It seems rather strange that I should be writing articles about the Thames from a cottage no more than 8 miles from the sea in South Devon. John Peel asked for suggestions for a rally site on the tidal Thames in the last Bulletin, and this brought to mind many pleasant weekends spent at Richmond some six to eight years ago. Because of the time interval there will almost certainly have been changes, but if you live in the London area then checking on my facts will make an interesting afternoon in the winter.

The launching site was discovered, and eventually used frequently, when I owned a 12’ Tideway dinghy and towed it with an Anglia estate car. My requirements of a launching site were that it should be firm, usable at all states of tide and not have crowds of people. Further, a launching site is only of use if the water into which one launches is interesting. What could be more interesting than seeing London from a 12’ dinghy on the Thames?

The launching site is at Petersham (O.S. TQ 178735) between Twickenham and Richmond on the south bank of the River Thames. Follow the A307 from Kingston into Petersham and turn left where the main road bends sharply. This lane leads to the river, and parking used to be permitted. The hard is firm ground to almost the low water mark, but launching and recovery is easiest near H.W. Arrive early to be assured of a parking space. About ½ mile up river, on the south bank, there used to be a car park and a cobbled slipway into the river. If parking has been prohibited at the lane, one would hope that this slipway has been improved. (I once saw a coach on a pedal cycle accompanying a rowing-8 ride down this slipway into the river when he forgot to look where he was going!)

The Thames is half-tidal here. Next to the Old Deer Park below Richmond is Richmond lock, which is the last lock on the Thames. It separates the tidal Thames from the half-tidal Thames. There is a barrage here that is lowered at low water, and large boats use Richmond lock to bypass it; small boats use rollers that are quite easy to use and no real worry. At high water the barrage is removed and vessels can navigate normally. This half-tidal barrage does maintain a stand of water at Petersham, and at neap tides the level changes very little. The lock above Petersham is Teddington lock, and this separates the half-tidal Thames from the non-tidal Thames. Rollers are again provided for small boats.

Once afloat, you have the choice of going up river towards Teddington, with landing in Twickenham near Eel Pie Island. There is a pub here and also a launching site (a dock, as hards on the Thames are called) but it is very public, very steep, and very muddy. I suppose Jack Whitby could visit Ham House (National Trust) which is adjacent to my Petersham launching site, and Ernest the Eel Pie Island night club!

Far more interesting — after launching on Friday evening, drinking in Twickenham, and anchoring close to the north bank opposite Petersham (near Petersham Island) overnight — would be to take the carefully chosen ebb tide down river the next morning, when the half-tide lock would be open, and continue down-tide until the tide turned, and then return on the flood. A motor is essential, and all bridges have 19’0” clearance, except Hammersmith with 14’6”. I managed to reach Greenwich under motor, and the bridges — about 30 in all — provide good landmarks. The Esso chart of the Thames Estuary used to be excellent value at one shilling, though no doubt Admiralty and Stanfords charts are available. O.S. map sheet 160, London NW, I found the most useful, where the Petersham launching site is reference TQ 178735. It would be foolish to sail through London, as the currents are quite strong and the wind unpredictable. Beware of wind over current beneath the bridges, especially opposite the Chelsea Physic Garden, and, of course, other vessels.

Saturday night I’d try to tie up — anchor as a last resort — somewhere near Strand On The Green. You could almost dry out at the top of the beach here, but it is a bit mucky. The pubs at Strand On The Green are good, and this stretch of the Thames is especially attractive in early season when the flowering shrubs are in bloom. Keen botanists might like to visit Kew Gardens and observatory, almost opposite, on Sunday.

Sunday evening, possibly in the growing cool of a summer evening after a blazing hot day, you drift with the tide back to Petersham, retrieve the boat, and retire to the pub in Petersham village; or even take a walk up Richmond Hill, which affords a good view of Petersham Reach, with — why not? — a jar in the Star & Garter.

Points to remember: the Thames has been described as a poisonous chemical at this point, and contact with it should be avoided, especially on open cuts. DO NOT DRINK IT (not even after boiling). Some prescribe a visit to the doctor to any unfortunate who falls in — perhaps we insist that Malcolm Evans acts as medical adviser to any DCA expedition. (Say, what an idea for a procession… to see Frank Dye’s Wayfarer to Greenwich!)

Should anyone be contemplating a cruise on the Thames (summer or winter), please invite me! Roger Davies Torr Hill Cottage Ivybridge Devon