It was a cold and dull day.
Parking at Teston Bridge Country Park, I took to the water for a gentle paddle from Teston Lock to East Farleigh Lock on the non-tidal River Medway. The total distance out and back was 6.4 km (4 miles). Just a morning out on the river, not a soul in sight.
The Route: Teston Lock to East Farleigh Lock...
This is a fairly long, straight section through a relatively deep river valley.
Immediately after Teston Lock is Teston Bridge, then after that about a mile
to a new footbridge at Barming Bridge (this may be marked as a road bridge
on your map, but it isn't anymore).
to a new footbridge at Barming Bridge (this may be marked as a road bridge
on your map, but it isn't anymore).
The river continues on towards East Farleigh, passing some houses and
more boatyards as you approach East Farleigh Bridge, which is just before
the Lock on the left and the weirs on the right.
more boatyards as you approach East Farleigh Bridge, which is just before
the Lock on the left and the weirs on the right.
The sluices at Farleigh are old automatic curtain sluices and are not
shootable. The best portage is to get out on the river left just after the bridge
and before the lock and walk past the lock and about 75 metres down the towpath
to get in on the T-shaped wooden landing stage. It is possible to get in off
the rocks immediately below the lock, but it can be choppy here if the weirs
are open.
shootable. The best portage is to get out on the river left just after the bridge
and before the lock and walk past the lock and about 75 metres down the towpath
to get in on the T-shaped wooden landing stage. It is possible to get in off
the rocks immediately below the lock, but it can be choppy here if the weirs
are open.
Teston Picnic Site / Lock:
There is a car park and public toilets at the picnic site . It is a 300 metres walk across the
mown field to the lock, where you can use the landing stages as mentioned
above.
There is a height barrier at the entrance to the car park, which as I recall is
set at about 2 metres (6'6").
mown field to the lock, where you can use the landing stages as mentioned
above.
There is a height barrier at the entrance to the car park, which as I recall is
set at about 2 metres (6'6").
Website::
Teston Lock:
The lock was originally constructed in the 1740s, when 14 locks were built to make the river navigable from Maidstone to Tonbridge, enabling the transport of iron products from the Weald. The current lock dates from 1911 and will take craft up to 24.5m by 5.6m with a draft of 1.7m.
Teston Bridge:
Teston Bridge dates to about the 15th century and is one of a series of medieval bridges across the River Medway. The three outer arches were rebuilt in the early 19th century. The bridge is constructed of roughly coursed Kentish ragstone and is a Grade 1 listed monument.
East Farleigh Bridge:
East Farleigh Bridge is a 14th-century road bridge of roughly coursed Kentish ragstone spanning the River Medway between Barming to the north and East Farleigh to the south.
The bridge was originally built with four large, pointed arches, but a smaller arch was added later, spanning land. It is scheduled as an Ancient Monument and is considered to be the finest bridge in Southern England. It is a perfect example of medieval design and workmanship.
This monument allowed Cromwell’s 4000 parliamentary troops to march over it in 1648, where they met strong resistance in East Farleigh before marching towards Maidstone, to fight 6000 Royalist soldiers in the English Civil War.It underwent repair in 1843 and was refurbished in the early 21st century.
