August 09, 2008

Thames: Goring & Streatley to Wallingford


Goring-on-Thames (pop. 3500) is in South Oxfordshire and Streatley-on-Thames (pop. 600) is in West Berkshire, but they are separated only by a bridge across the Goring Gap and share a railway station (in Goring). In 1086, the Domesday Book valued Goring at £15 and Streatley at £24.


The Swan Inn and St. Mary's church looked quaint and interesting, but I could not find any historical information. Several of the buildings in Streatley had old Chilterns flint mixed in with brick facades and lead windows.

We saw many old World War II bunkers along the Thames. Apparently, they were built in 1940-1941 at about 1/3 mile intervals to protect London and the Midlands (the Thames itself acted as an anti-tank barrier). Because the war was fought in the air, these bunkers were never used. One bunker was incorporated into a home landscape.

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