Molesey to Sunbury, Environment Agency 'Out and About' Guide
Molesey to Teddington, Environment Agency 'Out and About' Guide
Right bank, tel: 0181 979 4482, length: 268'4", width: 24'10"
1802: Proposal for lock to hold up the water over
the shoals at Kenton hedge and Sundbury Flatts above.
1815: Molesey Lock opened on 9th August.
1816: NIMBY ["Not In My BackYard"] complaint from Lady Yonge –
The house and lands were purchased by Lady Yonge at a higher price than usual on the account of the advantage and great ornament of the river and the parklike grounds on the opposite shore. Since the erection of the lock the opposite shore from being a level green to the edge of the river and a beautiful scene of pasturage is become a bank raised a considerable height of gravel, chalk, etc., with the lock house overlooking the lawn and walks.
1871: Boatslide built
1883: Weir rebuilt
1870: Molesey Lock, Henry Taunt -
Molesey Lock, Henry Taunt, 1870
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; HT1436
1883: Molesey Lock boatslide, Henry Taunt -
Molesey Lock boatslide, Henry Taunt, 1883
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; HT4110
1889: Jerome K Jerome -
It took us some time to pass through Moulsey
Lock, as we were the only boat, and it is a big lock.
I don't think I ever remember to have seen
Moulsey Lock, before, with only one boat in it.
It is, I suppose, Boulter's not even excepted, the busiest lock on the
river. I have stood and watched it,
sometimes, when you could not see any water at all, but only a brilliant tangle
of bright blazers, and gay caps, and saucy hats, and many-coloured parasols,
and silken rugs, and cloaks, and streaming ribbons, and dainty whites; when
looking down into the lock from the quay, you might fancy it was a huge box
into which flowers of every hue and shade had been thrown pell-mell, and lay
piled up in a rainbow heap, that covered every corner.
On a fine Sunday it presents this appearance
nearly all day long, while, up the stream, and down the stream, lie, waiting
their turn, outside the gates, long lines of still more boats; and boats are
drawing near and passing away, so that the sunny river, from the Palace up to
Hampton Church, is dotted and decked with yellow, and blue, and orange, and
white, and red, and pink. All the
inhabitants of Hampton and Moulsey dress themselves up in boating costume, and come
and mouch round the lock with their dogs, and flirt, and smoke, and watch the
boats; and, altogether, what with the caps and jackets of the men, the pretty
coloured dresses of the women, the excited dogs, the moving boats, the white
sails, the pleasant landscape, and the sparkling water, it is one of the gayest
sights I know of near this dull old London town.
I reminded him [Harris] of George, and how we
had to get the boat up to Shepperton by five o'clock to meet him ...
1889: A S Krause -
… favourite lounging place for those who prefer to criticise the athletic abilities of others rather than exert themselves, and on Sundays during the summer is crowded with a large and not always too select concourse of people.
1891: The Stream of Pleasure, Joseph & Elizabeth Robins Pennell -
Molesey Lock, 1891, Joseph & Elizabeth Robins Pennell
It was still early Saturday afternoon when we reached Moulsey. At once we unloaded our boat
and secured a room at the Castle Inn, close to the bridge and opposite that
"Structure of majestic frame
Which from the neighbouring Hampton takes its name."
The rest of the day and all the next we gave to the river between Hampton and the Court.
In the lock the water never rose nor fell without carrying with it as many boats as could find a place
upon its surface. At the slide, where there are two rollers for the boats going up
and two for those coming down, there were always parties embarking and disembarking,
men in flannels pulling and pushing canoes and skiffs.
Far along the cut, boats were always
waiting for the lock gates to open. And on the gates, and on both banks, and above the slide,
sat rows of lookers-on, as if at a play; and the beautiful rich green of the trees,
the white and coloured dresses, the really pretty women and the strong athletic men,
casting gay reflections in the water, made a picture ever to be remembered.
On the road were ragged men and boys, with ropes and horses, offering to
"tow you up to Sunbury, Shepperton, Weybridge, Windsor"
and still raggeder children
chattering in Romany and turning somersaults for pennies.
If we pulled up to Hampton it was to see the broad reach there
"overspread with shoals of labouring oars",
or with a fleet of sailing boats tacking from side to side -
dangerous, it seemed to us, as the much hated steam launches.
Below the weir were the anglers' punts.
And up the little Mole, which
"digs through the earth the Thames to win",
the luncheon cloth
was spread and the tea-kettle sang under the willows.
But however far we went, when we came back to the lock, it was only to find
the same crowd, to hear the same endless grating of boats over the rollers,
the same slow paddling out through the gates, the same fall of the water over the weir,
and above all the other sounds, the monotonous cries of
"tow you up to Sunbury, Shepperton, Weybridge, Windsor"
All the long Sunday afternoon the numbers of boats and people never lessened,
though the scene was ever varying. And when the sun sank below Moulsey Hurst,
there was still the same crowd in the lock, there were still the rows of figures sitting
on the banks; the men and horses on the road, the stray cycler riding towards Thames Ditton -
all now, however, but so many silhouettes cut out against the strong light.
