MARSTON MEYSEY

MARSTON MEYSEY

Camping Marston Meysey, Right bank: Second Chance Caravan Site, Marston Meysey, nr Swindon, Wilts, SN6 6SN
01285 810675 Map ref: SU 140960
26 pitches, 1st March to 11th November. WC, Showers, Laundry, Wash basins, Power. No dogs.

Marston Meysey Camping Site
Marston Meysey Camping Site.

Camp site now has no slipway. It would be difficult to launch anything more than a canoe here - (the current is too high for children's water activities).

Tributary? Left bank -

Tributary

Here on the Left bank the footpath is carried on a footbridge over what is now a dry tributary but shows signs of recent floods.
There is a tributary here with a marked daily flow pattern (obviously the result of the working of a waterworks or sewerage plant )

Water Eaton Footbridge -

Water Eaton Footbridge
Water Eaton Footbridge.

1087: Eysey in The Domesday Book
REGENBALD the priest holds LATTON and EYSEY. 2 thegns held them as 2 manors in the time of King Edward. Earl Harold joined them into 1 and it paid geld for 9 hides. There is land for 8 ploughs. Of this land 3 hides are in demesne, and 8 slaves. There are 15 villans and 6 bordars and 4 cottars with 5 ploughs; and in demesne 3 ploughs. There are 2 mills, and 200 acres of meadow, and pasture 1 league long and half a league broad. It was and is worth £10.

1087: Caste Eaton in The Domesday Book
EARL ROGER holds CASTLE EATON. In the time of King Edward it paid geld for 15 hides. There is land for 12 ploughs. Of this land half is in demesne, and there are 34 ploughs, and 6 slaves. There are 8 villans and 8 cotsets with 5 ploughs. There is a mill rendering 15s 6d, and 100 acres of meadow and pasture 6 furlong long and 3 furlongs broad. In the time of King Edward it was worth £15, now £12.

Site of Water Eaton Weir. 
Water Eaton Mill was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
  Godstow Priory had a settlement here, probably Nun Eaton Mill. 1307: A dispute about rights of way here.
1535: Sir Walter Stonor to Cromwell -

I have pulled up the weir of Water Eyton according to the King's commandment.

The current is building up again quite significantly.
Eysey Footbridge -

Eysey Footbridge
Eysey Footbridge.

So much current that I had difficulty taking this picture.

An ancient ford well known to hunting men.

1791: Samuel Ireland, Eisey Bridge -

Eysey Footbridge
Eisey Bridge, 1791, Samuel Ireland

1888: from " The Thames: Oxford to its Source" by Paul Blake -

Eisey is a good fishing-place, but of very second-rate character as regards boating. It is a healthy locality for rushes in fact from here to Cricklade the boat was fixed as often as floating.
Then came the old plank bridge, prettily situated between wooded banks, then Rose Cottage, then Cricklade.

1920: Fred Thacker says Eisey Trestle Bridge

Lantern Slide (1883-1908) - "River Scene with Lady"
Pictures by W.C.Hughes. Thanks to Pat Furley, research by Dr Wilson.
Position not identified

Lantern Slide (1883-1908) - "Plank Bridge at Cricklade"
Pictures by W.C.Hughes. Thanks to Pat Furley, research by Dr Wilson.

1897: Eisey Footbridge, James Dredge -

Eisey Footbridge, James Dredge, 1897
Eisey Footbridge, James Dredge, 1897
© Oxfordshire County Council Photographic Archive; D230429a

Meadows at Cricklade, Ashley Bryant
Meadows at Cricklade, Ashley Bryant

River Ray, RIGHT bank.
1692: Baskervile - Rey fflu  [ flumen = river ]

Here Roughton River called Ree
Joynes with the Tems as you may see.

Ampney Brook, Right bank.
Footbridge -

new footbridge
A new footbridge, not on my map.

Hatchett’s Bridge.
1920: Fred Thacker says "a mere crazy trestle framework".

"Turn from hell" -

Awkward Bend
"Turn from hell" (Seen from upstream).

A sharp bend with a high current and a total width between banks of perhaps 30 feet. The current sweeps strongly under a thorn bush on the Right bank.  The left bank has reeds and shallows.
The punt grounded (3” inches!) on the bend and I had to come off backwards.  Moving more out into the centre threatened being swept into the thorns which were right down to water level with weeds and debris.  I nearly got out and hauled the punt through – but just managed to punt through.

1896: 'A Tale of the Thames' by Joseph Ashby-Sterry - [coming downstream Cricklade towards Lechlade]

After leavng Cricklade, the navigation of the river in a canoe is mighty pleasant. Not only does the stream widen, but it has increased in rapidity by the addition of the Churn and Rey, which join it just above the bridge. It was indescribably soothful, gliding along between the tree-fringed banks and watching the changes perpetually wrought by the cloud shadows from time to time. ...
After passing beneath Eisey Footbridge, they stepped the tiny mast and hoisted an enormous sail, ...
Saint Mary's Church Eisey, may now be sighted over the port bow! ...
The stream gurgled musically as the light craft flew over the waters. Occasionally the haymakers looked at them with open-mouthed surprise, and fancied that they had seen a daylight ghost. Sleepy cows gazed at them more in sorrow than in anger; and indignant youngsters of the bovine order lowered their heads and whisked their tails as if they would like to have had a game of pitch-and-toss with the strange white winged bird who dared to approach so closely to their domain.
They nearly came to grief at Water Eaton footbridge, but, fortunately, lowered the sail just in time. Once clear of the bridge, they hoisted it again and had a pleasant run - passing the picturesque mansion of Water Eaton Hall on the right - till they reached the cut about a half mile below.
Here they were not quite sure with regard to shoals and other impediments, so they lowered the sail. ...