Thanks for your comments Paulus; I haven't read Peter Akroyd's book but came across extracts when I was researching last night (way too late), he writes about London quite a bit. I was wondering how many thousands of people have had their ashes scattered on the Thames over the centuries. A close friend of my own chose this - so the connectness of the Winterbourne to the Kennet (Silbury) and then to the Thames has a lot of symbolism for me personally. It sort of connects my present life with my past London life and gives a sense of continuity. I was quite surprised when Jim Leary came out with this theory as I thought it was just me being whimsical - I often potter about around the Lechlade area too, which is referred to as the Upper Thames.

Tiompan when I read your words "the broken waters of the goddess" I smiled of course, and if any one else had said that I would not have given it another thought ... but you are known for being cryptic so I did not so quickly dismiss it. And ping! You are not wrong, the Winterbourne which feeds into Kennet (flowing past Silbury) only flows in the winter months and does just suddenly start flowing - seemingly out of nowhere, like waters breaking. The nearest village to the actual source of the Winterbourne is Winterbourne Monkton which, like the Thames towns/villages, has a church named after Mary Magdalene (also aka fertility goddess).

Acknowledgement to Moss and her blog Northstoke where some time ago she wrote quite a bit about the church at Winterbourne Monkton.

June