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| From Travels around London |
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.
31 July, 2009
St Andrews Under Gherkin
St Andrews undershaft in the city was so named because it used to be underneath an enormous maypole. Maypole dancing was the rave of its time, ruthlessly supressed because of illegal drinking, perhaps substances and almost certainly sexual shenanigans. At the same time, just like rave, when the authorities turned up it was usually almost over.
Today the church nestles in the shade not of a maypole but the gherkin, and is used by St Helens, Bishopsate.
Today the church nestles in the shade not of a maypole but the gherkin, and is used by St Helens, Bishopsate.
26 July, 2009
Morden to Crystal Palace
Morden is the terminus of the northern line and the begining of the st Hellier Estate named after Lady St Hellier, of the London County Council, not the capital of Jersey. It's a large interwar cottage estate with fairly generous cottages and flats, mostly privatised. There's a big co-op at Rose Hill.
The other end of St Hellier is Carshlton Village. It's much posher here and they go rather a bundle on Anne Boleyn whose family were the local nobs. There is a well next to the church (All Saints) called Anne Boleyn's well but it is dry and completely obscured with planting. It is said that where here horse kicked, a spring welled up. A plaque states that this is unlikely and it is probably more likely to be Bullen's Well, after the Lord of the Manor.
Beyond Carshalton (allegedly pronounced case horton although I don't know anybody who does) is Croydon. It's easy to be sniffy about Croydon but the library is good with bound copies of Punch from first to last and other bound journals, like The Builder from the twenties and thirties. My goal was shopping which was frustrating.
Journeys end was the Crystal Palace, Norwood, via anerley.
The other end of St Hellier is Carshlton Village. It's much posher here and they go rather a bundle on Anne Boleyn whose family were the local nobs. There is a well next to the church (All Saints) called Anne Boleyn's well but it is dry and completely obscured with planting. It is said that where here horse kicked, a spring welled up. A plaque states that this is unlikely and it is probably more likely to be Bullen's Well, after the Lord of the Manor.
Beyond Carshalton (allegedly pronounced case horton although I don't know anybody who does) is Croydon. It's easy to be sniffy about Croydon but the library is good with bound copies of Punch from first to last and other bound journals, like The Builder from the twenties and thirties. My goal was shopping which was frustrating.
Journeys end was the Crystal Palace, Norwood, via anerley.
24 July, 2009
London E3
Fooled you - this post is not about Bow, it is rather the route of the E3 'bus as it wids its way through the Borough of Ealing from Greenford to Acton where I got off in the middle of a very violent electrical storm where I got soaked to the skin.
Don't confuse Greenford with where the tube sation bearing that name is. The tube station bit is all rather industrial, but the centre of the suburb is quite pleasant with shops(including charity shops) including one very disorganised one in support of dementia. The library was a refurbished building of 1934 and sat next to the Police station and clinic in a little civic group with Greenford Hall (four rooms available for almost any function). Ravenor park was green with a play area and not much else although it was home to the London Motorcycle museum closed when I called, although Diamond Geezer calls it a gem.
Enough already! Time to get the E3 to Greenford Avenue for the photo that appears on the other blog and walk through the dignified housing estate perhaps called castlebar park. On to Hanwell with its unrefurbished Carnegie library dating from 1906.
There was even a picture of Andrew Carnegie in there but it looked as though refurbishment was needed. Hanwell had a curious clock surrounded by workmens barriers
and was home to both the Westminster City and the Kensington Cemeteries. The Westminster cemetery was brash and austentatious as befits a cemetery serving both Soho and theatreland (one and the same really) and the Kensington cemetery was much more discreet as befits a cemetery serving royalty.
I took my lunch in the KFC in West Ealing and walked to Northfields
with a park called Lamass Park and an unusual and early cinema converted to an Elim Pentecostal Church. It was here that the heavens opened and hail, lightning and thunder ended my journey soaked to the skin.
19 July, 2009
Bethnal Green - Globe town.
A visit to Bethnal Green to see a presentation on the Stairway to Heaven Memorial to the people killed in the Bethnal Green tube sttion disaster. I found this so moving that I don't really want to describe it here but you can take a look at stairway to heaven memorial and donate something if you wish.
