Falling Down the Thames Blog 14, 18^th June 2014

More Thames Pubs

In an earlier blog, I explained that Krista and I would take time out from our Falling Down the Thames adventure to samples the goods on offer at a number of pubs along the River Thames and south bank of the Thames Estuary. Although I invited suggestions about pubs we might want to investigate, I shouldn’t leave you with the impression that I have not yet imbibed at any pubs along the great river. I have. They include:

 

 

The Trout Inn, Wolvercote: Occupation of the site can be traced to 1138, but the current building was constructed in the 17th century. The Trout Inn that I visited is rather more suited the crème brûlée crowd than the Walkers crisps crowd. It shouldn’t be confused with The Trout Inn, twenty-seven kilometres away in Farringdon, The Trout Inn, thirty-seven kilometres away in Lechlade, The Trout Inn, ninety-six kilometres away in Itchen Abbas. or even The Trout Inn, 227 kilometres away in Tiverton.

The Head of the River: A Fuller’s pub, adjacent to the Folly Bridge in Oxford, The Head of the River is nowhere near the head of the river. That is seventy kilometres away near Kemble. Or Seven Springs. Or wherever the Thames actually begins. The stone building, once a warehouse and then a boatyard, touches the Thames. Or the Isis. Or whatever you choose to call the river as it flows through Oxford. If you like sitting at picnic tables drinking beer as people paddle by, then this is the place for you.

Isis Tavern / Isis Farmhouse: Situated at Iffley Lock, Oxford, the building that now housing the pub started over two hundred years ago as  farmhouse, There is no vehicular access to the Isis, and so it must be approached on foot. It appears that this venue has changed ownership and emphasis a couple of times since I lasted visited Oxford eight years ago. Let’s hope that the essence remains.

Kings Arms: Despite the odd lack of a possessive apostrophe in its name, this pub in Sandford-on-Thames has to get credit for being close enough to the Thames as to be almost in the river. It is one of 135 venues in the Chef & Brewer chain. Although I generally avoid chain pubs, The King’s Arms provides a beautiful opportunity to drink beer and watch river traffic pass through a lock.

 

 

King Ethelbert Inn: Built around 1809, this pub is situated on the site of a former port at Reculver. Although the channel that made it such an important port has long since silted up, and most of the community lost to erosion by the sea, what little remains of Reculver is deeply embedded in my family’s history. King Ethelbert was King of Kent at the turn of the 7th century. He is generally credited with helping to establish Christianity among Britain’s formerly pagan Anglo-Saxons, and was canonized as a result.

Five pubs. It’s a start.

- Glen

 

 

 

Photo credits: Kings Arms, Sandford-on-Thames – www.oxfordmail.co.uk; The Trout Inn, Wolvercote – travelswithshep.blogspot.com.au; King Ethelbert Inn, Reculver – weekendrambling.files.wordpress.com