Tag: River Thames

The Albany, Thames Ditton KT7

Walking along the Thames path, I paused to sketch The Albany, a pub on the opposite bank.

Watercolor illustration of 'The Albany', a waterfront building featuring a brown roof and outside seating under yellow umbrellas. Lush greenery is present in the background, and the calm water reflects the structure.
The Albany Country Pub and Restaurant, Thames Ditton, KT7 0QY, sketched from the Hampton Court towpath, 8 August 2026
Map of Hampton Court area showing key landmarks including Hampton Court Palace, River Thames, and nearby roads.

It was a very hot day. The grass was dried up.

An artist's toolkit laid out on grass, featuring paintbrushes, a watercolor palette, and a sketchbook with an illustration of a house by the water.
Drawing equipment on the dried grass, Thames towpath.

Here is the view across the river.

A painter's watercolor palette and sketchbook displaying a painting of a riverside building titled 'The Albany,' with a scenic view of trees and boats in the background.
Sketching The Albany

After I sketched “The Albany”, I walked back up the river to Hampton Court Bridge.

A hand holding a sketch of a bridge, with the actual bridge and river visible in the background, framed by greenery.
Sketchbook lying on dry grass showing a pen drawing of a bridge and surrounding scenery, secured with binder clips.

Here are some other sketches I’ve done along this stretch of the river:

Garrick’s Temple to Shakespeare, Hampton, TW12

Strolling along the river bank I saw this quirky little temple on the other side of the river. It was afternoon, in the midst of a hot spell. A group of young girls were playing on paddle boards, standing up and jumping in the water, shrieking. A small motor boat came from the island “Garrick’s…

Molesey Boat Club, KT8

A short walk from Hampton Court Bridge is Molesey Boat Club. This is a lively place. I watched a group of school-age boys and girls competently lift a boat out of the water, and place it carefully on its stand. They then washed it with sponges. Boats were coming and going all the time, fours,…

Molesey Boat Club, KT8

A short walk from Hampton Court Bridge is Molesey Boat Club.

Molesey Boat Club, Barge Walk, East Molesey KT8 9AJ, sketched 7th August 2026 in Sketchbook 16
Sketch map showing the location of Molesey Boat Club, a few minutes walk from Hampton Court Bridge and railway station.

This is a lively place. I watched a group of school-age boys and girls competently lift a boat out of the water, and place it carefully on its stand. They then washed it with sponges. Boats were coming and going all the time, fours, twos and single skulls, people of all ages. It all looked fun and made me want to have a go. A group of fit-looking young people set off, their instructor following in a motor boat. In a few moments they were rowing back the other way. Then they turned the boat and went back up the river at fantastic speed. Within half an hour then were back at the boat house, clambering out of the boat, and handing over to another group.

I did not follow the activities of the boat crews in great detail, however, as I was concentrating on those very complicated eaves and the carved woodwork of the boathouse.

Molesey Boat Club, detail.

The club was founded in 1866. This boathouse dates from 1901. It has been renovated and extended since, most recently in 2016, when a new rowing centre with a rowing tank was added.1

work in progress on the sketch

There is a café on the first floor, overlooking the river. It is called “Eight on the River“. The thing to watch is that it closes at 3pm on weekdays, so don’t hang around perfecting your drawing, but get up there.

Here is my shady sketching location seen from the balcony of the café. In the foreground are the seat-like stands where the crews place their boats after use.

My sketching location (arrowed) seen from “Eight on the River”

It’s a lovely place to sketch, and to watch the river.

Molesey Boat Club, page spread, sketchbook 16
  1. History of the boat club from https://moleseyboatclub.co.uk/history
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