Flow data.
Mean flow 52.8 cumecs; high flow exceeded 10% of the time 135 cumecs; low flow exceeded 95% of the time 9.1 cumecs
Not to be confused with Walton, Essex, on the Thames Estuary
1400: Ferry
1592: From the Privy Council to Cutberte Blacken & inhabitantes of Waltham-upon-Thames -
Complaint is made unto us by Robert Sackford and others of East and West Mowlsey who daily used to drawe with their horses up the Thames the Westerne Barges, that you have a medowe called Abscourte Meade, where there is an ordinary way for their horses to passe, which way by the force and washing of the water is so decaied as their horses can hardlie passe without danger, and that the repairinge ther of appertaynethe either to you or to the parishioners of Waltham, which thoughe the said Sackforde and the rest have often made earnest meanes to have repaired, ys yet refused: Theise shalbe therfore to requier you immediatlie to assemble your selves together and to consider which ought to repair the said way as you will avoid the inconvenience that may follow of your negligence.
1748: Letter to Andrew Ducarel Esq from S Gale, 12th August, quoted in Illustrations of the literary history of the eighteenth century -
... we arrived at Shepperton, a famous
fishing village on the North bank of the Thames, from whence
after dinner we went down the river to see the famous place
called Cowey Stakes, on the South side of the Thames, near
Walton, where Julius Caesar forded over the Thames, it being
the narrowest part, and which the Britons had secured by driving
a great number of stakes (being young oaks) deep into the bed
of the river, to oppose his passage over ; but he by this great
conduct surmounted all difficulties, and, upon entering the river,
the poor terrified Britons on the northern shore fled with the
greatest precipitation up into the country.
From hence we went
a little lower, to view the new bridge now building cross the
river from Walton, containing five arches of brick over the shallows
next the South shore, and the stone piers are erecting for
the three arches of the same materials over the main stream.
We returned back, after the most agreeable voyage, to Shepperton,
where we were entertained at supper with a dish of
Thames eels stewed in the most elegant taste. "
It seems that S Gale misunderstood the material of the main bridge.
1750: The first bridge 1750 – 1783 was a wooden lattice
three arch structure on stone piers designed by William Etheridge (1707-1776),
built by Mr. White of Weybridge during 1748-50,
and paid for by Samuel Dicker, M.P. for Plymouth
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOODEN ARCH IN THE WORLD.
First Walton Bridge, 1750-1783
The above sketch was perhaps to illustrate the concept of the bridge; either that or the artist did not copy what he saw! The design drawing below is very different - and more convincing. I think that none of the main timbers is curved -
First Walton Bridge, 1750-1783
1750: The Gentleman's Magazine -
It is, without doubt, a noble work, and very well worth the trouble of going many miles to take a view of it, and will be so more especially in the summer, when it will be painted over, and when that part of the country is always of itself very delightful.
1754: Walton Bridge painted by Canaletto (twice) –
First Walton Bridge, 1750 – 1783, Canaletto in 1754
First Walton Bridge, 1750 – 1783
1778: John Smeaton reported the bridge was unsafe and should be replaced.
1783: First Walton Bridge was taken down
1783-1788: Ferry
1788: Second Walton Bridge, a brick and stone structure,
designed by John Payne with the advice of John Smeaton.
1792: Picturesque Views on the Thames by Samuel Irland -
WALTON bridge, from Oatlands, has a
beautiful appearance. A spacious body of
water formed beneath the terrace, is so happily
managed as to appear to be the main
river, which, from its windings in the neighbourhood,
is concealed from the view.
THE celebrated old bridge at Walton was
built by the late Mr. Decker, for which he
obtained an Act of Parliament in 1747, and
in 1750 that handsome structure was completed.
The plan of this elegant bridge was
by a Mr. White of Weybridge, though some
other person has taken the merit of its design.
THE happy construction of this bridge
was such, that being composed of timbers
tangent to a circle of a hundred feet in diameter,
either of which falling into decay,
might, with ease, be unscrewed ; and, with
equal facility, receive a new substitute, without
disturbing the adjoining timbers.
