Category Archives: River Thames

Swan Uppers under “a month’s worth of rain in one day”

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Swan Uppers
The Swan Uppers arrived at Abingdon Bridge on Friday July 24th after a five day swan census beginning at Sunbury on Monday.
Swan Uppers
Friday was predicted as having “a month’s worth of rain in one day”.
Swan Uppers
There were half a dozen people waiting on Abingdon Bridge when the skiffs arrived at around 4:40pm. I don’t know if they caught the Abingdon swans. There was not the usual toast to the Queen under Abingdon Bridge. They hurried to get indoors for a drink at the Nags Head.

School Holidays are here …

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School Holidays
School Holidays are here and for those families who have not gone away already, in the first week, there was a glorious first Sunday on the Abingdon Riviera (Abbey Meadows). A new mobile coffee stall appeared and will be there through the holidays.
School Holidays
The Abbey Meadows has an open air pool and a playground and a sprayground so it is the place to be on such a day. Coseners House had a party going and the music meant we were all part of the party.
School Holidays
Summer can’t get much better than lounging beside the boat after a day winding up or down the River Thames.
School Holidays
The Salter’s Steamer from Oxford to Abingdon now goes under the bridge at Abingdon …
School Holidays
makes a turn by St Helen’s Wharf, then parks on their own quayside at the Abingdon Bridge Marine.

Changes Round Abingdon Bridge

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Changes Round Abingdon Bridge
Just ten days ago I took a picture of a coots nest below Abingdon Bridge, with six baby coots. Today there were two adult birds sitting on the nest, with no babies in sight. What happened?
Changes Round Abingdon Bridge
The Herald had a couple of Abingdon Bridge stories this week. The Old Gaol development are advertising three restaurants ‘To Let.’
Changes Round Abingdon Bridge
And Planning application P15/V1255/FUL has been submitted at the end of May so that The Boat Centre  on Nags Head Island, now owned by Salter Steamers, would relocate the chandlery into the old workshop, and with minor remodeling, make a cafe from the old chandlery.
Changes Round Abingdon Bridge
This evening three swimmers, emulating David Walliams, swam under Abingdon Bridge.
Changes Round Abingdon Bridge
There were plenty of people on the other side of Nags Head Island, at The Nags Head, to take pictures.
Changes Round Abingdon Bridge
The Upper Reaches Hotel, with its large riverside carpark has not been in the news, but there are rumours that it could be about to see changes.

Hire Boats back in the water

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Hire Boats back in the water
The hire boats, including some new ones, are back in the River Thames at Abingdon Bridge. They were very nearly sold and lost as a visitor attraction last autumn.
Hire Boats back in the water
Then Salters stepped in and took over the Kingcraft business as a going concern. Abingdon Bridge Marine Limited (a company wholly owned by Salter Brothers of Oxford) will now operate the chandlery, moorings, and fuel business, as well as operate hire boats.

In addition the website Abingdon Bridge Marine says they will be operating 40 Minute return boat trips daily From 1st April 2015 (towards Culham Lock cut).

Salter Steamers will continue to operate the Abingdon to Oxford and Abingdon to Wallingford long-haul services, but will operate from Abingdon Bridge Marine rather than the Upper Reaches Hotel.