The rest of the day was spent walking in Bethnal Green and Globe town with a guide to walks in Tower Hamlets. I wasn't sure what the producers of the guide were trying to show me, unless it was a general look how nice it is here, because there were some pleasant squares and courtyards and some innovative housing, although there were a lot of flats. Of interest was the first ever block erected by the William Sutton Trust, now celebrating 100 years since building.
The trust began in 1900 but only built its first estate in 1909. William Sutton allegedly let his £80million fortune (at today's prices) for housing for the poor because his second wife turned up after their honeymoon with a daughter he didn't know about! Be that as it may the trust is still going strong although like most housing associations they have had to merge with others.
More modern flats can be found nearby. These were the first cluster blocks and the architect was Denys Lasdun and was an attemp to induce a sense of belonging and a street in the sky. I'll leave it to you to decide which of this or Sutton you'd prefer, although I must say I would be torn.
My walk ended in Weavers fields where the surveilance cameras are mounted on a sculpture.
Ater this I returned to Bethnal Green Library to meet a friend to search for the mouth of the Hackney brook, one of London's lost rivers as spoken about by Iain Sinclair at Gresham College last month (http://www.gresham.ac.uk/event.asp?PageId=45&EventId=886) and we discovered it! Quite impressive, although there was a British Waterways barge right in front.
Not the best picture I've taken.
The rest of the day was spent walking in Bethnal Green and Globe town with a guide to walks in Tower Hamlets. I wasn't sure what the producers of the guide were trying to show me, unless it was a general look how nice it is here, because there were some pleasant squares and courtyards and some innovative housing, although there were a lot of flats. Of interest was the first ever block erected by the William Sutton Trust, now celebrating 100 years since building.
The trust began in 1900 but only built its first estate in 1909. William Sutton allegedly let his £80million fortune (at today's prices) for housing for the poor because his second wife turned up after their honeymoon with a daughter he didn't know about! Be that as it may the trust is still going strong although like most housing associations they have had to merge with others.
More modern flats can be found nearby. These were the first cluster blocks and the architect was Denys Lasdun and was an attemp to induce a sense of belonging and a street in the sky. I'll leave it to you to decide which of this or Sutton you'd prefer, although I must say I would be torn.
My walk ended in Weavers fields where the surveilance cameras are mounted on a sculpture.
Ater this I returned to Bethnal Green Library to meet a friend to search for the mouth of the Hackney brook, one of London's lost rivers as spoken about by Iain Sinclair at Gresham College last month (http://www.gresham.ac.uk/event.asp?PageId=45&EventId=886) and we discovered it! Quite impressive, although there was a British Waterways barge right in front.Not the best picture I've taken.
29 June, 2009
Norfolk and Norwich.
Great Yarmouth to be precise - a run into the deep wilds of Norfolk's seaside. At Great Yarmouth there is a pirate themed mini golf course, with elaborate pirate ships, treasure caves and facts about pirates to help you along the 18 holes. It's rather jolly although I was about 18 over par.
Coming back to Norwich I watched Treasure Island in my hotel.
On the way back we visited Waxham great barn, a great big very old barn by the sea at Waxham.
The next day had a walk along Norwich's river, the Wensum, to Pull's Ferry
then afterwards to the Castle Museum which is pretty good with artefacts from Norwich and a very fine art collection.
Coming back to Norwich I watched Treasure Island in my hotel.
On the way back we visited Waxham great barn, a great big very old barn by the sea at Waxham.
The next day had a walk along Norwich's river, the Wensum, to Pull's Ferry
then afterwards to the Castle Museum which is pretty good with artefacts from Norwich and a very fine art collection.
21 June, 2009
Long Live Henry our King 21/06/1509
A visit by carriage to Teddington Lock to see our king sail down the Thames after his coronation to his new palace at Hampton Court. Gadzooks the King looked athletic- we have a fine igure of a king this time!
No pictures 'cos photography hasn't been invented yet.
No pictures 'cos photography hasn't been invented yet.