...
SUCH was its dangerous state, that about
four years since, it was judged expedient
to take down a great part of it, when the
centre arches of the present bridge, which
are of brick, were rebuilt at an expence of
two thousand pounds, under the direction of
the late Mr. Payne. This bridge is the property
of Mr. Sanders -, and it must be confessed, that what it has gained in solidity and
strength, it has lost in taste and elegance.
1792: Second Walton Bridge, print by Samuel Ireland -
Second Walton Bridge, print by Samuel Ireland, 1792
1793: Second Walton Bridge, print by Boydell -
View of Walton Bridge from Oatlands. June 1, 1793.
J. Farington R.A. delt. J.C. Stadler sculpt.
(Published) by J. & J. Boydell, Shakespeare Gally.
Pall Mall & (No. 90) Cheapside (London)
1806: Second Walton Bridge painted by J M W Turner –
Second Walton Bridge, 1788-1859, by J M W Turner in 1806
1811: "The Thames - or Graphic Illustrations of Seats, Villas, Public Buildings and Picturesque Scenery on the Banks of that most Noble River" the engravings executed by William Bernard Cooke from original drawings by Samuel Owen Esq. -
The present Bridge is of brick, and consists of several arches; it was built after a design of Mr. Payne, and forms a very fine object from the terrace of Oatlands,
the seat of the Duke of York.
The celebrated old wooden bridge at Walton, was built by the late Samuel Decker, Esq. of that place, for which he obtained an act of parliament, in the year 1747,
and in three years after that beautiful, curious and elegant structure was compleated[sic].
The plan of it was designed by a Mr. White, of Weybridge, whose name ought not to be forgotten, though his unparalleled work no longer remains.
The happy construction of this bridge was such,
that being composed of timbers tangent to a circle of a hundred feet diameter, either
of them falling into decay, might with ease be unscrewed; and, with equal
facility, receive a new substitute, without disturbing the adjoining timbers.
Such, however, was its dangerous state, and so great would have been the expence[sic] of its repair, that, about twenty-five years since,
it was judged expedient to take down the most beautiful wooden arch in the world;
and the present bridge was constructed in its place.
SUCH was its dangerous state, that about
four years since, it was judged expedient
to take down a great part of it, when the
centre arches of the present bridge, which
are of brick, were rebuilt at an expence of
two thousand pounds, under the direction of
the late Mr. Payne.
This bridge is the property of Mr. Sanders ; and it must be confessed, that what it has gained in solidity and
strength, it has lost in taste and elegance.
WALTON is said formerly to have joined
the county of Middlesex, till, about three
hundred years since, the old current of the
Thames was changed by an inundation, and
a church was destroyed by the waves.
1811: Second Walton Bridge, William Bernard Cooke –
Second Walton Bridge, William Bernard Cooke from original drawing by Samuel Owen, 1811
1830: Second Walton Bridge, print –
Second Walton Bridge, 1788-1859, seen in 1830
1849: Rambles by Rivers: The Thames By James Thorne -
We ... notice in passing the long
straggling combination of arches called Walton
Bridge. It is in fact a sort of double bridge, a
second set of arches being carried over a low tract
of ground, south of the principal bridge, which
crosses the river. According to the popular tradition
this marshy tract was the original bed of the
Thames ; and the change of the river's course here
is mentioned in many books, and in some with
considerable embellishment.
That most credulous
of collectors, Aubrey, has recorded a report, which
he had from Elias Ashmole, that when the river
changed its bed, a church was "swallowed up by
the waves"; and a much more recent writer tells
us that the tradition states the river to have run (up hill and down valley) south of Walton town !
