30 August, 2009

Museum of London in Docklands



An interesting and huge branch of the Museum of London in the heart of Docklands, that tells the story of the Port of London from Roman times to the present day. Definitely worth a look.

The pictures are of St Peters Barge, St Peters barge the church on a boat and another boat in the dock.

29 August, 2009

Ruxley apiary


A visit to the outer edges of Greater London to see an apiary in action.
Ruxley is almost as far away from London as you can get without being in Kent, and it is there that the Ruxley Beekeepers (the Association was founded in Eltham) have their club apiary. They meet on most Saturday afternoons and this Saturday the work to be carried out was treatment for the varroa destructor mite with thymol. Visitors were split into two groups - those who had never seen a beehive before and the more experienced. I was with the newbies who went of to have a look at one of the hives having donned a veil and tunic. The hive was an amazing colony with workers, and a queen and literally a hive of activity. It was fascinating to see the bees, who contrary to popular belief did not attempt to sting, not that they could sting me dressed up in the tunic and veil.

I couldn't taake pictures of the bees all veiled up and wanted to listen to the talk anyway but here is a picture of the apiary in its rural setting

17 August, 2009

Hall Place

Another visit to Hall Place, Bexley. Since I was last there the place has been done up and is rather more of museum than a function suite. There was also rather more interpretation.

From Travels around London


When the last occupant died, Bexley council were expecting to get a house they had already purchased and the contents which they hadn't. The tenant had instructed in her will that the contents were to be sold in aid of Coventry Cathedral, and they duly were sold to assist, no doubt, in the rebuilding. Most of the furnishing these days comes from Anne of Cleeves House in Lewes.

01 August, 2009

Lammas day and some lammas lands

A lammas day visit to Leytonstone. Lammas day is the first of August and is a commemoration of the first wheat harvest. Traditionally where there were lammas lands the local peasantry could graze animals from lammas day until 25th March.

From Travels around London