74 THE THAMES. 



about four miles from Tetbury ; it now flows on till it is joined 

 by the Churn above Cricklade. The Churn rises near Leck- 

 hampton Hill, about three miles south of Cheltenham, at 

 Seven Springs, which from its situation and the greater 

 quantity of water that constantly flows from it, seems to have 

 a greater claim to be considered the "very head" of the 

 Thames. Unlike the other stream this is exceedingly pic- 

 turesque at its starting point, and continues so for a great 

 part of its course. From Seven Springs it runs past Cowley, 

 Colesborne, under differing Wood, through the rich grounds 

 of Rendcombe, Nofth Cerney to Cirencester, through which 

 town it flows ; it then runs for some distance along the 

 Cricklade Road, by Addington and South Cerney to the foot of 

 Hailstone Hill, and joining the other branch about a mile 

 above Cricklade, they flow on together as the Thames. The 

 length of the stream from Thames-head is about ten miles 

 and the length of the Churn from Seven Springs is about 

 20 miles. Near Water Eaton it is joined by the Ray and 

 tolerable Perch-fishing is to be found. By the time it had 

 reached Inglesham the river has increased considerably in size, 

 having received two rather important brooks, the Cole on the 

 Wiltshire side and the Coin on that of Gloucestershire ; near 

 Inglesham Weir (which is the head of the navigation on the 

 Thames) it is joined by the Thames and Severn Canal by 

 means of which the navigation is continued through the 

 Western Counties. This Canal which joins the Stroudwater 

 Canal near Stroud is about thirty miles long, and was finished 

 in 1789, before which time the Thames used to be navigated 

 up to Cricklade by barges of light draught, built for the pur- 

 pose, but now the upper course is left to the undisturbed use 

 of the fisherman and the miller. Near 



LECHDALE BRIDGE. 



it is joined by the Lech ; from St. John's Lock past Buscot 

 Lock there is good Pike and Perch-fishing, and plenty of 

 Roach. Following the road from Radcot Bridge we come to 



FARINGDON, 



where is a station on the Great Western Railway. Near here 



