrawn to allow passage of legitimate traffic. It is said that a number of ships managed to ram the bridge at times.
Gravesend to Tilbury Pontoon Bridge 1914
Tilbury Ness Lighthouse, © Mike Millichamp -
Tilbury Docks are the first docks in the Port of London on approaching from the
sea and are 25 miles below London Bridge.
They were built in 1886 and were improved in 1930 with the
construction of a new entrance lock.
The unusual
lighthouse at Tilbury Ness was no longer required and demolished in 1931.
It was
established by Trinity House in 1892 near
Tilbury Cargo jetty and consisted of a red painted iron cylindrical tower 35 feet high.
Today an uninteresting light
beacon on a red diamond shape acts as its successor.
1822: Anne Lister's Diary: 1st September, on a steamer following the Royal Squadron of George IV at Tilbury -
Passed Tilbury Fort, just opposite to Gravesend, at 11.30am.
Here a grand salute from the fort, the military drawn up on the ramparts.
However vain to attempt counting her guns - some heavy metal - a great many shots,
the noise enough to deafen one.
Gravesend 32 miles from London by water and 21 by land.
From what they call Gravesend Windmill Hill, a most extensive and beautiful
view along the
river and rich surrounding country.
A remarkably fine view that some of the passengers
said everyone going to Gravesend should see.
At 11.30am to our consternation a bolt broke, and the engine stopped.
Stopping the engine so often as we had done not to pass the king on one account or other,
was very apt to injure the small valves and stop them working. We had the box covering
the top of the engine hoisted up in no time, fearing to be delayed we knew not how long,
but Robert quick as lightning set to work
and gave us hope again.
Said the captain speaking
of the engine "Robert can make her do anything" and absolutely this clever fellow set us off
again in 35 minutes.
In the bustle we had run foul of a buoy, but this was nothing,
we were as well there as anywhere, and when our engine was set agoing again,
requiring nothing but more care and more labour to stop her when necessary with hand-speaks
or one contrivance or other to all which Robert was sufficient.
Northfleet Lighthouses
North fleet Lighthouse, © Mike Millichamps -
Northfleet Lower Lighthouse
Northfleet lies opposite to Tilbury Ness and adjoins Gravesend.
Here is Northfleet Lower lighthouse, No. 7 on our list, at 25 miles distance.
Trinity House established a light here as early as 1859.
Its purpose was to guide inward bound vessels safely around the bend from Gravesend Reach
to Northfleet Hope on their way to the Port of London.
The current 1883 lighthouse was
placed on India Arms Wharf close to the India Arms Tavern and was
a white occulting light
of 10 seconds visible for 6 miles.
The red painted iron framework tower stands 53 feet
high with the light exhibited at 48 feet above High Water.
As with all the London River lights it was an unmanned or unwatched light (i.e. it did not
have a resident keeper) as it was inspected three times a fortnight by a Trinity House
attendant and by the Trinity House Elder Brethren on a formal annual visit.
Originally all lights were lit by acetylene which was stored in great metal flasks capable of
fueling the light for twelve months.
In practice, however, they were regauged every three months.
A sun valve ensured that the light was off during the hours of daylight.
Northfleet Lower light was converted to town gas and in 1975 it was converted to 120 volt
mains shore electricity supply and today shows a red or white sector light according to the
angle of approach.
Northfleet Upper, photographed in 1933, is now just a memory
Northfleet Upper Lighthouse today.
Northfleet Upper lighthouse, No. 8, was established on the western end of the Associated
Portland Cement Company's jetty in 1926 and maintained by Trinity House.
The iron work structure was not as complicated as the Lower light and was initially
painted black but by 1950 was painted white.
It stood 29 feet high but in 1972 it was
removed and replaced with a modern light contained in a small lamp
room placed on the
roof of the 8 storey office block belonging to Lafarge Cement UK Ltd at Bevans Wharf,
only a matter of yards from the lower light.
It is still used as a navigational aid today.
Northfleet Hope
The reach between Tilbury and Grays.
THAMES STRATEGY EAST Part 4 - Reach 7-9 - This covers the following Reaches:
Long; Fiddler's; North Fleet Hope; & Gravesend. A large (6.79Mb) pdf file.
Thames Strategy East
has the overall details.
REACH 8: NORTH FLEET HOPE
NORTHERN BANK: TILBURY DOCKS
SOUTHERN BANK: NORTHFLEET
CHARACTERISATION
This Reach stretches from Grays Beach Riverside Park to the eastern extent of
Tilbury Dock on the northern bank, and from Swanscombe Peninsula to
Northfleet and Rosherville on the southern bank. ...
