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Sutton Pools

Crossings of the River ThamesIslands of OxfordshireUse British English from November 2017Weirs on the River Thames
Along the island geograph.org.uk 1435427
Along the island geograph.org.uk 1435427

Sutton Pools are a picturesque backwater formed by a number of weirs, islands, footbridges and barriers on the course of the River Thames at Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, England. The higher level of the river is separated from the lower pools by a causeway which dates from Saxon times. This river stretch ceased to be the main navigable route after Culham Cut was constructed in the early 19th century, which also created an island to the north of the Pools. In addition there are three smaller islands, linked by footbridges over the weirs, part of a footpath between Sutton Courtenay and the village of Culham.The upper river channel at Sutton Pools used to pass beneath a paper mill, though this closed in 1897 and has been demolished. The river route is blocked by a fence here as it passes through the gardens of Mill House. A wooden footbridge and kissing gate lead to the main village.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Sutton Pools (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Sutton Pools
Church Street, Vale of White Horse

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Wikipedia: Sutton PoolsContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 51.646666666667 ° E -1.2725 °
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Address

Church Street

Church Street
OX14 4NJ Vale of White Horse
England, United Kingdom
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Along the island geograph.org.uk 1435427
Along the island geograph.org.uk 1435427
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Nearby Places

The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay

The Abbey in Sutton Courtenay is a medieval courtyard house in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly Berkshire). It is located in the Vale of White Horse near the River Thames, across the road from the twelfth-century Norman Hall and the Manor House. The Abbey has been recognised as a building of outstanding historic and architectural interest and is considered to be a 'textbook' example of an English medieval manor house. It has been a Grade I-listed building since 1952.The Abbey has its origins in the thirteenth century as a rectory of Abingdon Abbey, a Benedictine monastery up north in Abingdon-on-Thames. Several construction phases took place during the Middle Ages, carried out by prominent figures like Solomon of Rochester, Thomas Beckington and William Say, but it was not until the seventeenth century that the current plan was completed. It was probably during the Victorian era that the house obtained the name 'The Abbey'. From 1495 to 1867, The Abbey was in possession of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, who leased the estate among others to John Fettiplace. After being inhabited by Eve Fleming, the estate was bought by David Astor in 1958, who leased it to the Ockenden Venture which offered sanctuary to refugees and displaced children. In the 70s, The Abbey was lent to the exiled Bishop Colin Winter to house the Namibia International Peace Centre. In 1978, the Astor family sold the house and in 1980 it came into possession of The New Era Centre, a non-profit charity led by Fred Blum and Bishop Stephen Verney. The New Era Centre used The Abbey as a spiritual retreat and conference centre, and changed its name to The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay in the 1990s. The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay is a "residential centre in which a spiritual community offers hospitality to people" who are seeking spiritual refreshment, personal growth and healing. The Abbey also organises public events concerning spirituality, personal development, education, music and the arts.