Maps
Marlow, from ‘The Genius of the Thames’ by Thomas Love Peacock –
Delight shall check the expanded sail
In woody Marlow's winding vale:
And fond regret for scenes so fair
With backward gaze shall linger there.
1839: Mrs Shelley's note on “The Revolt of Islam” -
'During the year 1817 we were established at Marlow, in Buckinghamshire.
Shelley's choice of abode was fixed chiefly by this town being at no great distance
from London, and its neighborhood to the Thames.
The poem was written in his boat, as it floated under the beech groves of Bisham,
or during wanderings in the neighboring country,
which is distinguished for peculiar beauty.
The chalk hills break into cliffs that overhang the Thames,
or form valleys clothed with beech; the wilder portion of the country
is rendered beautiful by exuberant vegetation;
and the cultivated part is peculiarly fertile.
With all this wealth of nature which, either in the form of gentlemen's parks
or soil dedicated to agriculture, flourishes around,
Marlow was inhabited (I hope it is altered now) by a very poor population.
The women are lacemakers, and lose their health by sedentary labor,
for which they were very ill paid. The poor-laws ground to the dust not only the paupers,
but those who had risen just above that state, and were obliged to pay poor-rates.
The changes produced by peace following a long war, and a bad harvest,
brought with them the most heart-rending evils to the poor.
Shelley afforded what alleviation he could.
1886: 'Drifting Down' by Joseph Ashby-Sterry -
DRIFTING down in the grey-green twilight,
O, the scent of the new-mown hay !
The oars drip in the mystic shy light,
O, the charm of the dying day !
While fading flecks of bright opalescence
But faintly dapple a saffron sky,
The stream flows on with superb quiescence,
The breeze is hushed to the softest sigh.
Drifting down in the sweet still weather,
O, the fragrance of fair July !
Love, my Love, when we drift together,
O, how fleetly the moments fly !
Drifting down on the dear old River,
O, the music that interweaves !
The ripples run and the sedges shiver,
O, the song of the lazy leaves !
And far-off sounds - for the night so clear is
Awake the echoes of bygone times ;
The muffled roar of the distant weir is
Cheered by the clang of the Marlow chimes.
Drifting down in the cloudless weather,
O, how short is the summer day !
Love, my Love, when we drift together,
O, how quickly we drift away !
Drifting down as the night advances,
O, the calm of the starlit skies !
Eyelids droop o'er the half-shy glances,
O, the light in those blue-grey eyes !
A winsome maiden is sweetly singing
A dreamy song in a minor key ;
Her clear low voice and its tones are bringing
A mingled melody back to me.
Drifting down in the clear calm weather,
O, how sweet is the maiden's song !
Love, my Love, when we drift together,
O, how quickly we drift along !
1889: Jerome K Jerome -
From Marlow up to Sonning is even fairer yet ...
It was while floating in his boat under the
Bisham beeches that Shelley, who was then living at Marlow (you can see his
house now, in West street), composed THE REVOLT OF ISLAM.
1870s: Towpath Bridge above Marlow, George Leslie -
Towpath Bridge above Marlow, George Leslie, 1870s
Towpath Bridge above Marlow, 2004
Map: Bisham Church, right bank
1889: Jerome K Jerome -
Just before you come to the abbey, and right on the river's bank, is Bisham Church, and, perhaps, if any tombs are worth inspecting, they are the tombs and monuments in Bisham Church.
1793: Bisham Church and Abbey -
Bisham Abbey. 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.
1870: Bisham Church, Henry Taunt -
Bisham Church, Henry Taunt, 1870
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; HT01555
1890: Bisham Church and Abbey, Francis Frith -
1890: Bisham Church and Abbey, Francis Frith
1906: Bisham Church, Mortimer Menpes -
Bisham Church, Mortimer Menpes, 1906
1992: Skyscan's Aerial View of Bisham Church in The Secret Thames -
Skyscan's Aerial View of Bisham Church.
2004: Bisham Church -
Bisham Church, 2004
Bisham Church History
1881: George Leslie -
Nothing can be finer than … Bisham Abbey and
Church, Temple Mills, Hurley and Harleyford;
as a typical piece of Thames scenery it has no equal in my estimation.
The little church at Bisham has not escaped the
restorer’s hands; its
situation is however its great charm, and cannot fail to attract the gaze of
the passer by.
Inside the church, the
old tomb of the Hobbies is interesting, and the exquisite colouring of the
window, with its wonderful coats of arms in it, may serve to help an artistic
mind through the tedium of a dull sermon. [!]
I never pass Bisham Church without seeing one
or perhaps two artists at work from it, seated on the tow-path opposite.
There must have been a great number of
drawings made of this prettily composed little group, but I never recollect
seeing any at the various Exhibitions.
