The Wind In The Willows, Marlow and Cookham Dene
He’s telling stories
of a rat and a mole,
of weasels and stoats,
a badger and a toad,
of good river, bad wood,
of accent, class and slapdash grammar.
He’s telling stories
to a spoiled and sad child,
who misses the moral
of this willowy tale,
who dies on a railway track
out of hearing.
He’s telling stories
of how the river moves him,
of a quality of light
in the shade of those willows,
of how he longs to return
to that good golden river,
how he knows in his heart
he never can.
MARLOW AND COOKHAM DEAN
The children’s author Kenneth Graham spent an idyllic childhood near the Thames at Cookham Dean close to Marlow. His classic book, The Wind in the Willows, is an evocation of this golden place, in stories he originally told to his son Alastair who tragically committed suicide just before his 20th birthday.
MARLOW
Marlow is without a doubt one of the loveliest locations on the River Thames, set amongst the rich meadows of the river valley and alongside the woodlands of the Chiltern Hills which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Marlow has been named as the county's 'coolest' place to live in the UK by Naturecan - earning a place in the UK's top three in the process.
This vibrant Georgian market town is made up of historic streets with small listed buildings and an abundance of boutique shops, restaurants, cafes and bistros all adding to the town’s unique charm.
COOKHAM DEAN
Cookham Dean is the highest of three Cookham villages and is to the west of the larger village of Cookham. It is 2 miles from the river Thames and neighbours some of the riverside towns and villages: Marlow and Cookham. The Commons of Cookham Dean are now managed by National Trust.
