Mind The Gap

Follow Steve Davison as he heads to Streatley for a walk with views across the Goring Gap before crossing the River Thames to the neighbouring Oxfordshire village of Goring-on-Thames

- Steve Davison

FROM the car park the walk strides out along Lardon Chase, offering some lovely views across the Goring Gap where the River Thames flows between two adjacent areas of outstanding natural beauty; the North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns. Soon we head steeply downhill to arrive at Streatley, whose history dates back to Anglo-Saxon times and probably a lot earlier than that – the ancient Icknield Way crossed the Thames here. Beside the crossroads is The Bull at Streatley pub where Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat had lunch whilst travelling along the River Thames.

The walk then heads down the High Street, passing the 18th-century Streatley House which was once the home of the Morrell family, former brewers in Oxford. Nearby is the Parish Church of St Mary, which dates from the 13th century; inside are some interesting 15th- to 17th-century brasses.

After crossing the River Thames we arrive at the neighbouring Oxfordshire village of Goringon-Thames. Stop-off at the Norman church of St Thomas of Canterbury, built by Robert d’Oilly, a Norman baron and staunch supporter of William the Conqueror, who held 60 manors including ‘Garinges’ (Goring). The church features a bell cast in 1290 – believed to be one of the oldest in Britain – whilst the wooden rood screen is carved out of oak from HMS Thunderer, a bombketch that fought under Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.