efog-blog
Recent outings and activities...
Wet and Windy In Woolwich
We were not as lucky with the weather as the the people who went to Warley Place yesterday – and we certainly couldn't compete with the daffodils – as Fred kept reminding us - but we had a good time despite the weather. However, the rain came and went and the wind varied.
Five of us hardy EFOGers walked from Woolwich to Greenwich on the last Sunday in March, braving the rain and the wind. It's amazing how much this area has changed in just a few hundred years. At the beginning of the 19th century 'free cerls' were raising pigs on what were marshlands; they were considered a 'race apart' from the ordinary people who lived on the other side of the New Woolwich Road in Charlton (new in 1790).
After the 1850s this area developed into a crammed, busy, closely knit, working-class community, fringed by wharfs, barge works, rope-walks – all the paraphernalia and trades associated with riverside life - most of the way to Greenwich.
At the end of the last leg of the Green London Way walk we had began looking at the impact of the army on Woolwich. Today we started at the ruins of the old (once very ornate) garrison church of St. George, bombed in 1944. Unfortunately, we couldn't get inside to see the walled garden hidden there, or the mosaics of St. George slaying the dragon. However this site is set to become into a memorial to Lee Rigby and all the men and women killed in service and to commemorate Woolwich's history as a garrison town.
After crossing the impressive front of the Royal Artillery Barracks we did a detour from the set route, walking through Gun Park and army communal areas to the Rotunda Artillery Museum, built in 1820. It was designed to copy the shape of the canvas bell tent which originally held the exhibition. Most of its exhibits were transferred to the Woolwich Firepower Exhibition in 2001, which some of us visited on the previous walk..
Then it was back 'up the hill' to Maryon-Wilson Park, the former 'Hanging Wood', and Happy Valley. Hard to believe this lovely park was once a place where the highwaymen who plagued Shooters Hill were hanged. Our tender-hearted EFOGers felt sorry for the people setting up Easter stalls near the animal enclosures, in the rain, as we made our way to Gilbert's Pit – to admire the way the former pits and gravel heaps are now being taken over by 'nature'.
The next stretch of the walk has seen the most dramatic changes of any of the walks in this series. In 1594 more than 40,000 people were already employed in this stretch of the Thames. By the 1870s it was not unusual to see 2,000 vessels in the 4 miles between London Bridge and Deptford. By the beginning of the 20th century this part of London had the largest dock complex in the world. Yet, within a few decades after the end of the Second World War it was all over – replaced by acres of dereliction.
Then came an era of massive re-development (still in process). Now office blocks, shopping malls, yachting marinas and miles of fashionable homes for the wealthy rub shoulders with the relatively few surviving industries, buildings and small strands of 'original' housing.
The Thames Barrier (opened in 1984) has to have been one of the most dramatic changes, built after the devastation and loss of life caused by the severe floods in 1953.
We had a welcome 'pit stop' in The View Café catching up with the most recent figures about the ever-more-frequent raising of the barrier. Two thirds of its use has been in the last 10 years – and it is likely to ineffective after 2060......
Afterwards we walked along the Riverside Walk, occasionally battling with the wind and the wet, until we reached the Ecology Park, with its many signs of Spring, despite the weather. A board-walk led us to a very large expanse of mainly ultra-modern high-rise flats, with views of The 02 on one side and the Spring-like Ecology Park on the other.
Fortunately, the rain gave us a break and even the wind seemed calmer, as we crossed the high footbridge in front of the Blackwall Tunnel Southern Approach. Looking at the queues of traffic it was a little hard to imagine that it had originally been designed for the use horse-drawn traffic (hence the gentle inclines) – bet the fumes inside where different then! Trevor pointed out the vent for the tunnel in the 02 canopy.
We rejoined the river on the other side at a point which was once the most polluted section of the Thames, where suicides were more likely to die from poisoning than drowning. In 1957 it was estimated that the 43 miles of the Thames between Kew Bridge and Gravesend were completely devoid of fish, bird or other significant aquatic life.
The recovery of the tidal Thames since then has to be one of the most successful 'success' stories of the river's modern history. This has been brought about by improvements in sewerage and better industrial processes but above all by the DETERMINATION of many, many people to make sure it happened. A determination which needs to be maintained – history has told us it is not irreversible. This has been a continuing theme in these walks – the need to maintain vigilance and a fighting-spirit to defend common rights and freedoms.
The river path took us in a loop to our final destination – we could view its masts well before we neared it. By then the rain had pretty much travelled on but the wind was still as strong and we were walking into it a lot of the time …. invigorating?
More housing estates and development were passed on the way, promising 'outstanding river views', portraying romanticised images of how the buildings would finally look, especially at sunset.