14 June, 2009
Beaconsfield
A day trip to beaconsfield to see what it was like.
Unfortunately there was a wedding in the main church so I couldn't see in there but I could see the outside!
Beaconsfield is a crossroads village but moved somewhat towards the station with the new town being north of the station including the model village of Bekonscot. Built in the 1930s it has raised a lot of money for the Church Army and other charities. Not cheap to get in though...
Unfortunately there was a wedding in the main church so I couldn't see in there but I could see the outside!
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| From places of worship |
Beaconsfield is a crossroads village but moved somewhat towards the station with the new town being north of the station including the model village of Bekonscot. Built in the 1930s it has raised a lot of money for the Church Army and other charities. Not cheap to get in though...
27 May, 2009
Crouch End Hornsey
A visit to Crouch End, because I've been before but not recently and not knowing about the grade 2 listed library
There is a commemorative fountain which I dubbed 'the whore in the shower' commemorating the work of the Hornsey borough Council.
When I called it was turned off, like the other fountain in front of the town hall.
The town clock told inhabitants and travellers the time of day.
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| From Travels around London |
There is a commemorative fountain which I dubbed 'the whore in the shower' commemorating the work of the Hornsey borough Council.
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| From Travels around London |
When I called it was turned off, like the other fountain in front of the town hall.
The town clock told inhabitants and travellers the time of day.
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| From Travels around London |
08 May, 2009
Southampton's pretty front garden competition
And if you object to your garden being shown on here then GET IT TIDIED UP! SHAME ON YOU!
The clear winner! The dustbin collection just gives that edge!
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| From Travels around London |
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| From Travels around London |
The clear winner! The dustbin collection just gives that edge!
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| From Travels around London |
Weymouth in Dorset
Yes' I'd recommend it to anyone!
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| From Travels around London |
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| From Travels around London |
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| From Travels around London |
05 May, 2009
Lewes in Sussex
Once the home to Thomas Paine, who I have seen described as little more than an 18th Century Trotsky, I visited Lewes to get beyond Brighton for a time, although my evening was spent in Brighton.
Starting at the Church of St Anne, I had a cup of coffee with the Rector, who showed me round his beautiful church, with anchorite's cell. A very pleasant one.
There are some fine bookshops in Lewes but no self guided walk, which the tourist people would do well to rectify as the town does not give up its treasures easily.
Lewes is the county town of Sussex with courts as well. There were protestant martyrs burnt there too, and every year the bonfire societies burn an efigy of some folk devil, which always used to be the pope but not so much these days.
The Sussex Archeological Trust owns Anne of Cleves House in Southover, a suburb of Lewes and uses it to display their collection of archeological and folk relics. It's good and has some enjoyable exhibits and gardens. Anne of Cleves never lived there though.
Another suburb of Lewes has this old church (below) with all kinds of relics including an Elizabethan Royal Arms in plaster on the wall.
The Bloomsbury set liked to live in and near Lewes in all their sexually complicated lives. This round house was once lived in by them - it is the base of a Sussex windmill.
Starting at the Church of St Anne, I had a cup of coffee with the Rector, who showed me round his beautiful church, with anchorite's cell. A very pleasant one.
There are some fine bookshops in Lewes but no self guided walk, which the tourist people would do well to rectify as the town does not give up its treasures easily.
Lewes is the county town of Sussex with courts as well. There were protestant martyrs burnt there too, and every year the bonfire societies burn an efigy of some folk devil, which always used to be the pope but not so much these days.
The Sussex Archeological Trust owns Anne of Cleves House in Southover, a suburb of Lewes and uses it to display their collection of archeological and folk relics. It's good and has some enjoyable exhibits and gardens. Anne of Cleves never lived there though.
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| From Travels around London |
Another suburb of Lewes has this old church (below) with all kinds of relics including an Elizabethan Royal Arms in plaster on the wall.
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| From Travels around London |
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| From Travels around London |
The Bloomsbury set liked to live in and near Lewes in all their sexually complicated lives. This round house was once lived in by them - it is the base of a Sussex windmill.
