Thames Landscape Strategy - Hampton to Kew -

Putting the Thames Back into Kingston

Putting the Thames back into Kingston

Launched in July 2005, this exciting Thames Landscape Strategy project aims to transform many areas of Kingston’s riverside and initiate a real revival in the use of the Thames. Like so many towns, Kingston traditionally turned its back on the river due mainly to the industry that lined its banks. But scratch beneath the surface and Kingston also has the most glorious boating traditions. It is the town that Jerome K Jerome hired his skiff from before setting off, three men in a boat, up the Thames to Oxford and there are more rowing, sailing, canoe, punting and skiff clubs clustered around the town than almost anywhere on the Thames.

The Thames Landscape Strategy plan is simply to ‘Put the Thames Back into Kingston’, to celebrate this watery heritage and to use it as a mechanism to regenerate the use and character of the Thames corridor linked to wider Borough initiatives and the Environment Agencies Waterways Plan.

To make Kingston a key Thameside centre it has been important to look at the riverside open spaces from the point of view of how they interact with the river itself including its wildlife, flooding and use. Working closely with the Royal Borough of Kingston and the Environment Agency, the TLS is currently consulting on what local people and users of the river would like to see improved. An ‘Integrated Moorings Business Plan’ has been produced to prepare the way for a raft of enhancements to Kingston’s waterspace such as floating restaurants, buiseness boats, permanent and visitor moorings.

Alongside the river, several early hits have been designed and consulted on that are ready to be implemented before the main project is ready. At the Half Mile Tree on Lower Ham Road a discreet landscaping scheme has been implemented to include scrub works, footpath and access enhancements and signage installation. On the Lower Ham Road a volunteer group has been established to help tidy up rubbish in the river and to coppice overgrown trees and at the upstream entrance to Cranbury Gardens a landscaping initiative has been designed to open up a short section of riverside that has formally been off limits to the public.

Putting the Thames Back into Kingston will extend from the borough boundary stone through to the redundant filter beds at Seething Wells. It is being project managed by the Thames Landscape Strategy in partnership with Andrew Lynch and Ian Myhead of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Teddington Gateway

‘To conserve, enhance and promote Teddington Lock, placing it at the heart of a waterspace renaissance throughout the Thames Landscape Strategy area’

Teddington Gateway

Located between Hampton and Kew, Teddington Lock is a unique and important river landmark. It connects the non-tidal Thames, running through Oxford and Henley, to the tidal Thames, and is a key gateway for local people, through the historic Teddington footbridge and river towpaths.

Teddington Lock is the largest lock on the River Thames and is owned and managed by the Environment Agency. Teddington Lock contains heritage features of regional and national significance, including the enormous barge and skiff lock and original lock office. The site is located inside a designated conservation area and is at the very centre of the Thames Landscape Strategy region. From the early 19th century, when the Corporation of London opened the original timber pound lock to the public, Teddington Lock has always been a key site along this stretch of the Thames. In 1857, the original lock was replaced and a new skiff lock added to accommodate the increasing craft and commercial freight traffic. The lock cut was extended, boat slides were added and in 1904, the enormous barge lock was built to cope with the larger freight carriers. This broad arrangement of locks still remains today and whilst freight traffic has been all but replaced with pleasure craft, the site provides a unique reminder of the river history and heritage associated with Teddington Lock and the wider river corridor.

‘Teddington Gateway’ was launched at the Teddington River Festival in June 2004, where more than 15,000 people descended on to Teddington’s riverside. This date was chosen to coincide with the 100th birthday of the Teddington Barge Lock, a fitting start to a project centered around river heritage and improving connections from, to and along the River Thames.

The objectives of Teddington Gateway are both bold and important. They have been devised to conserve and enhance the most important historic and natural elements of the lock area and the surrounding open spaces and towpaths. These include enhancements to lighting, seating, railings and signage. Biodiversity works such as habitat creation, hedge and tree planting, and building and lock structure restoration.

The enhancements to Teddington Lock will seek to address the fundamental issue that Teddington Lock, as the junction between the tidal and non-tidal river is often seen as a barrier to boat navigation. For this reason it is important to address the areas further upstream and downstream of the lock in order to encourage and facilitate local people, boat users and day-trippers to visit and go beyond Teddington, be it through scheduled passenger services, hire or privately owned boats.

In addition, Teddington Gateway will improve facilities for other river users (such as pump-outs, passenger landing stages and visitor moorings), commuters, visitors and local people by improving amenities on the riverbank and towpaths enabling greater recreational opportunities, public enjoyment, access to and understanding of the Thames corridor.

Whilst a strong commitment and vision for the project has been achieved, there is still considerable development work and consultation to be conducted to take the project proposals forward and ensure they are well designed and of lasting benefit. Heritage Lottery Funding is being sought that will need to be matched by contributions from the public and grant giving trusts.

Teddington Gateway is being developed through the TLS partnership. The members involved share common views and aspirations and are strongly committed to the project. The Environment Agency is the lead organisation and is working closely through the TLS partnership with the following members and groups; London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Port of London Authority, Teddington Society, Local businesses, clubs and residents.