Ancient history The River Thames began life between 170 and 140 million years ago during the Jurassic Period when most of southern England was covered by sea.
It was during this period that millions of marine organisms were laid down to create the limestone* that formed the Cotswold Hills - the source of the River.
At the end of the Jurassic period, the sea became very clear and in these clear waters that the shells of marine creatures were deposited* to form the chalk lands of the Thames Valley (25mm of chalk)
The 'Ice Age' began about 2 million years ago. Southern England escaped fairly lightly in the severe cold period. There were no great glaciers* south of the Thames and although Berkshire was covered in ice it was not thick. Then goes the origin of the name and the 10 top bridges.
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