The river turns sharply south-east
around Swanscombe Peninsula and then turns due east around Tilbury Ness.
The river varies in width in this Reach from approximately 500m by Tilbury
Ness to 1200m north of the Tilbury Docks Riverside Wharf. The river narrows as
it passes around Swanscombe Peninsula and is approximately 850m wide by
Broadness at the tip of the peninsula.
The Reach is characterised by shipping activity, dock cranes, and large
warehouses and depots around Tilbury Docks on the northern bank; and heavy
industry including a large cement works at Northfleet on the southern bank.
The riverfront is very active with freight and container ships loading and
unloading, both by Tilbury Docks and by the industrial complexes at
Northfleet. Wharves and jetties with travelling cranes line the river banks
almost continuously, and dock cranes dominate the skyline on the northern
bank. The use of the riverfront is purely industrial and commercial. The
riverfront has a unique ’raw’ industrial character, particularly along the
Northfleet riverfront due to the massive scale and intensity of the heavy
industry.
Tilbury Docks were built on former marshland, consequently, the northern bank
in this Reach is flat. Land use is almost exclusively dock related. Tilbury Docks
is the main container port for London and comprises three large docks leading
off the main dock, vast warehouses, stacks of multi-coloured containers,
cranes, and car and van depots surrounded by security fencing. The largest
container ships moor up at the Riverside Wharf where the large travelling
cranes are the most dominant vertical features of the Docks. There are
impressive open views across the dock basins although these are not available
to the public as there is strictly no public access to the Docks. Tilbury Bulk
Grain Terminal is located adjacent to the docks by the riverfront. The Port of
London Authority (PLA) London International Passenger Cruise Terminal,
located to the east of Tilbury Docks, is a notable feature which is described in
more detail in Reach 9. Little Thurrock Marshes is located to the north of the
Docks.
Land use on the southern bank at Northfleet is predominantly industrial.
However, a development of large-Georgian villas and terraces lies between the
industrial area and a retail park with superstores at Rosherville to the west of
Gravesend town centre. The development was laid out by Jeremiah Rosher, a
chalk merchant, who also laid out Rosherville Gardens, which were very popular
with day trippers from London in the past. Residential areas of terraced
housing are located to the south of the A226 which runs along the top of a
chalk cliff which resulted from extensive chalk quarrying. The chalk cliff
separates the residential area from the industry. Historically, the main
industries at Northfleet were shipbuilding, and cement and paper production.
A cement works still exists at Tower Wharf. Two football grounds are located
within the industrial area, close to Robins Creek, the only tributary entering
the Thames in this Reach.
A distinctive feature of Northfleet is St Botolph’s Church designed by Giles
Gilbert Scott. The church is strategically located on high ground on the chalk
ridge adjacent to a dramatic vertical chalk cliff of a quarry. The flint faced
church tower can be seen clearly from the river. The historic hamlet of
Northfleet, located close to the church on the A226 is also notable. It is
designated as a Conservation Area and includes some charming timber framed
buildings and back of pavement development.
Both the northern and southern banks in this Reach are hard and vertical, as
they are almost continuously lined with wharfs and jetties.
There are currently no river crossings in this Reach. The Tilbury to Gravesend
Ferry sits at the boundary of Reaches 8 and 9 and is covered in detail in Reach
9. There are a number of operational jetties within this Reach on the northern
and southern banks, associated with the industrial and dock uses. On the
northern bank the Port of Tilbury has twenty one terminals comprising over
seventy berths. On the southern bank there are eight commercial wharves.
There are no public piers, launching sites, riverside steps or watersports
centres in this Reach. The landing stage for London International Ferry
Terminal is covered in Reach 9 and in this section.
There is strictly no public access to Tilbury Docks and no access along the
riverfront. Access to the riverfront at Northfleet is very restricted, but there are
two public footpaths that give access to a small section close to Tower Wharf.
There are no statutory or non-statutory sites of nature conservation interest in
this Reach. There has been extensive loss of natural wildlife habitat through
industrialisation and reclamation of marshland. Little Thurrock Marshes
situated to the north of Tilbury contains a network of ditches which support
water voles and reedbeds and is identified as an important site for
invertebrates. ...
The main sites of built heritage importance are the church of St Botolph at
Northfleet; Henley’s Telegraph Works Company factory and research
laboratories; Tilbury Docks; the PLA London International Passenger Cruise
Terminal including the Tilbury Riverside Station (now Tilbury Riverside Arts and
Activity Centre); the Tilbury ferry landing stage; and the Blue Circle Works at
Bevan’s Wharf. There are three Conservation Areas: The Hill, Northfleet;
Landsdowne Square, Rosherville; and Overcliffe. There is a wealth of intangible
heritage in this Reach, for example the Tilbury brick works was owned by
Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe; Rosherville was named after Jeremiah
Rosher, a chalk merchant who laid out Italianate villas and terraces and
Rosherville Gardens. ...
