Issue 95 - February 1997

Decade's digging will bridge Bucks and Berks

After Eton received planning permission for its 2000 metre course at appeal in 1994, much administrative work remained to be done before there could be any sign of development. The college is concerned to make sure that inconvenience to the local area is kept to a minimum. Plans for improving the roads for the transportation of gravel, clay and other material excavated to form the lake were set in motion whilst the major contract was negotiated. The sale of gravel will contribute to the £12m required to construct the facility. Subsequent consultations with the newly-formed consortium known as Eton Aggregates led to a proposal to take approximately half the tonnage of gravel over a new bridge across the River Thames to an existing processing plant on the other side. By taking 50 per cent of the gravel to the other side of the river the impact of the extra flow of aggregate on Dorney has been minimised, and the possibility exists that the ten-year project may be speeded up.

Meanwhile, further investigation was being made of the archaeology which earlier exploratory work had indicated to be extensive. The Oxford Archaeological Unit has carried out extensive investigations, and their findings cover the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods. It seems that during these periods the area was marshland, and the River Thames flowed through this area in three smaller channels. During the investigations numerous artefacts were discovered, which it is hoped will be put on display in Dorney. Further excavations in 1997 are likely to reveal the remains of a Roman farm.

However, the most interesting find is the discovery of what has turned out to be the remains of the earliest known bridge over the River Thames, circa 1300BC. In 1995, to find one such structure was thought remarkable; however, since then another five bridges of somewhat later vintage have been discovered. Opinions differ as to the reasons for this accumulation of structures, but the most likely theory is that the course of the river or rivers moved frequently in those times, and new bridges had to be built at relatively frequent intervals, either because the river bed was actually moving, or perhaps because the structures were washed away during winter storms. Some of the piles of these structures still remained, and indeed on one of them the original wattling of a causeway was uncovered. All this has been carefully recorded and it remains one of the more important finds of recent years. The Oxford Archaeological Unit has a further year of excavation before the majority of the site is covered. Eton's investment in archaeological research and excavation will exceed £750,000.

Meanwhile digging in a different section has started in earnest. Noise reducing bunds have been erected around sensitive areas, and a processing plant has been built near to what will be the start of the course. From there a one-kilometre long conveyor belt has been constructed to carry gravel to a point just north of the island known as Queen's Eyot. A new permanent bridge has been constructed across the Thames, providing both a pedestrian and cycle route and it is open for use. The north and south banks of the Thames are therefore now linked for ramblers at a point roughly two-thirds of the way between Windsor and Maidenhead. The gravel will be carried beneath the walkway of this bridge, and processed at a plant at Bray on the Berkshire side.

Excavation work starts early in 1997 at what will eventually be the finish end of the course, and work will proceed in a systematic fashion. Only gravel sufficient to form the lake will be extracted. The whole project is planned to take ten years to complete. However, because of the ability to remove gravel across the river, it is possible that there may be a rowable length of water in place by the millennium.

The landscaping of the area, including the preparations for a park and arboretum, is proceeding at the same time as the excavation. It will be the year 2005 or 2006 before the long term project can be finished. Nevertheless, we do hope that those who visit the course during the next decade will appreciate how much thought has gone into making this first course in the South of England one of the world's very best. The site is of course fully fenced off, but good vantage points are obtainable for those prepared to go on a reasonably lengthy walk around it, and there are permanent maps at the various access points.

Further information can be obtained from the Bursar, Roderick Watson, or from John Langfield at

© Copyright John Langfield, 1997.