Bablock Hythe

Bablock Hythe is a small hamlet in Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire), situated 5 miles west of Oxford city centre. There was formerly an important vehicular ferry across the River Thames at Bablock Hythe on the reach above Pinkhill Lock.

The earliest reference to a ferry is in 1279 and later ferries continued to provide a crossing service until the mid 20th century. The ferry was a wide beamed ferry punt with a rope or chain in the river, shich provided some hazard to navigation. [Fred. S. Thacker "The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs" 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles] There was also an ancient inn described by William Senior in his "Royal River" in the 1880s, which has now been replaced by a more modern building.

The poet Matthew Arnold described the area in his work "The Scholar-Gipsy", writing :In hat of antique shape and cloak of grey:Crossing the stripling Thames at Bab-lock-hithe:Trailing in the cool stream they fingers wet:As the slow punt swings round.

The site is overlooked by the "Warm green-muffled Cumnor Hills", but is now an extensive caravan site. [Paul Goldsack "River Thames: In tie Footsteps of the Famous" Bradt/English Heritage 2003]

ee also

*Crossings of the River Thames

References

External links

* [http://www2.mihalis.net/canal/cgi-bin/gazette.cgi?where=$9c78 Canal Plan Gazetteer]
* [http://thames.me.uk/s01970.htm Where Thames smooth waters glide]

Latitude: 51N44'7" Longitude: 1W22'19"