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| From Travels around London |
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| From Travels around London |
08 April, 2009
Shoreditch
A visit to an early LCC housing scheme.
Built to house slum dwellers from the notorious Jago the estate at Arnold gardens was built with a mound of refuse converted into a park with a bandstand to save disposal costs.
The buildings have generally stood the test of time and skimped maintenance.
Built to house slum dwellers from the notorious Jago the estate at Arnold gardens was built with a mound of refuse converted into a park with a bandstand to save disposal costs.
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| From Travels around London |
The buildings have generally stood the test of time and skimped maintenance.
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| From Travels around London |
04 April, 2009
Chislehurst
Chislehurst is a village of two parts, just outside the London Postcode area but not outside greater London. One part has a Sainsburys and is a bit downmarket, but cross the common and the shops become posher and the houses bigger- very big in many cases!
The church of St Nicholas was open when I called, with a tapestry of shields of the other parishes that had been formed from parts of the parish when that area became more built up. The rood screen came from the 15th century and the tomb of Thomas Walshingham was broken into in the 20th Century by Calvin Hoffman in the hope that the original manuscripts of Shakespeare would be there. This is one of the wierder aspects of an interesting book: grave goods were extremely uncommon during Elizabethan times....
The church is built of knapped flint and the Walsingham chapel contains Tomas Walsingham's tomb.
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| From Travels around London |
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| From Travels around London |
The church of St Nicholas was open when I called, with a tapestry of shields of the other parishes that had been formed from parts of the parish when that area became more built up. The rood screen came from the 15th century and the tomb of Thomas Walshingham was broken into in the 20th Century by Calvin Hoffman in the hope that the original manuscripts of Shakespeare would be there. This is one of the wierder aspects of an interesting book: grave goods were extremely uncommon during Elizabethan times....
The church is built of knapped flint and the Walsingham chapel contains Tomas Walsingham's tomb.
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| From Travels around London |
28 February, 2009
The shattered decanter by D H (Bert) Lawrence
Auntie Chris sat in the drawing room at Eastwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre.
The hotel was in the very heart of the east midlands mining country that was once home to D H Lawrence from his birth until he could manage to escape. The hall nestled under the old slagheap like a child its mother, the village stood at the top of the valley the hills covered in four square brick houses that had once housed the coal miners – attracted by hard work and low wages to populate this village. Lawrence had been born half way up the wall of one of these houses according to a plaque present thereon.
Eastwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre was the scene for the drama that was about to play itself out and an important gathering had come there to debate tactics and strategy for the Coöp. Men, ay, and women too had come from throughout the country to be present at the gathering and that there was any love between them none would have acknowledged although they were held in much deeper bonds than mere love could provide. Some of them were brutal in speech but never coarse in manner.
Eastwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre was by far the biggest house in the village, having over 300 bedrooms, but was set in a valley and so did not command it. The D H Lawrence heritage centre, that place of enlightenment and education, was in a more commanding position opposite the hall, and in there one could, if one were so inclined, learn what there was to know about the Lawrence family. It was even the scene of many a village wedding as it housed the registry office; all those who went through that door suffered the terrors of the damned on those occasions.
In a commanding position in the high street were the Coöp stores, where villagers could shop for their groceries, electrical goods both brown and white and home furnishings. A special department catered for the villagers travel needs, and it was this department that was well frequented. The Coöp men and women had visited the stores and found them to be good. They had returned to the hall and told their friends and comrades that flannel singlets could be obtained at half price. Some of the coöperators made their way to the library, set in a square with a millennium clock and opposite an inn where the village men folk gathered to drink their ale. The clock had been paid for in part by the Midlands Coöperative Society and it showed the time to the staff in the library. There was an important DH Lawrence collection in the library under lock and key. These are not books to give your servant after all. No, the serving wench would more desire Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code or something by Catherine Cookson if she were elderly. Outside the library a modern sculpture celebrated, yet again, the one son of the village to have achieved worldwide (in)fame(y). A blue line on the pavement connected places associated with this man phoenix who had brought such prosperity to the village people.
