Thames Head

Coordinates: 51°41′39″N 2°01′47″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 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.

[edit] Directions

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

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

As this is working farmland take care to close gates, not damage crops or worry livestock.

[edit] 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.

[edit] External links

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

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