1896: Molesey Boat rollers, Francis Frith -
1896: Molesey Boat rollers, Francis Frith
1896: Molesey Lock, Francis Frith -
1896: Molesey Lock, Francis Frith
1896: Houseboats in Molesey Lock, Francis Frith -
1896: Houseboats in Molesey Lock, Francis Frith
1900s: Henry James -
I know of no other classic stream that is splashed about for the mere fun of it. There is something droll and almost touching in the way that on the smallest pretext of a holiday or fine weather, the mighty population takes to the boats.
1906: Lock rebuilt
1906: G.E.Mitton -
Molesey Lock, just above the bridge, is a popular place in summer. All those who have come down to enjoy the fresh air, and who want an excuse for doing nothing, stand and watch the boats passing through; there is always as great a crowd on the tow-path as on the water.
Undated postcard –
Molesey Lock, undated
1965: Molesey Weir, Francis Frith -
1965: Molesey Weir, Francis Frith
1999: At Molesey Lock I met a launch full of fostered children and their guardians who chatted to me and invited me to lunch onboard and took some photos of me punting in the most difficult circumstances, on silt, coming out of the lock, facing a line of oncoming boats -
Molesey Lock, in 1999
Map: Ash Island
Navigate to right bank side of this island between the weirs
Map: Taggs Island
Taggs Island is joined to the left bank by a footbridge.
1906: G.E.Mitton -
A number of islands lie above [Molesey] lock, the largest of which is Tagg's, as well known as any island on the river, and much patronised by holiday-makers at lunch and tea time. In summer a band plays on the lawn twice a week.
The 'Karsino' was a luxury hotel on Taggs Island, developed by the entertainer Fred Karno in the 1900s -
Karsino on Taggs Island
Map: Garrick's Ait, right bank
Hurst Park Slipway, right bank
opposite Garricks Ait. Keys to bollards from council on 01372 474474
Map: Platt's Eyot, joined to the left bank by a bridge
Platt's Eyot history and photos
The following description is given in a proposal for redevelopment in 2005 -
Platts Eyot is an island in the Thames at Hampton, lying to the south-west of Hampton
village, adjacent to the Middlesex filter bed, with access via a footbridge from the
Middlesex bank. Most of the perimeter of the western end of the island is dense tree
cover with steep river banks. The downstream end is more open with buildings and
dockside industry. On both sides of the island, for virtually the entire waterfront,
there are boat moorings.
The island grew from osier beds in the Thames to its current form when spoil from the
excavation of the Middlesex filter beds was dumped on the island, forming the distinctive
high profile of the western end. The steep banks have been colonised by willow, ash, and
oak with later planting of coniferous and hybrid poplar species.
The first boat building activity on the island dates from 1866 when Thomas Tagg built a yard
and house at the eastern end of the island. Thorneycroft boat builders, who built navy
motor torpedo boats and speedboats, owned the island until 1960. The boatsheds on the
east of the island date from this time. Thorneycroft also used the island for the repair
and building of commercial, service and pleasure craft. They provided a complete
service for yacht owners, including moorings, maintenance and covered moorings.
In the 1960s the yard was taken over by Port Hampton Ltd who diversified the use of the island
from its boat building past. The majority of the buildings have a light industrial use,
although some boat repairs and an increased area of moorings still exist.
At present approximately 70% of the existing employment floorspace is either
vacant or derelict.
On the Middlesex bank is an area used as a car park for the island.
Access to the island itself is by a 1.8 metre wide bridge, approximately 50 years old,
and only wide enough for a small Suzuki-type van to use. Goods are carried to the island
by hand or forklift trucks.
The whole island was designated as a conservation area at the end of 1990 and in January 1991
the boathouses and office building on the eastern end of the Island were listed as Grade II.
The whole of Platt’s Eyot is within the River Thames Site of Metropolitan Importance
for Nature Conservation. The western end of the island is designated Green Belt.
Map: Sunbury Court Island
joined to the left bank by a bridge
Map: Swan's Rest Island and Rivermead Island
One island now and effectively part of the left bank.
Kempton Park Race Course is a half mile north, on the left bank, the other side of the A308
Jerome K Jerome -
WE stopped under the willows by Kempton Park, and lunched.
It is a pretty little spot there: a pleasant
grass plateau, running along by the water's edge,
and overhung by willows...
The selfishness of the riparian proprietor
grows with every year. If these men had
their way they would close the river Thames altogether. They actually do this along
the minor tributary streams and in the backwaters. They drive posts into the bed of the stream,
and draw chains across from bank to bank, and nail huge notice-boards on every
tree. The sight of those notice-boards
rouses every evil instinct in my nature.
I feel I want to tear each one down, and hammer it over the head of the
man who put it up, until I have killed him, and then I would bury him, and put
the board up over the grave as a tombstone.
Upstream to SUNBURY LOCK
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