DHL's Childhood home
The conference went on in its interminable fashion with speakers both great and good. Delegates repaired to the swimming pool when it all became too much and there in the grinning water, steam room and sauna dripped away their cares until they could return to the hall refreshed and ready to debate some more.
‘What’s for dinner?’ I asked of one of the delegates, who said that she didn’t know, but thought as it had been chicken on Friday night it would be beef tonight.
‘Aye lass, ‘appen that’ll be right. Chicken follows beef as sure as Sunday follows Saturday.’
There was to be a presentation that evening at the dinner that night but the beef was not on the menu, instead pork was served to the general consternation.
After dinner the presentations were made: Auntie Chris was presented with a crystal decanter by the members of the Coöp, for having been for many, many years a stalwart in the Coöperative service. This was her just reward for the many years of hard work for the society that showed in her careworn face. The hard work also showed. She was now about to take a well earned retirement and the conference was to be her swan song. The secretary had called her name, holding the decanter in his hand. Chris collected it from the Secretary and stepped down from the stage to the applause of her comrades, colleagues and fellow coöperators depending on their persuasion. A turn to greet a fellow and oh! a slip, and the decanter lay shattered on the dining room floor.
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| From Travels around London |
The hotel was in the very heart of the east midlands mining country that was once home to D H Lawrence from his birth until he could manage to escape. The hall nestled under the old slagheap like a child its mother, the village stood at the top of the valley the hills covered in four square brick houses that had once housed the coal miners – attracted by hard work and low wages to populate this village. Lawrence had been born half way up the wall of one of these houses according to a plaque present thereon.
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| From Travels around London |
Eastwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre was the scene for the drama that was about to play itself out and an important gathering had come there to debate tactics and strategy for the Coöp. Men, ay, and women too had come from throughout the country to be present at the gathering and that there was any love between them none would have acknowledged although they were held in much deeper bonds than mere love could provide. Some of them were brutal in speech but never coarse in manner.
Eastwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre was by far the biggest house in the village, having over 300 bedrooms, but was set in a valley and so did not command it. The D H Lawrence heritage centre, that place of enlightenment and education, was in a more commanding position opposite the hall, and in there one could, if one were so inclined, learn what there was to know about the Lawrence family. It was even the scene of many a village wedding as it housed the registry office; all those who went through that door suffered the terrors of the damned on those occasions.
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| From Travels around London |
In a commanding position in the high street were the Coöp stores, where villagers could shop for their groceries, electrical goods both brown and white and home furnishings. A special department catered for the villagers travel needs, and it was this department that was well frequented. The Coöp men and women had visited the stores and found them to be good. They had returned to the hall and told their friends and comrades that flannel singlets could be obtained at half price. Some of the coöperators made their way to the library, set in a square with a millennium clock and opposite an inn where the village men folk gathered to drink their ale. The clock had been paid for in part by the Midlands Coöperative Society and it showed the time to the staff in the library. There was an important DH Lawrence collection in the library under lock and key. These are not books to give your servant after all. No, the serving wench would more desire Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code or something by Catherine Cookson if she were elderly. Outside the library a modern sculpture celebrated, yet again, the one son of the village to have achieved worldwide (in)fame(y). A blue line on the pavement connected places associated with this man phoenix who had brought such prosperity to the village people.
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| From Travels around London |
DHL's Childhood home
The conference went on in its interminable fashion with speakers both great and good. Delegates repaired to the swimming pool when it all became too much and there in the grinning water, steam room and sauna dripped away their cares until they could return to the hall refreshed and ready to debate some more.
‘What’s for dinner?’ I asked of one of the delegates, who said that she didn’t know, but thought as it had been chicken on Friday night it would be beef tonight.
‘Aye lass, ‘appen that’ll be right. Chicken follows beef as sure as Sunday follows Saturday.’
There was to be a presentation that evening at the dinner that night but the beef was not on the menu, instead pork was served to the general consternation.
