Seventy Seven Bridges 20" x 16" Oils on Canvas

1. H'apenny Bridge - Lechlade
It was originally a toll bridge (charge a halfpenny, hence the name) and the toll house can still be seen on the eastern part of the bridge. A little further up-stream is the Round House which marks the limit of the navigable Thames, this was built to provide accommodation for lock-keepers. 

 2.  St. John’s Bridge - Lechlade This bridge, height 13’10” , is close to St John’s Lock which is the first lock on the Thames. The original single arched bridge on this site was built in 1229 by the monks from the nearby Priory of St John the Baptist, and has been rebuilt several times since to the same design. 

3. Bloomer’s Hole Footbridge  
This bridge was built in 2000 to carry the Thames footpath so that walkers could avoid crossing on the rather dangerous St John’s bridge which is nearer to the lock.
This is a particularly remote part of the river which is a haven for wildlife, and many rare wildflowers can be found here in season.
 

4. Eaton Footbridge
This footbridge, 9’9”high crosses the river at the point of the last ‘flash’ lock on the Thames. This style of lock was rather like a weir with a removable gate . The boat would pass through on the ‘flash’ of water when the gate was opened. Close to the north of this bridge lies Kelmscott manor which was the home of William Morris.

5. Radcot Bridge
This bridge was built in 1787 to cross an artificial cut which was dug to ease navigation when the original bridge became too difficult to negotiate. This crossing saw action during the English Civil War when there was a skirmish  between Cromwell’s troops and the royalists led by Prince Rupert. between Cromwell’s troops and the royalists led by Prince Rupert. 

6.  Old Man’s Bridge
This is probably the most remote bridge on the upper Thames and carries a foot-path just below Radcot lock.
Lock. The lock is on he site of an old flash lock known as Clarke’s Weir after an old weir-keeper. There was fighting in this area during the Wars of the Roses, and again during the Civil War in 1645 when Prince Rupert defeated the Parliamentarians.