Bablock Hythe
Encyclopedia
Bablock Hythe is a small hamlet in Oxfordshire
, situated 5 miles west of Oxford
city centre. In 1974 it was transferred from Berkshire. There was formerly an important vehicular ferry across the River Thames
at Bablock Hythe on the reach above Pinkhill Lock
.
The earliest reference to a ferry is in 1279 and later ferries continued to provide a crossing service until the mid 20th century. The ferry was a wide beamed ferry punt with a rope or chain in the river, which provided some hazard to navigation. There was also an ancient inn described by William Senior in his "Royal River" in the 1880s, which has now been replaced by a more modern building.
The poet Matthew Arnold
described the area in his work "The Scholar Gipsy
", writing
The site is overlooked by the "Warm green-muffled Cumnor
Hills", but is now an extensive caravan site.
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, situated 5 miles west of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
city centre. In 1974 it was transferred from Berkshire. There was formerly an important vehicular ferry across the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Bablock Hythe on the reach above Pinkhill Lock
Pinkhill Lock
Pinkhill Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England. It is close to Farmoor, Oxfordshire.The first lock was built of stone by Daniel Harris for the Thames Navigation Commission in 1791....
.
The earliest reference to a ferry is in 1279 and later ferries continued to provide a crossing service until the mid 20th century. The ferry was a wide beamed ferry punt with a rope or chain in the river, which provided some hazard to navigation. There was also an ancient inn described by William Senior in his "Royal River" in the 1880s, which has now been replaced by a more modern building.
The poet Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
described the area in his work "The Scholar Gipsy
The Scholar Gipsy
"The Scholar Gipsy" is a poem by Matthew Arnold, based on a 17th century Oxford story found in Joseph Glanvill's The Vanity of Dogmatizing...
", writing
- In hat of antique shape and cloak of grey
- Crossing the stripling Thames at Bab-lock-hithe
- Trailing in the cool stream they fingers wet
- As the slow punt swings round.
The site is overlooked by the "Warm green-muffled Cumnor
Cumnor
Cumnor is a village and civil parish west of the centre of Oxford, England. The parish of Cumnor includes Cumnor Hill, , Chawley , the Dean Court area on the edge of Botley and the outlying settlements of Chilswell, Farmoor and Swinford...
Hills", but is now an extensive caravan site.