After dinner the presentations were made: Auntie Chris was presented with a crystal decanter by the members of the Coöp, for having been for many, many years a stalwart in the Coöperative service. This was her just reward for the many years of hard work for the society that showed in her careworn face. The hard work also showed. She was now about to take a well earned retirement and the conference was to be her swan song. The secretary had called her name, holding the decanter in his hand. Chris collected it from the Secretary and stepped down from the stage to the applause of her comrades, colleagues and fellow coöperators depending on their persuasion. A turn to greet a fellow and oh! a slip, and the decanter lay shattered on the dining room floor.
27 February, 2009
Nottingham
A visit to Nottingham, home of lace and er that's it really. There are two interesting churches that I visited in the town St Peter and St Mary, St Mary has a 500 year old porch and St Peter has a modern tryptich and workers window that was paid for by subscriptions from trade unions and workers organisations.
Nottingham is also home to the legend of Robin Hood who actually came from Wakefield. He gathered a band of outlaws about him when the Sherrif of Nottingham (the office still exists) would not give him maid Marion's hand in marriage. I think there's rather more to it than that as the Sherrif is responsible for the administrtion of justice including collecting debts. Nevertheless Robin Hood and his merry men camped out in Sherwood Forrest wearing lincolngreen they stole from a merchant.
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| From Travels around London |
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| From Travels around London |
Nottingham is also home to the legend of Robin Hood who actually came from Wakefield. He gathered a band of outlaws about him when the Sherrif of Nottingham (the office still exists) would not give him maid Marion's hand in marriage. I think there's rather more to it than that as the Sherrif is responsible for the administrtion of justice including collecting debts. Nevertheless Robin Hood and his merry men camped out in Sherwood Forrest wearing lincolngreen they stole from a merchant.
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| From Travels around London |
Hmm. Alas the legends are really just that. There's no record of Robin Hood or his band of merry men. It's probably just a pagan survival - green men, fairys etc., but it is a good story especially when you get to the redistributive robbery.
Nottingham has a castle and a fairly grand railway station. It has some interesting shops. I was only there for half a day so not much exploring done.
22 February, 2009
George Lansbury celebrations
George Lansbury, an honest politician.
Events to celebrate the life of George Lansbury, Pauper Guardian, LCC Councillor, Poplar Borough Councillor, MP, cabinet minister, Brixton prisoner and leader of the Labour Party (this one by default). Diamond Geezer has blogged in depth about him, so I’ll blog about the walk. A large crowd had gathered outside Bow Road Tube station including some of my Coöperative friends from Hertfordshire and Essex but not a friend from Tower Hamlets who claimed to have been distracted by a tall… but we won’t go into that. Four groups led off to St Clements Hospital, the former City workhouse, to introduce Lansbury as a Pauper Guardian and how he uncovered corruption in the workhouse, next off to see some other sites less well connected, then the site of Lansbury’s house destroyed by a bomb in 1944 and now the site of a block of council flats and a memorial garden. Past the former Poplar Town Hall and the statue of Gladstone paid for by a deduction from the wages of the match girls at the Brymay factory and hence with the statues hands painted red to symbolise the blood of the match girls on Gladstone’s hands. After that into Bow church an old building for some tea and cakes. Many thanks to the man who pointed out the squirrel in the stained glass east window.
The Memorial service was also held in Bow Church and although my companion was impatient to get away to the hell hole of a tiny ‘theatre’ bar he frequents, the singing and the preaching by Ken Leach were excellent, although Bunyan’s good masculine words were mangled and ‘He who would true valour see’ was a curious hybrid of Dearmer and Bunyan but not the usual namby pamby Dearmer. The Lansbury family were out in force although not Miss Angela Lansbury who was playing Madame Arcarti on Broadway. One professor stated that he had been inspired by Lansbury to give up his riches, his big house with two cars to live modestly in a poor district. I’m all for professors living where they want to but of course all the people who do live in the poor district by necessity would, should they come into a professor’s wealth, move out to a better district and buy two cars. I know I would!
