Geograph IrelandLatest Images by Jim Champion
https://www.geograph.ie/
2024-03-28T20:45:08+00:00text/html2023-10-26T17:09:30+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.654369 -1.340799SU4595 : Mill Bridge over the River Ock near Marcham Mill
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/7635334
A bridleway crosses the River Ock via this Grade II listed bridge just to the southeast of Marcham Mill. The bridge’s listing describes it as an 18th century bridge of coursed limestone rubble with dressed quoins and voussoirs and a rubble parapet; the central cutwater is flanked by semi-circular arches. It is known locally as Mill Bridge. Between August 2013 and October 2023 the bridleway here was temporarily closed while repairs were carried out to make the bridge safe. The photograph here is looking upstream from the southern bank of the Ock, with the recently renovated domestic buildings at Marcham Mill in the background.text/html2023-10-26T16:53:33+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.654459 -1.340798SU4595 : Bridleway now open at Marcham Mill
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/7635324
The bridleway from Marcham Mill (right-of-way number 17 in Marcham parish) passes south over the River Ock via a grade II listed bridge, known locally as Mill Bridge. The bridleway here was temporarily closed in August 2013 because the bridge was currently deemed unsafe. Now that the repairs are complete (ten years later, in October 2023) the bridleway has been reopened. The Marcham Society held an opening event on the bridge on Saturday 21 October 2023, complete with ribbon cutting. As can be seen in the foreground of this photograph, it is very muddy on the approach to the bridge and the bridleway beyond is flooded in places. This photo is taken from approximately the same location as this one from just over three years ago while the bridleway was closed: [[6564055]].text/html2020-09-21T17:31:44+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.689829 -1.270555SU5099 : View south along Oxford Road towards Abingdon town centre
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6611356
Taken to celebrate the tenth anniversary of this geograph: [[2071651]]. Little has changed. Abingdon has rebranded as Abingdon-on-Thames and the town centre council car parks are free for the first two hours. Incidentally, there was a red single-decker bus waiting in the bus stop as I drew near, but it pulled away before I got to the correct photographer location.text/html2020-08-12T12:22:47+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.650974 -1.283031SU4994 : Jubilee Junction on the Thames south of Abingdon
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6567164
This section of the River Thames is called Culham Reach and the flow is from right (Abingdon direction) to left in this photograph. Of particular note here is the 150-yard stretch of canal on the far bank (which terminates in a 'winding hole' i.e. a wider space in which boats can be turned about more easily) which was opened in a ceremony on 30 August 2006. The new canal was cut by the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust who aim to restore all 72 miles of the Wilts & Berks canal "to create a tranquil public waterside park for walking, cycling, fishing & boating." The eastern end of the historic canal terminated at the Thames in Abingdon, about a mile upstream of this point. The route of the old canal has been developed as Abingdon expanded southwards and so there is no scope of restoring that stretch of the canal. The alternative proposed route for the restored canal passes to the south of southern Abingdon and meets the Thames here at 'Jubilee Junction'. The junction is so-called because the project was initiated as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Inland Waterways Association (founded in 1946).text/html2020-08-12T11:38:02+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.663704 -1.306831SU4896 : The River Ock alongside the Ock Meadow Nature Reserve
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6567115
On the western edge of Abingdon, the Ock Meadow Nature Reserve is bounded by the A34 to the west, the Tesco superstore to the north and the River Ock to the east. This photo is taken from the path along the west/north bank of the Ock, looking upstream towards the footbridge that crosses the river near New Cut Mill. The route of the former Wilts and Berks canal runs roughly parallel with the River Ock, to the south of the river. At one time (2002?) there were proposals to build a hotel and industrial units on this part of the floodplain (to the right in this photo) and the proposal to create a Nature Reserve here was part of the opposition to that plan. Compare this high summer view with one from early spring: [[1260943]].text/html2020-08-12T11:04:53+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.659395 -1.277983SU5095 : Causeway to the north of Old Culham Bridge
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6567059
This path runs along the route of the former Dorchester to Abingdon Road, just north of the old Culham Bridge (known variously as Old Culham Bridge, Culham Old Bridge and Culham Bridge). This section of the A415 road was moved when the new Culham Bridge was built in 1928, relieving the medieval bridge (which is now a grade II* listed structure). The new road runs in parallel with this route, to the right in this photo on the far side of a ditch that is to the right of the railings. The path ends where it meets the A415 at SU5006295952. If you are walking to Abingdon, there is a raised footpath on the east side of the A415.text/html2020-08-12T10:52:40+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.657793 -1.280755SU4995 : Abingdon Marina from Abingdon Marina Park
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6567043
