The riverbank

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Find a long bit of concrete embedded in the southern riverbank, but be careful at the edge of the water.

Do not to lean too far in and you will be able to spot some bricks within the riverbank. These bricks are believed to have been part of a viewing platform to admire Shaw House and the cascade water feature. On the opposite side of the river was the semi-circular pool for looking at reflections of the House. The pool is shown in a painting by John Collins in 1769 with two swans, a white horse and some visitors enjoying the grounds. The Duke of Chandos’ impressive water garden was also carefully recorded on the plan by Joseph Andrews in about 1750.

The north side of the river now has reed beds and wet woodland in which small areas of swamp and pond habitats have formed. The trees in the woods are crack willow, alder carr, ash, lime and elder. On the side near Church Road, to the north, non-native trees have been planted, including sycamore, sweet chestnut, horse chestnut, cherry laurel and bamboo.

Continue west along the path on the south side of the river until you reach a wooden table and benches in a clearing near an underpass.