The
Totally Thames festival is an annual celebration of
the
River Thames. It is a month-long party running from September
1 to September 30 and is full of arts festivals, community events, regattas, river races,
foreshore archaeology and environmental activities.
Being the longest river in England, the Thames has 45 locks
and over 25 species of fish and is the only river in Europe to have a national
trail follow its entire length. The River Thames travels over 210 miles through the heart
of England, right into the centre of London and eventually, out into the North
Sea.
The river's position has put it at the centre of many historical events, which has lead it to be referred to as 'liquid history' by John Burns. Some of the earliest written references to the Thames (Latin: Tamesis) occur in Julius Caesar's account of his second expedition to Britain in 54 BC.
There is also evidence of human habitation living off
the river dating back as far as the Neolithic times, together with a number of Bronze Age sites and artefacts discovered along the banks
of the river, including settlements at Lechlade, Cookham and Sunbury-on-Thames.
Even here at Grays a vein of the River Thames can be seen - the hidden Thames tributary, the famous River Tyburn. It rises at Shepherds Well in Hampstead and flows through Regents
Park and the West End, and reaches the Thames via the basement of Grays Mews.
Below we display some Thames inspired objects to celebrate the occasion.
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| Roman billon tetradrachm coin of Emperor Trajan Decius, 2nd century AD, avaliable from Eastern Satrapy |
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| Gold painted rare Vienna bronze otter with a fish in its mouth, circa 1890-1900, avaliable from Mariad Antiques |
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| Anglo Saxon period silver gilt wedding ring, knotted bezel, c. 6th - 7th century AD, avaliable from Ancient-Jewellery |
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| A collection of bronze mallard ducks, circa 1890-1900, avaliable from Mariad Antiques |
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