1859: Mr & Mrs Hall checked it (The Book of the Thames, 1859) and it was alright then as their print shows. However there appear to be at least three bridges shown? -
Second Walton Bridge, 1788-1859 at the start of 1859
after a sketch by W E Bates
1859: The Annual Register edited by Edmund Burke -
[11th August 1859] DESTRUCTION OF WALTON
BRIDGE. — About 5.30 A.M., the
well known bridge across the
Thames, from Walton to Halliford - built in 1750 by a Mr. Picker, as a private speculation -
was observed to be cracking across the highway of the bridge over the centre arch,
and the crack kept increasing so much as to allow parts to fall into the river;
and so it remained dropping, bit by bit, until 12 o'clock, when the arch fell in with a violent crash into the bed of the river.
In a short time after, the other arch fell in also with the same violence, without injury to any person or property.
The noise, which was heard a considerable distance from the bridge, was like an explosion.
The bridge consisted of four stone piers, between which were three truss arches of beams and joists of wood, strongly hound together with mortises,
iron pins, and cramps; besides which there were five arches of brickwork on each side, to render the ascent and descent the more easy.
The bridge still belongs to private parties, and is rented by the toll collector. The centre arch was exceedingly large.
A precarious communication across the broken arches was established by means of planks, and the navigation of the river was not stopped.
A gentleman, who saw the fall of the arches, says, "I had crossed the river, just below the bridge, in a punt with a friend,
to take a sketch of it from the Walton side, when the falling of a few stones from the broken arch warned us to quicken our speed;
and, before we had well reached the shore, the pier suddenly gave way, and the two large arches on either side, with the roadway, for some 150 or 200 yards,
fell into the river below with a tremendous crash. The water splashed up like a fountain, and the sudden displacement caused the
river to rise in a wave 4 or 5 feet
high, which rolling down the
stream with irresistible force,
carried boats, punts, logs of timber,
and everything within reach,
before it. Fortunately nobody
was in a boat near the spot at the
time, or he certainly must have
been capsized, and perhaps
drowned."
Second Walton Bridge collapses, 1788-1859, Sketch
by P Duggan in 1859
(For another catastrophic bridge collapse see
Osney Bridge)
1859: Ferry. It is said by Fred Thacker that the
bridge was repaired at a cost of £500.
1864: Third Walton Bridge, iron
lattice girder on brick and stone piers
1870: Third Walton Bridge free of toll
1897: Third Walton Bridge, James Dredge -
Third Walton Bridge, James Dredge, 1897
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; D230188a
1906: Third Walton Bridge, watercolour by Mortimer Menpes -
Third Walton Bridge, 1864-1985, Mortimer Menpes in 1906
1908: Third Walton Bridge, Francis Frith -
1908, Third Walton Bridge, Francis Frith in 1908
1940: Third Walton Bridge was damaged in an
air raid leading to a 7 tonne weight restriction
1953: Fourth Walton Bridge was a proprietary “Calendar Hamilton” Bridge.
The third bridge was kept open to cyclists and pedestrians. Photo -
Fourth Walton Bridge, 1953
1955?: Two photos of Third Walton Bridge, Francis Frith.
Third Walton Bridge
but is the date really 1955?
It ought to be possible to see the fourth bridge behind the third if this is correct?
Third Walton Bridge, Francis Frith c 1955
And this time I think we can see the fourth bridge behind the third
1965: Third and fourth Walton Bridges, Francis Frith
Third and fourth Walton Bridges, Francis Frith
1985: Third Walton Bridge was taken down. Fourth Walton Bridge became
increasingly difficult to maintain
1999: Fifth Walton Bridge was built on the line of the third Bridge. Photo -
Fifth Walton Bridge, 1999
Fifth Walton Bridge, Doug Myers © 2005
2005: A sixth Walton Bridge is necessary soon. Surrey County Council proposed an ambitious design
which was said would cost something like £15 million pounds, the bridge design was approved
but not built because the Council was unable to get permission to buy greenbelt land.
The fifth bridge was due to be replaced by 2009
Artists impression of the agreed sixth bridge -
Agreed sixth Walton Bridge. Artist's impression in 2004
Agreed layout
Map
[ I find it difficult to see how the scale of that bridge will fit with the low buildings
(bungalows) on the left bank above the bridge. It is a simple and impressive design, but it does not fit!