Northfleet has long been famous for the thousands of Paleolithic artifacts
found here. The Ebbsfleet Valley to the south west is important for Mesolithic
and Neolithic remains, including a type of early Neolithic pottery known as
Ebbsfleet Ware. On the northern side of the Thames a number of Neolithic and
Bronze Age burials, and Roman occupation debris and burials were uncovered,
at depth, during the construction of Tilbury Docks in 1883. ...
Key Characteristics and Influences
• Shipping activity, dock cranes and large warehouses and depots around
Tilbury Docks on the northern bank; and heavy industry including a large
cement works at Northfleet on the southern bank.
• The chalk ridge that runs close to the river has been extensively quarried
and the resulting chalk pits and cliffs are a characteristic feature of
Northfleet.
• The main landmarks in the area are Tilbury Bulk Grain Terminal; Tilbury
Docks Riverside Wharf; the PLA London International Passenger Cruise
Terminal; chimneys at Northfleet; and St Botolph’s Church, Northfleet.
Grays, left bank
Broad Ness, right bank
Broad Ness Lighthouse, © Mike Millichamps -
Broad Ness Lighthouse
Between Greenhithe and Northfleet the river makes a big loop round Swanscombe Marshes and
the Broad Ness Lighthouse guides vessels from St. Clement's Reach into Northfleet Hope.
This is the sixth lighthouse and is 23 miles from London Bridge.
It was established in 1885
but a new light tower was erected in 1975 and it was converted to electricity in 1981.
Although today at 43 feet high it shows a light visible for 12 miles the future of both
Stone Ness and Broad Ness look uncertain as they become unstable through river erosion.
Map: St Clement's, or Fiddler's Reach
THAMES STRATEGY EAST Part 4 - Reach 7-9 - This covers the following Reaches:
Long; Fiddler's; North Fleet Hope; & Gravesend. A large (6.79Mb) pdf file.
Thames Strategy East
has the overall details.
REACH 7: LONG REACH AND FIDDLER'S REACH
NORTHERN BANK: PURFLEET, WEST THURROCK, WEST THURROCK MARSHES, SOUTH STIFFORD AND GRAYS
SOUTHERN BANK: CROSSWAYS COMMERCIAL ESTATE, STONE AND SWANSCOMBE PENINSULA
CHARACTERISATION
This Reach stretches from the Purfleet industrial area to Grays Beach Riverside
Park on the northern bank, and from Longreach Sewage Works to Swanscombe
Peninsula on the southern bank. ...
At the western end of the Reach, the river flows
in a south-easterly direction to Stoneness by West Thurrock Marshes. At
Stoneness the river turns north-east and widens before turning sharply southeast
around Swanscombe Peninsula. At the western end of this Reach the river
is approximately 600 metres wide. The river is at its widest in this Reach by St
Clements or Fiddlers Reach where it is approximately 1250 m wide. This Reach
comprises a patchwork of land uses including large scale heavy industrial
complexes, container depots, recent commercial and office development at the
Crossways business park, remnants of marshland at West Thurrock and
Swanscombe Peninsula, and pockets of residential development at Grays,
Greenhithe and Ingress Park. For detailed characterisation see Appendix 3.
The most prominent feature of this Reach, and indeed the eastern part of the
Thames, is the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (QEII Bridge) which takes southward
M25 traffic only; north-bound traffic uses the Dartford Tunnel. The bridge links
Essex and Kent and spans high above the Thames to allow the passage of large
container ships. The spectacular elevated views from the bridge are only
available to vehicular traffic. The M25 and the bridge/tunnel approach and toll
areas take up a large area.
The marshland on West Thurrock and Swanscombe Peninsulas and the areas of
open wasteland around the industrial complexes give the Reach a semi-rural
character, and create a sense of openness along the river. This area is also very
fragmented and disjointed with residential development immediately adjacent
to heavy industry.
