Ruddles Pool is the 90 degree bend above Boveney Lock. Be careful because boats coming downstream are sorely tempted to cut the corner – particularly scullers – and there are many about here - who are not looking your way by definition! The pool can be very beautiful in still conditions with a panorama of reflections -
Ruddles Pool in 1999
[ This photograph was made up from three overlapping photos taken from the inside of the bend. ]
It was nearly dusk after a hard day's punting,
and the silence and still water with a fading blue
sky were very welcome. Occasionally a
sculler would come through shattering the reflections - and then slowly they
would form again.
What a place to cook your supper - I
nearly burnt it - staring out over such loveliness.
But then the couple in the narrow boat
next to me informed me that I would not mind if they started their generator so
that they could watch Coronation Street.
I was so polite. (This is my only revenge!)
Above Ruddles Pool on the right bank is the Willows Riverside development
THE WILLOWS [ 1811 ]
This delightful retirement is situated on the Berkshire banks of the Thames, between Bray and Windsor,
and owes its immediate beauty to the last possessor, the !ate Henry Townly Ward, Esq.
It has not indeed either extent or circumstance sufficient to rank it among those places,
which are described as the boast of the river whose bosom reflects it:
but so happily has taste exerted itself in improvement;
such has been the consequent transformation from its original appearance,
that it now offers a most pleasing object to the voyager of the river who gladly suspends the oar to regard it.
The spot of which it consists has now attained an enrichment,
with which those who knew it in its former state are agreeably astonished,
from the interesting and unexpected novelty of its improved appearance,
while those who view it for the first time, are sufficiently gratified to anticipate a pleasure when they shall see it again.
It was originally a cold swamp covered with osiers, which, by a skilful and effectual drainage,
has been converted into a verdant sloping lawn, replete with rural elegance.
The ornamental ground is connected by a subterraneous passage, with a small farm, called Bullock's Heath,
which not only adds to its extent, but encreases its accommodations as a country residence.
Of literal description it will admit but little, but what it does admit the Engraving will more correctly display.
At the same time it may be safely observed, that a spot, where the Towers of Windsor Castle
are seen to rise in such splendid magnificence, from their elevated brow;
where the Turrets of Eton College are beheld amid its surrounding groves;
and where the Thames flows immediately before it, must receive the grandeur of distant prospect,
in addition to its own native and tranquil beauty.
There are, however, circumstances connected with this villa, which cannot be addressed to the eye,
but must have reached the hearts of those who were admitted as visitors there.
They were long felt, will be long remembered, and may be surely considered as a superior characteristic of it:
we allude to the well-known and constant hospitalities which distinguished it.
The annual aquatic festival of the Eton Scholars, which their Majesties have sometimes been pleased to attend,
not only received an enlivening display to its show, but a most elegant addition to their pleasure,
from the reception which The Willows failed not to afford them on the occasion.
Some years have passed away since Mrs. Ward, whose mind and manners qualified her,
in a peculiar manner, to enhance the pleasantness of the spot, has been regretted by her surviving friends;
and all who knew her wished for that distinction:
— and within the last year Mr. Townly Ward's generous and friendly spirit has closed its earthly career.
It was bequeathed by him to his friend Patrick Crawford Bruce, Esq. of Taplow Lodge, who is the present [1811] possessor of it.
Right bank site of Surley Hall
Surley Hall
1868: A chain ferry at Surley Hall
1885: The Royal River -
Surley Hall, an inn much frequented by Eton boys, who come here for refreshment at that happy age in which it is possible to lunch off olives and toffee.
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames -
Surly Hall - a tavern well known to all oarsmen, and especially dear to every Etonian. It is on the Berks bank, about half a mile above Boveney Lock. The house has recently been renovated, and affords reasonably good accommodation. During the summer season the Eights of the Eton Boat Club pay periodical visits to Surly, on which occasions great havoc is wrought amongst the ducks and green peas. In a meadow opposite are laid out the tables for the feast at the annual celebration of the birthday of George III, the 4th of June, the great event ... in the Eton boy's year.
1899: Fred Thacker –
the well remembered inn here was closed by the Duchess of Sutherland and entirely removed in 1901
Upstream to Windsor Marina
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