The proposed bridge is simply too large to suit what
is a relatively small river when compared with the river at the new proposed Gateway Bridge for example.
And yet one has the feel that the design team somehow had such a setting in mind.
Other people might be more concerned that neither does it fit the relatively small scale roads
and communities around it.
The third bridge of 1864 (see James Dredge's 1897 picture above) was a sensible, solid structure, which
no doubt would still be with us if it were not for wartime damage in 1940. Surely a modern engineered
version of that adapted to a suitable traffic width
(and I would not presume to suggest how many lanes that should be) would be more fitting (and
probably cheaper) than the above bridge? ]
2008: Surrey Herald, Sept 12th -
The prospect of a new Walton Bridge over the Thames to replace the nine-year-old 'temporary' one has moved a step closer.
Surrey County Council has issued three statutory orders which will pave the way for construction to begin on the project by February 2010 with a completion date for 2012.
The orders are:
A compulsory purchase order to acquire land extending from the junction of Oatlands Drive and Bridge Street on the Walton side of the river to the junction of Walton Bridge Road and Windmill Green on the Shepperton side.
A side roads order to make the road alterations possible, allowing the council to improve the roads and build new ones, block off roads where necessary and replace existing accesses to premises with new ones.
A bridge scheme order that authorises the council to build a new permanent road bridge over the River Thames. This order does not relate to the design of the bridge, which has already been approved, just the permission to build over the river.
They have to be confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport to allow further progress to confirm necessary government funding.
A new road bridge over the Thames, which will link the boroughs of Spelthorne and Elmbridge, is expected to cost between £28m and 31m.
David Munro, the county council's executive member for transport, said: "We are moving even closer to our goal of a new Walton Bridge, which will make such a big difference to anyone travelling in this part of the county.
"Inevitably, with such a major project there are procedures we have to follow, and at each stage opportunities are given to residents to have their say. If all goes according to plan we should start construction in 2010."
Copies of the orders and documentation can be inspected at Walton Library in Hepwroth Way and Shepperton Library in High Street from September 17 until November 10.
Anyone wishing to object should write to the Secretary of State for Transport at the address given on the orders.
2008: A new 'Computer Generated picture of the Sixth bridge -
Agreed sixth Walton Bridge. Computer Generated, 2008
2009: The Bridge scheme (on which a decision is awaited -
Scheme on which decision awaited, 2009.
2010 -
Transport secretary Lord Adonis approved the order for the new bridge,
which will join Walton and Shepperton in the summer of 2013
if construction deadlines are met and appropriate funding is acquired.
Lord Adonis approved the order to acquire the land for the Walton Bridge project as well as two further orders,
which will pave the way for its construction following a two-day public inquiry held last summer.
The new structure will replace the current Walton Bridge, which is expected to become structurally weak by 2015.
Work on the £30M project is subject to the successful acquisition of funding from the Government.
Once the money is in place,
officials at Surrey County Council expect work to commence in early 2010 if the 2013 deadline is to be met.
Bridge planning
1889: Jerome K Jerome -
We sculled up to Walton, a rather large place
for a riverside town. As with all riverside places, only the tiniest
corner of it comes down to the water, so that from the boat you might fancy it
was a village of some half-dozen houses, all told. Windsor and Abingdon
are the only towns between London and Oxford that you can really
see anything of from the stream. All the others hide round corners, and
merely peep at the river down one street: my thanks to them for being so
considerate, and leaving the river-banks to woods and fields and
water-works.
Even Reading, though it does its best to spoil
and sully and make hideous as much of the river as it can reach, is
good-natured enough to keep its ugly face a good deal out of sight.
Caesar, of course, had a
little place at Walton - a camp, or an entrenchment, or something of that sort.
Caesar was a regular up-river man.
Also Queen Elizabeth, she was there, too.
You can never get away from that woman, go
where you will.
Cromwell and Bradshaw (not the guide man, but the King
Charles's head man) likewise sojourned here.
They must have been quite a pleasant little party, altogether.
There is an iron "scold's bridle" in Walton Church.
They used these things in ancient days for curbing women's tongues.