Land use on the northern bank is predominantly heavy industry from the
Purfleet Thames Terminal to Grays. The main industries include oil refining and
manufacture of soap, margarine, cement and timber. Notable features include
the Purfleet Thames Terminal, a roll-on/roll-off ferry facility where large ferries
moor up. East of the QEII Bridge there is an extensive chemical plant at
Crossways, and east of West Thurrock Marshes there is a large oil refinery and
cement works associated with the Vopak Terminal. Two super-size pylons, one
on either side of the river at West Thurrock Marshes and Swanscombe
Peninsula, are dominant vertical features. Their extra size enables the power
cables to span the river at sufficient height to allow the passage of container
ships, and cruise liners. This area is generally very fragmented with large scale
buildings and industrial complexes interspersed with areas of wasteland, depot
areas and remnant marshland. Extensive riverside residential development has
occurred along the Grays riverfront, which lacks permeability. Here a former
industrial area has been redeveloped and four-storey residential blocks now
line the riverfront. Behind the taller riverside apartment blocks there are
suburban estates of predominantly two storey buildings. Notable features of
the Grays riverfront are a marina, where Thurrock Yacht Club is based, and Grays
Beach riverside park. White high-rise blocks on either side of the marina are
recognisable features of the Grays riverfront. Both the marina and riverside
park give life and activity to the riverfront.
Land uses on the southern bank include large scale utilities and industry, the
Crossways Business Park, the historic hamlet of Greenhithe, a recently built
residential estate called Ingress Park and the large area of marshland on
Swanscombe Peninsula. The West Thurrock cement industry was one of the
largest in Europe in the 19th Century, and from Stone to the east, the
landscape bears the enormous scars of chalk extraction. Littlebrook Power
Station, which marks the beginning of this Reach, is a very large structure with
a tall chimney and a significant landmark. The Crossways Business Park, still
under construction, is located east of the bridge and includes a range of large,
low-rise warehouses and offices built close to the riverfront. Greenhithe,
located between the Crossways Business Park and Swanscombe Peninsula, is an
historic settlement dating back to Roman times. The Ingress Park residential
development is centred around Ingress Abbey (built in 1833), which has
now been restored. Swanscombe Peninsula is an area of predominantly flat
marshland that includes Swanscombe Marshes and Botany Marshes, which are
drained freshwater grazing marsh, and Broadness salt marsh. Tipping of
pulverised fuel ash (PFA) has occurred in the northern part of the Peninsula
which has been restored to grassland; in the southern part the PFA tip rises to
a significant height.
The northern bank of the river has predominantly hard vertical edges and there
are numerous large piers and jetties on the western side of West Thurrock
Peninsula. Soft river edges are found at West Thurrock Marshes and Grays Beach
Riverside Park. There is access to the foreshore at Grays Beach. On the southern
bank there are more extensive areas of soft river edge. Soft river edges are
found by Littlebrook Power Station and its associated fuel store, the Crossways
Business Park and Swanscombe Peninsula. Apart from the tip of Swanscombe
Peninsula, all other areas are protected by earth flood embankments. There are
extensive mudflats in this Reach, particularly around West Thurrock Marshes.
There are ten commercial terminals, with jetties, on the northern bank, four of
which are Safeguarded Wharves. On the southern bank there are two
commercial terminals. Thurrock Yacht Club is located on the northern bank at
Grays, and there is a launching site, Greenhithe Causeway on the southern
bank. There are no public piers or riverside steps.
The most significant river crossing over the eastern part of the Thames is the
Dartford Crossing comprising the Dartford Tunnel, opened in 1963, and the
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, opened in 1991. A new strategic river tunnel for the
Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is currently under construction and will go
from Swanscombe Peninsula to West Thurrock Marshes, although its access
points will be at Stratford and Ebbsfleet beyond the Strategy Area. On the
southern bank in Kent Thameside, Fastrack is being implemented which
provides good local transport links.
On the northern bank there is good access to the riverfront and a public
footpath runs continuously from Purfleet Station to Grays. On the southern
bank access to the riverfront is also relatively good with a footpath running
alongside the riverfront from Littlebrook Power Station to the Crossways
Business Park. There is some access to the riverfront at Greenhithe, and a
riverside path has been constructed by the Ingress Park development. The
footpath continues along Swanscombe Marshes on the Swanscombe Peninsula,
but does not extend out to its tip.
West Thurrock Lagoons and Marshes SSSI is one of the most important sites for
wintering waders and wildfowl on the Inner Thames Estuary. The adjacent salt
marsh at Stoneness is recognised for its size and the character of its high
marsh plant community. The Swanscombe Peninsula is a brownfield site with
landfill areas, marsh, wet ditches and reedbeds. ...
Key sites of built heritage importance include Greenhithe, Queen Elizabeth II
Bridge, St Clements Church, at West Thurrock; and St Mary, Stone. Greenhithe
is the only Conservation Area in this Reach. ...