The banks were interspersed with a few remaining examples of 'older history', old wharfs, scattered remnants of rusting 'debris' and left-behind objects. We made our way past the thrusting bleakness of Greenwich Power Station, stark alongside the tranquil beauty of the16th century Trinity Hospital.
Finally we reached Trafalgar Tavern – and a stern faced Nelson. Time for a quick photograph with him before walking to the Cutty Sark via the Old Royal Naval College – and an end-of-walk coffee.
An unpromising day weather-wise turned out much better than might have been expected and as enjoyable as usual, thanks to my brave and determined EFOG pals.
Pam, 1st April 2015
Visit to Warley Place Nature Reserve.
How lucky were we with the weather! A coolish wind, but not Sunday’s drenching. A return visit for us - last year we saw the snowdrops in February, this year we went back on 28th March to see the narcissi and what a show they put on for us.
The Warley Place Nature Reserve is run by the Essex Wildlife Trust and maintained by volunteers. What a magic place it is! It’s a lost garden, in fact the garden of Ellen Willmott - one of the foremost Edwardian horticulturists. During her time, it was a real show garden. She died in the 1930s and the garden went to sleep for the next fifty years before being woken up by the Essex Wildlife Trust. Little of the show garden remains but it is enchanting to discover the remains of her sunken greenhouses, the alpine gorge she’d had constructed and the ruins of the conservatory where she had spent so much of her time.
The exotic shrubs and contemporaries have long since gone but what has thrived are the Spring bulbs, joyously taking over the garden during the abandoned years. How we enjoyed the swathes of daffodils. The visit was a delight as always, topped off by a warming drink and meal at the Thatchers Arms.
Marian Temple 31st March 2015 photos by Sue U.
Thames Path Walk: Part Two
Richmond to Putney Bridge - 14th March 2015
On a bright but chilly Saturday morning, twelve EFOG members set off from Richmond Station on the second leg of the London section of the Thames Path along the south bank. We had completed the first leg from Hampton Court down to Richmond the year before last, but a busy 2014 kept us at bay until now.
Once we hit the path itself, the first bridge we came to was Twickenham Bridge, followed shortly by Richmond Lock and weir, built in 1894 to keep up the water levels between here and Teddington. The path follows the edge of the Old Deer Park and there is plenty of wildlife to be spotted – herons, various ducks and geese, those blessed green parakeets and even the occasional fox. This section of the path feels very much like being in the country, the high rises of London not much in evidence through the trees. Shortly after Isleworth Ait over on the north bank Syon House, built in 1770, with the big lion over the front. The house and park are owned by the Percys, the Dukes of Northumberland, (friend of Edmund Blackadder….!), it is the only great house in London still in private hands. It has very nice gardens and a butterfly house and is worth a visit if you don't mind the noise of planes. On the south bank is Kew Gardens; we had views of the avenues and the Palm House and Kew Palace, home at one time to George 111 and his many children. On the north bank we also noted the entrance to the Grand Union Canal at Brentford.
The path continued through a nice section towards Mortlake, where we came across The Ship public house and made a stop for coffee amongst the very fit teams of lady rowers, for whom this is a popular watering hole. This section of the path is prone to flood at high tide and the defences along the path are very much in evidence . The path goes past a large brewery complex, formerly owned by Watney’s, now by Budweiser. During the week the smell of the operations is pretty atrocious along this stretch. At the end of this narrow stretch of path is Ye White Hart, another hostelry, and very useful for a lunch spot out of any rain.
Passing beneath Barnes Bridge into the town itself there are two blue plaques on the little houses opposite, one to composer Gustav Holst and one to Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet. Barnes Reach has also been the where the paddle boarders appear on the river, though they were not about today. The third hostelry, the Bull’s head is also along this stretch, where the group broke for lunch between the chip shop and the pub and the benches for those who brought their own provisions. After lunch, just before the path disappeared into the trees, we stopped to observe two houses on the street opposite – one has a cow on its balcony with the word 'Salt' written on it and across the road there is a spaceman on the balcony….
We passed by St Pauls School and moved on to Hammersmith Bridge, built by Joseph Bazalgette. It's a nice green one with the shield of Middlesex embossed on it, showing the three se-axs, short close fighting swords, from where the Saxon tribe got its name. The bridge is quite low, so one or two of the group had to mind their heads.
All of this stretch is where the university boat race takes place and we passed the finishing point, an innocuous little marker, further back upstream at Mortlake. One of the most recognisable sights for those who watch the race is the Harrods Repository building, now luxury flats of course, and better seen from the north bank, but right next to us on the path.
