In message , michael adams
writes

What's on the opposite bank is a "footpath" - with numerous trees etc
between the path and the river which would have ruled out any use of
rope,

The trees have all grown since the demise of barge towing. In fact, the
chestnuts on the Kew bank, opposite Strand on the Green, were
deliberately planted to enhance the view. They were not there in the age
of towing for the reason you state.

The actual towing path along the Thames was entirely on the south
(Surrey) side for many miles upstream of London. There are a few
riverside walks on the north bank, but they are not continuous and were
never part of an actual towpath.

"Towpaths" are most commonly found on canals where horses were used to
tow the barges. And where the more normal means of propulsion i.e sail
or oar weren't available.

There was certainly some towed transport on the Thames, but the river is
strongly tidal (originally as far as Kingston) and so most carriers made
use of the tides, aided by wind where possible, rather than towing.

For anyone who's interested the railway bridge in the vicinity may have
suffered bomb damage during the War as some of the piers are different
- plainer and without the original embellishments.

I think that's more than likely - and also, perhaps, an answer to the
OP's query. There was severe damage to the area around Old Post Office
Alley in 1940 as the result of a land mine (which destroyed most of the
adjacent City Barge pub). I'll try to remember to take a look next time
I got to the latter, but I suspect the metal knobs are the ends of tie
rods to stop any further bulging of a weakened wall.

Although that part of Chiswick now appears peaceful and affluent, it had
some nasty scrapes during WW2, including (not far from Strand on the
Green) the first V2 rocket to fall on London - hushed-up at the time as
a "gas explosion".
--
Paul Terry