Swanscombe is well known for the discovery of fragments of an early human
skull estimated to be about 250,000 years old, in Barnfield Pit in the 1930s
(this is just outside the Strategy Area). It is amongst the earliest human
remains known in Europe. Bones of animals such as the rhinoceros and
straight-tusked elephant have also been retrieved from the terraced deposits
of Barnfield Pit. This Reach is also particularly important for early pre-historic
flint artefact manufacture, and an important Levallois flint industry has been
recorded at West Thurrock. Many other finds have been made in this Reach
including pre-historic animal bones, human skeletons (including one believed
to be of post-Palaeolithic date), Bronze Age spearheads and other implements,
a large number of late Iron Age and Roman burial urns, and a system of tide
walls on Littlebrook Marshes, known as Littlebrook Walls. West Thurrock, Grays
Thurrock, Greenhithe, Stone and Swanscombe are mentioned as manors in the
Domesday Book (1086).
Key Characteristics and Influences
• This Reach comprises a patchwork of land uses including large-scale heavy
industrial complexes, container depots, recent commercial and office
development at the Crossways Business Park, remnants of marshland at
West Thurrock and Swanscombe Peninsula, and pockets of residential
development at Grays, Greenhithe and Ingress Park.
• The area is very fragmented and disjointed with residential development
immediately adjacent to heavy industry.
• The landscape bears the large scars of chalk extraction.
• The marshland on West Thurrock Peninsula and Swanscombe Peninsula
gives the Reach a semi-rural character, and creates a sense of openness
along the river. There is an unobstructed view of the QEII Bridge from
Northfleet Hope across the two peninsulas.
• The main landmarks in the area are the QEII Bridge, Purfleet Thames
Terminal, Littlebrook Power Station, St Mary’s Church, Stone, Ingress Abbey
and two ’super’ pylons.
Map: Channel Tunnel Rail Link - Thames Tunnel
From West Thurrock to Swanscombe.
Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, a
46 mile section of high-speed track from the Channel
Tunnel to Fawkham Junction in north Kent, was opened in September
2003. This cut the London-Paris journey time by
around 20 minutes, to 2hr 35 min.
The section includes a ¾ mile bridge over the River Medway
and a 2 mile long, 40 foot diameter tunnel
through the North Downs. In safety testing on the
section prior to opening, a new UK rail speed record of
209 mph was set. Trains
continue to use existing suburban lines to enter London,
and terminate at Waterloo International Terminal, at Waterloo in
Central London.
Section 2 of the project, due to open in 2007, is a 21 mile stretch of track
from Ebbsfleet (near Northfleet) to
London St Pancras. It includes two new stations
(at Ebbsfleet and London Stratford), a 2 mile tunnel under the
Thames near Dartford, and a 12 mile twin tunnel
running into central London.
When the second phase of the CTRL is opened,
all Eurostar trains will run to St Pancras
International instead of Waterloo International Terminal, as they currently do.
The cutting edge of the tunnel boring machine -
The tunnel boring machine
Stone Ness Lighthouse, left bank below QEII Bridge
Stone Ness Light house
Stone Ness Light house,Mike Millichamp © 2002 © 2005 -
.. No.5 - Opposite Greenhithe and the mammoth redwater Park Shopping Centre
we come across Stone Ness on the Essex bank and at 22 miles [from London Bridge]
is lighthouse No.5.
It was established in 1885 and is the first [going seawards]
of the more interesting red metal framed
lighthouses on the river.
It carries a wind generator on its top and, at 44 feet
high, the light is visible for 9 miles.
West Thurrock Lagoon and Marshes, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Map: Greenhithe
Right bank
6 Frith photos of Greenhithe
Ingress Estate
1363: Earliest mention of Ingress estate.
1820: The Ingress Mansion was demolished to make room for a dockyard development.
The development did not happen.
1821: A new mansion was built starting in 1821 with stone from the old London Bridge.
This cannot have become available until 1831 -
in which case this print must be of the old Ingress Mansion -
Ingress at Greenhithe. Drawn by S. Owen. Novr 1, 1821. 1811
Ingress Abbey
1862: Founding of the Thames Nautical Training College. The Royal Navy lent the original HMS Worcester.
1871: HMS Worcester moved to Greenhithe
1876: The first HMS Worcester was too small, so a second, originally launched as HMS Frederick William,
was obtained
HMS Worcester(2)
1920: Thames Nautical College bought Ingress Abbey Estate,
1938: The College obtained the Cutty Sark as an additional ship -
Cutty Sark & HMS Worcester
1952: The Cutty Sark moved on to Greenwich and the HMS Worcester was scrapped.
A new HMS Worcester was obtained -
Upstream to Queen Elizabeth II Bridge
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