Map: Bisham Abbey, right bank
Bisham Abbey and Church, 1811
1881: George Leslie continues -
The abbey itself is never quite so popular with the artists at the church and trees; why, I do not know, for the colouring of the old house is superb, and there is a forsaken romantic look about the whole place which disposes one strongly to believe in the ghost story of the Lady Hoby, who, dressed in black and white, is said to haunt the building by way of expiation for having beaten to death the little child who blotted her writing-books.
1885: Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames:
Bisham is chiefly celebrated for its abbey, the seat of G H Vansittart, Esq., which dates from
the time of King Stephen. In 1338 it became a priory. Subsequently it was given by Henry VIII to
Anne of Cleves. Queen Elizabeth once resided here, under the charge of the Hobys, and appears
to have had a "good time" ...
The porch and great hall, which are portions of the oldest part of the building, are exceedingly fine;
and the drawing room, which contains a bay window built spcially for the Princess Elizabeth,
is remarkable for some very goold old stained glass.
There is a remarkable tapestry bed-chamber, with an entrance to a peculiarly constructed
secret room high up in the wall;
and on the ground-floor is a very satisfactory ghost-room, which is said to be haunted by the
apparition of one of the Ladies Hoby, who beat her little boy to death for inking his copies,
and is now condemned to continual vain attempts to wash her own hands in a ghostly basin which
goes before her as she walks. Unfortunately it is not clear whether anybody has actually seen the ghost,
but it is said that, during a period of repairing, a number of blotted copy books of the time to
whch the legend refers were found secreted in the room - evidence, which as ghost stories go, is
quite enough for all practical purposes. ...
In the dining room is a very jovial portrait of a certain Rev.Peregrine Hoby, who appears from his complexion
to have thoroughly enjoyed the good things of this life ...
and the gem of the collection will be found over the mantelpiece in the shape of a brilliant
portrait of Henrietta Maria, by Van Dyck.
Henrietta Maria by Van Dyck.
[ Van Dyck painted 35 portraits of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I. Whether this is the Bisham version
I leave to art historians. ]
1885: Bisham Abbey, Henry Taunt -
Bisham Abbey, Henry Taunt, 1885
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; HT4843
1893: Bisham Abbey, Francis Frith -
1893: Bisham Abbey, Francis Frith
1906: Bisham Abbey, Mortimer Menpes -
Bisham Abbey, Mortimer Menpes, 1906
Bisham Abbey Sports Centre
Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School
Bisham Abbey Squash Club
Bisham Abbey National Sports & Conference Centre
Bisham Abbey Lawn Tennis Club
2004: Bisham Abbey -
Bisham Abbey in 2004
1889: Jerome K Jerome -
From Marlow up to Sonning is even fairer yet ...
Grand old Bisham Abbey, whose stone walls have
rung to the shouts of the Knights Templars, and which, at one time, was the
home of Anne of Cleves and at another of Queen Elizabeth, is passed on the
right bank just half a mile above Marlow Bridge.
Bisham Abbey is rich in melodramatic
properties. It contains a tapestry
bed-chamber, and a secret room hid high up in the thick walls.
The ghost of the Lady Hoby, who beat her
little boy to death, still walks there at night, trying to wash its ghostly
hands clean in a ghostly basin.
Warwick, the king-maker, rests there, careless
now about such trivial things as earthly kings and earthly kingdoms;
and Salisbury, who did good service at Poitiers.
1992: Bondig Bank given to the Thames Society -
Bondig Bank, a beautiful stretch of riverbank opposite Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre,
is situated halfway between Marlow and Temple locks.
Miss Margaret Dickinson, a relative of the last private owner of Bisham Abbey,
and a long time member of the Society, donated this stretch of bank to the Society in 1992.
A landscape architect who recently visited the bank, expressed her delight to see
that the Society had planted reeds and spiral willows to prevent bank erosion and in her opinion,
more of the bank should be protected in this way.
There is always work to be done, in particular, path and fence repairs
together with pollarding of the willows, in order to maintain the bank as a place to walk and enjoy,
as well as being the perfect habit for birds, plants and insect life.
There are two benches situated on the bank,
one in memory of Mr John Parton who founded the Society in 1962
and the other in memory of Mr Derek Simmonds,
who was a committee member of the Middle Thames Branch for many years.
It is the aim of the Society to manage the bank in such a way as to encourage plants and wildlife.
In May 2006 Roger and Frances Wilding of the Wycombe Wildlife Group,
conducted a survey
on behalf [of the Thames Society] and suggested that in some areas,
the stinging nettles should be pulled up rather than strimmed
to encourage more attractive flowering wild plants local to the area.
Anyone interested in helping with the maintenance of the bank
or with any specialist knowledge on bank management please contact the
River Thames Society Administrator.
Upstream to TEMPLE 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