Chilterns

North Downs

The Cotswolds

Berkshire Downs

North Wessex Downs

0 20 km

DORCHESTER

Riv

er T

ham

e

Riv

er L

ea o

r Le

e

Riv

er M

oleRive

r Lod

don

River Ock

Riv

er C

herw

ell

River Coln

River W

ey

River C

hurn

River Leach

River Windrush

River Kennet

River Ray

River M

isbourne

River Glyme

River E

venlode

River Hart

River Pang

Blackw

ater River

River C

hessC

olne Brook

Riv

er R

ay

River Lambourn

River Wye

ETON

GoringLONDON

Eynsham

Cookham

STAINESREADING

CHERTSEY

WALLINGFORD

CIRENCESTER

KINGSTON UPON THAMES

OXFORD

LECHLADE

MAIDENHEAD

CRICKLADE

ABINGDON

WINDSOR

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

""

"

""

"

"

FAIRFORD"

Marlow"

Henley-on-Thames"

Guildford"

River Tham

es

Riv

er

Thames

Figure 1: The Thames Valley and surrounding region showing topography, rivers and main historic settlements (map courtesy of the British Geological Survey)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 2: 14th-century watermill and eel trap from the Luttrell Psalter (©British Library)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 3: The London Stone, Staines, Surrey (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 4: Abbey Mills, Chertsey, Surrey, c 1870 (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 5: Artist’s impression of Blackfriars ship 3 (after Marsden 1996, 88, fig. 73), (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 6: The Oxford–Burcot Commission (after Philip 1937, plate XIII), (©Oxford City Archives, OCA F.5.2., f.13, held at Oxfordshire History Centre)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Berkesheire

large & deepeCulnhambridge: Whose archese are very

breaches o

f the

maine streame

great lockesthe River from the Mills to the

Almeshouse is verie Rockie above and beneath the bridge

AlmesehousebridgeMills

Abingdon

from hence to A

bingdon the

River is forced up w

ith a high banke

Newnham

lockes

Sandforde mills

great

lockes

Some turnepeekes

are to be made here

in convienient placeIles

Yefley mille

lockes

Suscot mill

Godstoe bridge

Oxforde sheire

Figure 7: Chertsey Lock, Surrey, next to the River Thames (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 8: The Thames Conservancy at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 9: Mapledurham Lock, Oxfordshire (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 10: Boating parties at Nuneham Courtenay (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 11: Oxford Canal Basin (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 12: Osney Lock, Oxford (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 13: Engraving of an ‘improved’ Kennet or Thames and Severn canal-type barge at Henley bridge (W.G. Fearnside, c 1834), (©University of London)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 14: Reconstruction sketches of the Binsey Boat, c AD 1800 (after Durham et al. 2006), (©Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 15: Medieval map of Chertsey (c 1432), showing its timber bridge (©National Archives)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 16: The third bridge at Hampton Court (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 17: Marlow Suspension Bridge, Buckinghamshire, c 1834 (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000

Figure 18: Clifton Hampden Bridge (©Historic England)

THE THAMES THROUGH TIMEThe Archaeology of the Gravel Terraces of the Upper and Middle Thames:

The Thames Valley in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Periods AD 1000-2000