They have given up the attempt now.
I suppose iron was getting scarce, and nothing else would be strong enough.
1633: The bridle was presented to the church by Mr Chester, who had -
lost an estate through the instrumentality of a gossiping, lying woman
Chester presents Walton with a Bridle,
To curb women's tongues that talk too idle.
51bc: Julius Caesar, The Gallic War -
Having obtained knowledge of their plans Caesar led his army into the borders of Cassivellaunus as far as the River Thames, which can be crossed at one place only on foot, and that with difficulty. When he was come thither he remarked that on the other bank of the river a great force of the enemy was drawn up. The bank was fortified with a fringe of sharp projecting stakes, and stakes of the same kind fixed under the water were concealed by the stream. When he had learnt these details from prisoners and deserters, Caesar sent the cavalry in advance and ordered the legions to follow up instantly. But the troops moved with such speed and spirit, although they had only their heads above water, that the enemy could not withstand the assault of legions and cavalry, but abandoned the banks and betook themselves to flight.
1586: Camden's Britannia -
... Caesar crossed the Thames into Cassivelaun's territories:
this being the only place where the Thames could be forded and that with great difficulty,
which the Britains themselves in a manner discovered to Caesar.
On the other side this river was drawn up a large army of Britains, and the bank itself
defended with sharp stakes driven into it,
and some of the same were concealed under water in the bed of the river.
"Remains of these", says Bede, "are still to be seen, and it is evident,
at first sight, that each of them is of the thickness of a man's thigh,
covered with lead, and made fast in the bed of the river."
But the Romans entered with so much intrepidity into the river
up to their chins, that the Britons could not stand the shock,
but abandoned the banks and fled.
I cannot be mistaken in this, the river being scarce six feet deep hereabouts,
and the place now called from these stakes "Coway Stakes".
Copley editing Camden's Britannia in 1976 comments that the crossing may well be at Brentford
or London.
"Moreover, stakes set in a river bed will usually be the remains of a fish weir."
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames -
It is said that these stakes were to be seen in the river until quite recently, but this tradition
had better not be accepted as a fact.
The venerable Bede notes that these stakes "are to be seen to this day about the thickness of a
man's thigh, stuck immovable, being driven hard into the bottom of the river".
But it does not appear that the venerable one himself had ocular demonstration of the fact.
1889: Jerome K Jerome -
At "Corway Stakes" - the first bend above Walton Bridge - was fought a battle between Caesar and Cassivelaunus. Cassivelaunus had prepared the river for Caesar, by planting it full of stakes (and had, no doubt, put up a notice-board). But Caesar crossed in spite of this. You couldn't choke Caesar off that river. He is the sort of man we want round the backwaters now.
Map: Slipway right bank above Walton Bridge
Slipway above Walton Bridge
1586: Camden's Britannia -
At the spot where [the River Wey] falls into the Thames by two channels, stands Oatelands, a beautiful palace in a park ...
The Palace of Oatlands
from a drawing 'made about the time of Queen Elizabeth I'
1650: Oatlands Palace demolished. Many of the stones were used in the construction of the locks
for the River Wey Navigation.
Since some of the original material came from the demolition of Abingdon Abbey,
I wonder if some of the Abingdon stone ended up on the Wey?
1889: Jerome K Jerome -
You pass Oatlands Park on the right bank here. It is a famous old place. Henry VIII stole it from some one or the other, I forget whom now, and lived in it. There is a grotto in the park which you can see for a fee, and which is supposed to be very wonderful; but I cannot see much in it myself. The late Duchess of York, who lived at Oatlands, was very fond of dogs, and kept an immense number. She had a special graveyard made, in which to bury them when they died, and there they lie, about fifty of them, with a tombstone over each, and an epitaph inscribed thereon. Well, I dare say they deserve it quite as much as the average Christian does.
1976: Copley comments on Camden's Britannia -
Oatlands, rebuilt from 1538 onwards, has only an archway and garden walls surviving above ground. Excavation of the site began in 1968.
Upstream to Desborough Cut
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