Reinterred: Thames Path - Richmond to Battersea

Today was Day 2 of this year's 3-day walk along part of the Thames Path. Following on from last year's 4 days walking West from Walton-on-Thames (see here), this year we started in the same place, but went in the opposite direction. Today we walked from Richmond (where we were staying) to Battersea.

Organised by Joyce, this is what she said...

"If you joined our 4 day break last March, then you will have already walked 40 miles of the Thames Path- one of 16 National Trails in the UK. The Trails - National Trails. You will remember that we alighted at Walton on Thames train station and over the 4 days made our way over to Shiplake - 40 lovely miles. On this break I am hoping to add another 28- 34 miles as we have such good walkers ‘in tow’.

Monday 27th March – walk from Richmond to Battersea Bridge, refreshments at The Ship Inn and Thames Clipper Boat back to Richmond or there are plenty of trains. We walk past Kew Gardens today and plenty of bridges. We may visit Battersea Park if time allows. "

This was our route today.

Here are a few of my photos.

Our start - our hotel in Richmond.

It was such a difference from yesterday having sunshine and blue skies today. Here we are back at the river.

We soon came across the "meridian line". Here we were due south of Kew Observatory. At one time,

London's official time was set from the calculations made at Kew. Later this work was taken

over by the Observatory at Greenwich.

The map and story by the marker are a little indistinct..

Three obelisks were erected in the Old Deer Park in June 1778 to assist in the exact alignment of instruments in the Observatory. The northern one and the western one of the southern pair are on the true north-south Meridian Line passing through the west room of the Observatory which housed a tracking telescope. The southern obelisk is due south from the east room that at the time housed its great mural quadrant. This is the southernmost obelisk.

On the other side of the river we saw the first of (at least) 6 herons we encountered on or by the river today.

Just after passing Isleworth Ait, we got a clear view of Isleworth and its All Saints' Church.

At the northern end of the Deer Park we re-crossed the meridian we had seen earlier and got a view of the Observatory.

Soon we were passing Kew Gardens and got a good view down the river towards the tower blocks of Brentford and the rower who had passed us a few minutes earlier.

Syon House, on the other side of the river, has been the London home of the Dukes of Northumberland, the Percy family, for over 400 years.

We got a glimpse of one of the Kew Garden glasshouses - the Palm House.

We saw plenty of rowers out on the river today.

At Kew Palace...

...some of us walked along this wall to avoid the puddles.

Just after Kew bridge we saw the Fuller, Smith & Turner Griffin Brewery. Beer has been brewed here since the seventeenth century.

On our side of the river was the concrete mass of the National Archives.

Shortly after, we came to the end of the course of the University Boat Race, scene of yesterday's (and last Monday's) triumphant clean sweep by the light blues (read about it here). This is Chiswick Boat House, where the clues leave the water at the end of the race.

Now we were passing the route the all rowed, but in the opposite direction. This is the finish line by Chiswick Steps, just downstream of Chiswick Bridge.

We passed the Ship Inn, but didn't stop as we were too early - it doesn't open until 12pm.

Barnes bridge is another well-known sight on the boat race course.

Here we found a coffee shop for our monring cuooa.

Our second brewery of the day - The Lamb Brewery. Owwned for many years by the now defunct Sich & Co, there has been no brewing here since 1920.

Our next landmark was Hammersmith Bridge, built in 1887. It is one of the world's oldest suspension bridges. It was fully closed in 2020 on public safety grounds, following identification of micro-fractures in the 136-year-old structure. It was reopened in 2021, to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic while stabilisation works were undertaken. The truss structure and the bridge works, needed before it can reopen to automotive traffic will require both planning permission and listed building consent.

Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham FC.

And here we are at Putney bridge, the start of the University Boat Race.

Forced away from the river for a short distance, we passed some resplendent Magnolia trees....

...by the former house of the Australian Painter Sir Sidney Nolan.

Shortly before Wandsworth Bridge...

...we came to The Ship pub - this is the one Joyce had referred to as our drinks stop.

Passing the Battersea railway bridge...

....we arrived at St. Mary's Church.

Opposite, we could see Lots Road Power Station on Chelsea Creek, London's oldest power station, which once powered the Underground network, It has now being redeveloped into luxury apartments (see here)

We saw plenty of statues along the river bank today. Here is one of a pair of swans.

Albert Bridge is pretty. In 1992 it was rewired and painted in an unusual colour scheme designed to make it more conspicuous in poor visibility, and avoid being damaged by ships. At night it is illuminated by 4,000 LEDs, adding to its status as a landmark.