The Barley Mow, Clifton Hampden, Historic thatched pub in Clifton Hampden, England
The Barley Mow in Clifton Hampden is a timber-framed thatched pub on the bank of the Thames, with small leaded windows and low gables. The wooden frame sits on brick foundations, and the roof overhangs the walls to shelter the front of the building.
The building was founded in 1352 as a riverside inn, placing it among the oldest structures in the village. It was listed as Grade II in 1952 in recognition of its medieval timber-frame construction.
The name Barley Mow refers to a stack of harvested barley, a common rural image in old English pub names tied to farming life. Inside, the low beams and small leaded windows give the rooms a feeling that has barely shifted over the generations, making it feel like a working village local rather than a tourist stop.
The pub stands right on the Thames, with access to towpaths along the riverbank nearby. Inside, ceilings are very low and passages are narrow, so taller visitors should watch their heads.
Photographer Henry Taunt captured the pub in 1877, showing the overhanging thatched roof and brick kitchen floor in detail. Comparing those images with the building today reveals how little has actually changed in roughly 150 years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
