Swan Upping on the Thames
When: 17th – 21st July 2017
Where: Along the River Thames between Sunbury and Abingdon
£: Free to watch
What is it?
The ceremony of Swan Upping takes place during the third week of July every year. Swan Upping is the annual census of swans on the River Thames.
Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century, when The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans, which were considered an important food source for banquets and feasts.
Today, The Crown retains the right of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen mainly exercises this right on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This ownership is shared with the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies, who were granted rights of ownership by The Crown in the fifteenth century. The swans are counted but thankfully no longer eaten.
The Queen’s Swan Marker and the accompanying Swan Uppers of the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies use six traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey upstream to Abingdon. By tradition, scarlet uniforms are worn by The Queen’s Swan Marker and Swan Uppers, and each boat flies the appropriate flag.
It has always been the duty of the Sovereign’s Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained. The cygnets are weighed and measured to obtain estimates of growth rates. The birds are examined for any sign of injury, commonly caused by fishing hooks and lines.
The Swan Uppers and Swan Markers teach local children about Mute Swans and their natural habitat, as well as the history of Swan Upping and the Royal connection to swans. But anyone can watch the Swan Upping by heading along to one of the following places:
Monday 17th July 2017
Sunbury Lock Cut 9am (departure point)
Shepperton Lock 10.45am
Penton Hook Lock 12.30pm
Romney Lock 5.30pm
Tuesday 18th July 2017
Eton Bridge 8.45am (departure point)
Boveney Lock 9.45am
Boulters Lock 1pm
Cookham Bridge 2pm
Marlow Lock 5.30pm
The tradition of Swan Upping
Wednesday 19th July 2017
Marlow Bridge 9am (departure point)
Hurley Lock 10.30am
Hambleden Lock 12pm
Henley Town 1.30pm
Marsh Lock 3.30pm
Shiplake Lock 5pm
Sonning Bridge 6pm
Thursday 20th July 2017
Sonning-on-Thames 9am (departure point)
Caversham Lock 10.15am
Mapledurham Lock 12.15pm
Goring Lock 5pm
Moulsford 6pm
Friday 21st July 2017
Moulsford 9am (departure point)
Benson Lock 10.15am
Clifton Hampden Bridge 1pm
Culham Lock 4.15pm
Abingdon Bridge 5pm
More info: www.royalswan.co.uk and www.royal.uk/swan-upping-2017