Unless you are one of those lucky souls who actually has the River Crane gurgling away at the bottom of your garden you may be unaware of the river or forgotten it. In the early 1930’s the writer A.G Linney paid a visit to the river and was so taken by what he saw that he later described it as “A Rivulet of Happy Families” - a little flowery perhaps but true nevertheless. Well, the Crane does flow through St Margarets, doesn’t it, which most of us think of as a demi-paradise, full of happy people skipping down flower-strewn streets to enjoy coffee at one of the many outlets. This is what Linney wrote in 1932…
…During one summer I made a voyage up the River Crane of an evening about high water in a skiff. It was wearing to the close of a sweltering day, and the cool, green tunnel which the mouth of the little stream presented was captivating. Tall grass hung down over the rough camp-shedding on one side, and trees swept their branches on the other, right down to the water.
About a hundred yards from the river the road to Richmond passes over the Crane, and immediately beyond it one was astonished to come upon a flourishing boat-building yard, of which no hint appears until you are close up to it. Squeezing our way past the boats, we went forward up the next section of the stream, here, perhaps twelve or fifteen feet wide. The (Port of London) Authority’s jurisdiction ends, I believe, at the bridge where Talbot Road passes over the Crane River; and I suppose that the Middlesex County Council here takes over.
From here we were moving slowly along between ends of back gardens belonging to modest middle-class houses. The gardens, as we saw them in the golden light of a hot summer evening, were fully appreciated by their owners for whole families were sitting in arbours or on the turf enjoying the end-of-a-day rest… People came running down, calling, “Look, here’s a boat!” Family bathing was in full swing from every back garden; youngsters were splashing around, full of glee; City typist daughters had hustled back from the office to don their chic bathing suits and gay rubber caps, and were either swimming seriously, or posing for admiration on the banks; even respectable papas had got out their bathing suits and come in for a dip, so that grey heads or bald craniums showed above the little waves of the little stream.
Just before we had drifted down to Talbot Road Bridge a native was fishing. I asked him if he had ever caught anything; rather plaintively he replied, “Not yet.” He looked about twenty-one years of age.
Emerging into the Thames through the tunnel of green I vowed that I must never even cast an eye at the River Crane save near high water, or should see that Rivulet of Happy Families as a mere trickle in the middle of slimy mud.
– “Lure and Lore of London’s River” by A.J. Linney (pub 1932.)
It is 80 years since Linney made his trip up the Crane but the river still flows between banks of grass and willow and alongside middle class gardens. The boat building yard has gone and so have the swimmers. Maybe we are more fastidious about hygiene or maybe fears of pollution coming down from Heathrow or sewage releases coming up from the Thames have put us off but it hasn’t deterred the wildlife along the river’s length, the herons and the kingfishers or the fish and eels that lurk in the deeper pools. Nor has it deterred the local volunteers who regularly clear out the rubbish and monitor the cleanliness of the water. Forgotten or overlooked it may be but the Crane is still our rivulet of happy families - and long may it remain so.
– from Martyn Day
Credit: The photographs of the River Crane were taken by Amanda Day LRPS
Comments
How is the river recovering from that awful pollution spill from Heathrow?
David on 2013-09-06 09:27:28 +0000What a lovely article! As a resident of one of the "humble middle-class houses" who still greatly appreciates our little river, it was a delightful read. Thank you
Allison Drew
Allison Drew on 2013-09-06 09:36:24 +0000Really love these articles. Could you tell me where the elf (pictured at the end) is to be found on the River Crane? I've surveyed most of its length, but never seen this gentleman? Thanks, James
James T on 2013-09-06 13:53:53 +0000Heathrow pollution? I was out on the Crane yesterday and saw plenty of wildlife - kingfishers and herons and swarms of minnows in the water. I'm no expert but it all looked pretty good to me...well, apart from Japanese Knotweed, an invasive and destructive plant that nobody wants! The Elf? Going downstream he sits on the left hand bank about 50 yards after the Talbot Road bridge. He's quite a big fellow so you shouldn't miss him.
Compost King on 2013-09-06 15:41:16 +0000Is the Crane still navigable by shallow craft eg a canoe?
Martin E on 2013-09-06 16:42:38 +0000Ho Ho. Thank you Martyn. My bathing suit is definitely not chic and I don't even own a bathing cap, gay or otherwise, but it's still lovely to read that people have been enjoying the river for generations. You're right about the wildlife and I guess if there are kingfishers and herons, there must be fish - but nothing like as many (or as large) as ten years ago, though they are slowly returning.
Ben Driver on 2013-09-06 17:23:49 +0000You can navigate the Crane at high tide in small boats, canoes and the like. Enter the river by Thistleworth Marina and then travel inland for about 1km. You can also join the river from the slipway at the bottom of Percy Road, Isleworth - where the old Boat Building Yard used to be. You won't see any City typists swimming in chic bathing suits but it will be a real 'African Queen' adventure.
Compost King on 2013-09-06 17:36:49 +0000Crane River Conference - An event to promote the understanding of issues and opportunities relating to the River Crane. This free conference will be hosted by London Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Crane Valley Partnership. Date: October 4th 2013. Venue: St George's Suite, Rugby Football Union Ground at Twickenham. Time: 9.30 am for a 10 am start. The conference will be opened by Dr Vince Cable, MP for Twickenham, and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Please register your interest now by sending an email with your name and any position to: Alex Robb,Sites and Project Manager - Crane Park Island: arobb@wildlondon.org.uk
Chris Squire on 2013-09-07 17:43:57 +0000Hi Martyn, still cannot find that elf on the Crane. Spent an hour this morning searching. Could you provide a few more details. Do you need access to private gardens to find him? There seems to be no access to the Crane between Talbot Road & Percy Road. Best, James
James T on 2013-09-14 11:23:34 +0000