Thames Walk to the Source: Wallingford to Dorchester-upon-Thames

The origin of the word Thames is at least 2,500 years old and is shrouded in mystery but one of the most credible theories is that it derives from the Sanskrit word 'tamasa' meaning 'dark river' or 'dark water'. The name was brought to Britain by the Celts. Another story is that the Thames is actually a contraction of Tamesis - a name formed from the names of the two rivers which run into each other at Dorchester on Thames - the Thame and the Isis. According to this the Thames above Dorchester should actually be called the river Isis and only becomes the Thames after it has joined with the river Thame (no 's') at Dorchester. The two rivers are not of equal size with the Thame pictured here being like a small stream flowing into the much larger Isis. Peter Ackroyd makes much of the Isis theory in his book Thames - Sacred River and believes that the story has mythological resonance. Isis, which is the name of an Egyptian Godess of memories, rivers and fertility, the protectress of agriculture and the arts of healing, is apt because the parallels he draws between the Thames and the Nile. He also points out that three Roman effigies of Horus the son of Isis have been found in the Thames by London Bridge. The Thames and Isis names are also interesting because they represent both male and female aspects of the river. Isis as the river goddess and the Thames which is often referred to as Old Father Thames. The meeting point of the Thame and Isis where Birinus (a Bishop sent by Pope Honorius I, succeeded in converting King Cynegils of Wessex to Christianity in 634.

Isis Goddess of the Thames. There was once a temple to Isis on the banks of the river at Southwark

Raja slipped and fell in the mud again

Marcin A vine with a trunk as thick as a tree on cottages in Shillingford The sky was full of contrails from aircraft flying out of nearby RAF Benson.

Ribbons of reflection in a field by the river Thames

The light on the river was intense

Wittenham Clumps hillside Radiohead made a video of Faust Arp in 2007 here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt8K-5fMA2I The 2,000MW Didcot Power Station is in the distance. It was built between 1964 and 1968. Greenpeace describe it as Britain's second worst polluting station after Drax in Yorkshire. It was voted Britain's third worst eyesore in 2003 by Country Life readers. They voted windfarms the worst eyesore!

View from Wittenham Clumps looking northeast towards Wittenham village and Day's Lock on the Thames.

Castle Hill: site of the Sinodun fortress.

Detail from the Poem tree on Castle Hill carved into the bark by Joseph Tubb in 1844-45. "As up the hilll with labr'ing steps we tread. Where the twin Clumps their sheltering branches spread. The summit gain'd at ease reclining lay. And all around that the land befell. Where the low bank the country wide surrounds. That ancient earthwork form'd old Mercia's bounds. In misty distance see the barrow heave. There lies forgotten lonely Cwichelm's grave. Around this hill the ruthless Danes intrenched. And these fair plains with gory slaughter drench'd. While at our feed where stands that stately tower. In days gone by up rose the Roman power. And yonder, there where Thames smooth waters glide. In later days appeared monastic pride. Within that field where lies the grazing herd. Huge walls were found, some coffins disinter'd. Such is the course of time the wreck which fate and awful doom award the earthly great.