Just inland at this point is the London Wetland Centre at Barnes, visited by the Group on a number of occasions
The path now becomes very much shared by the walkers and the rowing clubs who populate this stretch and it is possible that we saw the Oxford and Cambridge crews practicing, though there were so many rowers it was difficult to tell. The last refreshment point pub, the Dukes Head, is along this section of road. The walk finishes at Putney Bridge, opposite which is St Mary's Church, site of the parliamentary debate known at the Putney Debates, held by Oliver Cromwell and and his parliamentary colleagues to decide the constitution of England after the civil war. After an end-of-walk cup of tea in the café by the bridge, we crossed the bridge and turned right to Putney Bridge tube station and the end of the walk.
Sue U. 24th March 2015
The Lea Valley Walk and the Cody Dock Project
Continuing on the theme of EFOG's donation to the the Gasworks Dock Partnership - or Cody Dock – those of you who are not members of the Ramblers or haven't read the March 2015 issue of South East Walker may be interested to know that it contains an article about Cody Dock.
Almost overlooked by Canary Wharf, set amongst an industrial landscape, the River Lea by Cody Dock is a haven of wildlife and tranquilityEntitled “Lea access on the way – at last!” It explains how the proposed Lea Valley Walk – a 50 mile route following the Lea from its source to the Thames - comes to a halt at the entrance to the dock, where a foot-and-cycle bridge was promised but not delivered as part of the Olympic Legacy.
The creation of the Gasworks Dock Partnership by Simon Myers – who with his family joined us for the recent Copped hall evening walk – has at last made the bridge a reality, and it is hoped to be installed this summer.
Duncan and Simon discussing a garden-creation at Cody DockDuncan and I visited Cody Dock the other day, with Duncan planting flowers and watering willow saplings as well as establishing – we hope – a few worm colonies, and me just wandering about looking at things.
Now I hear that this amazing project – reminiscent of the Copped Hall one – may be under threat because a neighbouring waste transfer station is seeking (partly retrospective) permission to enlarge their facility. If this were to happen, it would impact even more severely on the community facilities at Cody Dock, and those of us who may like to use the riverside walk-way.
I have just signed the petition to Newham Council asking them not to allow this extension to the transfer station; you might like to do the same, but at least have a read about it here:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/say-no-to-waste-transfer-station
The Gasworks Dock Partnership website is at: http://www.gasworksdock.org.uk/
Paul Ferris 11th March 2015
An EFOG week ( or so) in February
We EFOGers pack a lot into a week or so …. even in the winter wetness and threats of cold …. bless the science of woolly hats and layers.
EFOG members visiting Temple PlaceOur walk to and across the “wild woods and heath” of Woolwich on the 15th February proved to be one of those days which brightened as it aged, starting grey and 'glowery' but evolving into a lovely afternoon which ended just in time for Ken to see the rugby. The day before, those going to see the magnificent 'Cotton To Gold' Exhibition in Temple Place also managed to get in a rain-free walk along the Embankment.
A week later – despite the forecast – it was a dry enough morning for Marian and her “team” to re-plant a lot of primroses – hopefully well away from the disturbance when the dear old hall - which is our weekly meeting place - is demolished and rebuilt. The work gang were bolstered by Fozi's gift of cakes to keep us going.
Rescuing the Primroses from grounds of the soon-to-be-rebuilt ROVSCO hallAnd that night? Wow! As I drove through the sleet to Copped Hall near Epping I wondered just how many others would be mad enough to go on Peter's evening walk. Not to worry – the gods were with us – or at least the elements. By the time we started the sleet had travelled on and we had a great (if rather squelchy in parts) forest walk, under a clear sky with bright stars and a beautiful sickle moon. A lucky few even managed to spot some deer.
That fish and chip supper, next to the huge log fire in the hall helped, of course – and the company of friends as well as friendly strangers.
The night walk, prior to a fish-and-chip supper at Copped HallIn the last week or so we've also celebrated St. Valentine's Day. It wasn't just an excuse to eat – honest – but eats there were – and sweets. We had the chance to win heart shaped kibbles if we were were winners in the Valentine Quiz and buy Sue's delicious giant cup cakes or heart shaped flower arrangements - in aid of charity.
A week later, we welcomed the start of the Chinese Year Of The Ram. People brought a wide variety of appropriate flavoured' nibbles to sample under large Chinese lanterns and other decorations – everything from garlic flavoured peanuts (how do they do that when they're still in their shells) to lychee and lime jelly or mandarin choc stix. Other snacks involved quite a bit of guess work – were those little orange sweets really prunes? Meanwhile we listened to Chinese music and found out, with Jacky's guidance, how much (or little) we matched the personalities of the years in which we were born.
The hall has been a bit chilly of late but we we needed our layers more when 'outdoors' – even though we have been truly lucky with the weather. Well done and thanks to all who organised these events and helped – as well as those who went. Wasn't it fun?
Pam. 25th February 2015