Thames Head

Coordinates: 51°41′39″N 2°01′47″W / 51.694262°N 2.029724°W / 51.694262; -2.029724

The monument at the official source of the Thames. Dry at the time of taking the picture, the Thames would otherwise flow towards the camera.

Thames Head, near Cirencester, England, is traditionally identified as the source of the River Thames. However, this claim is disputed. The Environment Agency, the Ordnance Survey and other authorities have the source of the Thames as the nearby Trewsbury Mead. Others hold that the true source of the Thames is at Seven Springs, some eleven miles further north, and south of Cheltenham. Officially however, Seven Springs is the source of the River Churn, a tributary of the Thames that joins at Cricklade.

Directions

The Thames Head source is about a quarter of a mile (400 metres) from the A433 outside Kemble.

By car: Travel south west on the A433 from Cirencester until you pass under the railway bridge. Immediately west of the bridge, on the south side, is a tree-covered lane. A car can drive up this and an unofficial car park (appearing to be a disused railway ballast yard) allows parking. Then walk north and cross the railway line at the crossing point (showing usual care and attention). From there proceed east across the fields to the Thames Path, which crosses the A433 to the north.

By train: Travel to Kemble station and walk up the station approach road to another road. Turn left (north) and in 75 yards there is a stile on the right. Cross the stile and follow a path east to the Thames Path. At the Thames Path turn left (north) and cross the A433.

Monument

A monument beneath an ash tree bears the inscription:

THE CONSERVATORS OF THE RIVER THAMES
1857-1974
THIS STONE WAS PLACED HERE TO MARK THE
SOURCE OF THE RIVER THAMES

A nearby basin of stones marks the spring. However, there is usually only water during a wet winter.

External links

• The Thames Head Forum debates the true origin of the Thames.

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