Events to celebrate the life of George Lansbury, Pauper Guardian, LCC Councillor, Poplar Borough Councillor, MP, cabinet minister, Brixton prisoner and leader of the Labour Party (this one by default). Diamond Geezer has blogged in depth about him, so I’ll blog about the walk. A large crowd had gathered outside Bow Road Tube station including some of my Coöperative friends from Hertfordshire and Essex but not a friend from Tower Hamlets who claimed to have been distracted by a tall… but we won’t go into that. Four groups led off to St Clements Hospital, the former City workhouse, to introduce Lansbury as a Pauper Guardian and how he uncovered corruption in the workhouse, next off to see some other sites less well connected, then the site of Lansbury’s house destroyed by a bomb in 1944 and now the site of a block of council flats and a memorial garden. Past the former Poplar Town Hall and the statue of Gladstone paid for by a deduction from the wages of the match girls at the Brymay factory and hence with the statues hands painted red to symbolise the blood of the match girls on Gladstone’s hands. After that into Bow church an old building for some tea and cakes. Many thanks to the man who pointed out the squirrel in the stained glass east window.
The Memorial service was also held in Bow Church and although my companion was impatient to get away to the hell hole of a tiny ‘theatre’ bar he frequents, the singing and the preaching by Ken Leach were excellent, although Bunyan’s good masculine words were mangled and ‘He who would true valour see’ was a curious hybrid of Dearmer and Bunyan but not the usual namby pamby Dearmer. The Lansbury family were out in force although not Miss Angela Lansbury who was playing Madame Arcarti on Broadway. One professor stated that he had been inspired by Lansbury to give up his riches, his big house with two cars to live modestly in a poor district. I’m all for professors living where they want to but of course all the people who do live in the poor district by necessity would, should they come into a professor’s wealth, move out to a better district and buy two cars. I know I would!
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| From Travels around London |
21 February, 2009
East Ham - it is all sh*t!
A visit to the far reaches of the District line and the borough of New Ham an amalgam of East Ham and West Ham. I stuck to the East Ham side. And it really is horrible. I went into the vast Carnegie Library. The fiction section downstairs had a lot of books although mostly in foreign languages the information section upstairs was a vast barn with three, yes three shelves of books. Even in Barking I saw more books than that. There was nothing about the history of the borough, the topography or anything like that so I came away at a loss. The vast heritage of one of the county boroughs of Essex reduced to nothing. I made my way to the scrubby grassy park. The library promised me a tree trail – No 1. London Plane, No 2. London Plane etc. On the way to the park a stoned youth asked me where Newham College was. As it was obvious that it was opposite the library away from the direction he was going I pointed towards it and said “There it is”. He just kept walking away from it in some dope induced dream of his own. Why he would want to go there on a Saturday I could not understand.
The picture shows the public mortuary – I’d rather be in there than living in East Ham.
The picture shows the public mortuary – I’d rather be in there than living in East Ham.
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| From Travels around London |
08 February, 2009
Birmingham and Braunston
Another visit to the Canal Boat show at Braunston in the snow. I went with Phil and we had a ride on a narrow boat specially equipped for ice breaking.
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| From canals and waterways |
02 February, 2009
the King Stone Upon Thames
Kingston is home to the stone on which the Saxon Kings were crowned. It stands outside the Guildhall. The Church (All Saints) was serving tea, coffee and cake to my companion's relief, and had some old brass and a wall painting of St Blaize with carding comb and pastoral staff.
The museum is fairly small but has some curious exhibits telling the story of Kingston through the ages.
The Cleve Almshouses
The Lovekyn chapel
Modern sculpture
The museum is fairly small but has some curious exhibits telling the story of Kingston through the ages.
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| From Travels around London |
The Cleve Almshouses
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| From Travels around London |
The Lovekyn chapel
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| From Travels around London |
Modern sculpture
22 January, 2009
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a small and unimpressive town on the Medway in Kent.
There are some old black and white houses including an old inn, the ragged remains of an old castle to defend the medway- no more than a gatehouse - and an old church which is only open in the mornings, but probably this Trustee Savings Bank mural is much more threatened with destruction.
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| From Travels around London |
There are some old black and white houses including an old inn, the ragged remains of an old castle to defend the medway- no more than a gatehouse - and an old church which is only open in the mornings, but probably this Trustee Savings Bank mural is much more threatened with destruction.
 |
| From Travels around London |
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