This is an area locally called The Splash. It is where Watersplash Road crosses the River Ash. A short low footbridge makes it possible to ford the river at this shallow point. The river is often only a few inches deep at this point, so, in the past, before the footbridge was built, a horse and cart could have crossed here. This is a useful shortcut in the area.
One of the features of Shepperton prior to the building of the M3 motorway was the rural aspect of the area between Shepperton and Littleton / Charlton. The Watersplash at Charlton road was cut by the M3, and that at Watersplash road was subsequently blocked with posts. Both cross the river Ash, which is actually a branch of the river Colne at Staines and reaches the Thames at Sunbury. In the days when the watersplashes were open to traffic, it was not unusual for a car to get stuck, and to be recovered by tractor or even by pushing !
Other roads probably dating from the Middle Ages are Charlton Road, Watersplash Road, Sheepwalk Lane, Walton Lane, and the road which formerly led from Gaston Bridge to Walton Ferry. The southern part of this road still remains as Felix Lane. In 1959 there were still footbridges with deep fords beside them, over the River Ash in Charlton Road and Watersplash Road.
Bring some bread to feed the ducks and of course a pen or pencil.
Children will need some guidance crossing the road from the parking area or you could park in the nearby layby, which is the same side as the cache.
The path to the cache is flat and quite easy going and so should be wheelchair accessible.