Looking across Abingdon Marina from the path that does a circuit around Abingdon Marina Park. In 1998, planning permission was granted for the marina facilities, as part of the comprehensive redevelopment of the area. The park is on an isthmus of dry land with the marina to the west and the River Thames to the north and east. Access to the park is down the functionally-named South Quay road, signposted 'River' from West Quay.text/html2020-08-09T16:20:51+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.706921 -1.464162SP3701 : Footbridge over the River Thames near Shifford Lock
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6564079
The Thames Path national trail crosses the River Thames here immediately upstream of the pool where the weir at the end of Shifford Lock Cut discharges into the Thames. The parish boundary between Shifford and Hinton Waldrist is down the centre of the river. The footpath beyond the centre of the bridge is footpath 10 in Hinton Waldrist parish and on this side of the centre of the bridge it is footpath 10 in Shifford parish. The gate on this side of the bridge (present in this geograph: [[5887795]]) has gone missing! Incidentally, I was surprised to find this bridge here - it is not marked on the 1:25000 or 1:50000 OS maps that I was using, although the maps do imply that the Thames Path national trail somehow crosses the river here.text/html2020-08-09T15:57:21+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.654459 -1.340798SU4595 : Bridleway closed at Marcham Mill
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6564055
The bridleway from Marcham Mill (right-of-way number 17 in Marcham parish) passes south over the River Ock via a bridge. The bridge is currently deemed unsafe, and so the bridleway is temporarily closed until the bridge is made safe. The mill is about a mile south of Marcham, reached down Mill Road. There was a sign at the top of Mill Road advising that this bridge was closed, but it had fallen flat and we didn't see it until we returned to Marcham (our Ock-crossing plans having been thwarted)! Now that I have checked on the Marcham Parish Council website I see that the emergency closure order took effect from 5 August 2013, so it has been shut for 7 years at the time of writing.text/html2020-08-09T15:39:14+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.696459 -1.342648SU4599 : Footpath through a field north of Hitch Copse
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6564034
This footpath crosses the field to the north of Hitch Copse. On the definite rights-of-way map it is 293/5, i.e. number 5 in Marcham parish. At the corner of the field visible in the distance the footpath ends at Rowley Lane (a byway).text/html2020-08-09T15:28:12+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.627027 -1.263761SU5192 : Northern side of the Didcot power station site
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6564023
Looking southwest towards the Didcot B power station from the northern entrance to the power station site, on the Hanson Way cycle route which skirts the north and east sides of the site. Almost a year ago, on 18 August 2019, the northern cluster of three cooling towers of the former Didcot A power station was demolished. These towers once dominated the view from this point, obscuring the smaller gas power station.text/html2020-08-09T15:12:23+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.372889 -1.848229SU1063 : View from the Alton Barnes white horse
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6564012
Looking south across the Vale of Pewsey, with the head of the Alton Barnes white horse in the foreground. The white horse hill figure itself is fenced off. It has been about a year since the figure was last 'scoured' (i.e. maintained by adding fresh chalk).text/html2020-08-09T14:33:35+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.692196 -1.260824SU5199 : View across Peachcroft Farm at dusk
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6563967
Looking south towards the buildings of Peachcroft Farm from the double avenue on the hill to the north. The hills of the Berkshire Downs are on the horizon.text/html2020-08-08T13:08:04+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.697278 -1.268265SP5000 : End of the cycle route north out of Abingdon
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6562730
This cycle route runs alongside the A4183 (Oxford Road) heading north out of Abingdon over Lodge Hill. The separate cycle route ends here at the Lodge Hill interchange with the A34 dual carriageway (not recommended for cyclists). Oxford Road continues to the north, behind the photographer, as a B-road. This route and others in the area have recently had some much-needed maintenance - white lines have been repainted, trees and bushes cut back and encroaching verges returned to where they should be - scrape-marks from the work can be seen on the tarmac along the 'pedestrian' side of the path. This particular cycle route does not see heavy use by cyclists.text/html2020-08-08T12:57:59+00:00https://www.geograph.ie/profile/1086Jim Champion51.697831 -1.270427SP5000 : The A34 trunk road from the bridge at Lodge Hill interchange
https://www.geograph.ie/photo/6562727
Traffic on the left carriageway is "southbound", headed towards Junction 9 of the M3 near Winchester; traffic on the right carriageway is headed in the direction of Junction 9 on the M40 motorway near Bicester. This route connects the port of Southampton with the Midlands. The Lodge Hill interchange is restricted: there are no slip roads on this side of the bridge. The Abingdon bypass (seen here; Abingdon is to the left of the road) was constructed in the early 1970s. A section of the barrier on the central reservation (noticeably shinier than the rest in this photograph) was replaced following a collision a few months ago.