Diversity with a capital D for sure Richard. Thanks for posting.
Stoke Newington to Limehouse Basin - A wander along
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
The Ragged School is worth a couple of hours visit. It's funny how a lot of the run down areas in London all look the same, if it wasn't for the canal you could be anywhere, north or south of the river, east of Tower Bridge. The old buildings and diverse population are slowly being engulfed and squeezed out by the modern stuff, I don't really like the term 'Gentrification'.
True that.
The changes in Bethnal Green / Shoreditch since I lived there in the 80’s have been immense. Likewise around Aldgate in the last just 10 years. The City is unrecognisable since the late-70’s. Even here in Wapping, with the massive new development where the Wapping print works was, still under development.
Much though is good, as for example the redevelopment to the rear of Kings Cross and around the Shard.
Where next? I guess Wood Green, which is now as rough as hell.
I mean to go to the Ragged School, not least as I keep forgetting about it. I’ll probably do a full wander from Limehouse to Paddington at some time, which is about nine miles, I think. At least it’s flat!
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This is near enough the walk, if I do the full length of the canal from Limehouse to Paddington Basin:
I think it’s worthwhile doing, returning home on the excellent Elizabeth Line…. For free.
canalrivertrust.org.uk
I think it’s worthwhile doing, returning home on the excellent Elizabeth Line…. For free.
Regent's Canal | London Canals | Canal & River Trust
Find the secret beauty that is Regent's Canal in London. This peaceful stretch of water is the perfect destination for walkers, cyclists and boaters alike.
canalrivertrust.org.uk
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Just along from your woolly start point is The Three Crowns PH; so called as it (allegedly) marks the point where James IV of Scotland was met by the Bishops of London on his progress to become James I of England in 1603. Sadly, I can't recommend a visit as its little more than a tawdry music lounge nowadays.
Excellent work, thank you.
Excellent work, thank you.
This explains the strange electrical boxes I saw on my last walk. I could hear pumps running but had no idea what they were. Every day, a school day.
Thank you.
I do enjoy the wanders and tripping over (not literally, hopefully) things of quirky interest. I think it’s as much a privilege to walk around in London, as it is to walk in the countryside, not least as the ‘countryside’ often seems to appear in the middle of a huge city.
Three of us from the forum went for a couple of beers at the HAC military grounds in Moorgate yesterday evening. Paul, our host, was telling us that he’d fired his longbow there, which is a connection with a history stretching back into Medieval times. Great stuff and incredible to think that an archer at Crecy or Agincourt might well have done the same thing, at the same spot, hundreds of years earlier.
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I was required to search the HAC prior to QEII presenting new 'colours' to the regiment. Underneath the cricket square is a large garage containing various military vehicles, but directly underneath the saluting dias we found a munitions store. To forestall a repeat of the gunpowder plot we decided to protect it with a plastic seal 
I used to play rugby regularly at the HAC. fantastic venue, great pitch and the best plunge bath. The beer is still good, as I discovered last night. I was under the impression that the cricket / rugby pitch was on the site of a plague pit, hence it was never developed. When my late father played hockey there in the 1950's, a swift visit to the London Hospital was required if you ever got cut.I was required to search the HAC prior to QEII presenting new 'colours' to the regiment. Underneath the cricket square is a large garage containing various military vehicles, but directly underneath the saluting dias we found a munitions store. To forestall a repeat of the gunpowder plot we decided to protect it with a plastic seal
I had forgotten that the IRA bombed the HAC, as a part of their ‘London campaign’. Different times.
Harking back to the start of our intrepid explorers journey we find a reference to Kingsland; the whole area to the North of the City was designated a hunting preserve by Henry VII (1457-1509). However, a crafty brewer called Henry Ball saw an opportunity to attract the wealthy courtiers to his hovel for an evenings debauch; so he dug a flight pond to attract evening roosting ducks, geese and hence the hunters. The track from the old Roman road (the A10) to his pond still exists as Balls Pond Road which our scribe crossed at Dalston junction.
I love this shit
I love this shit
This is near enough the walk, if I do the full length of the canal from Limehouse to Paddington Basin:
View attachment 395937
I think it’s worthwhile doing, returning home on the excellent Elizabeth Line…. For free.
Regent's Canal | London Canals | Canal & River Trust
Find the secret beauty that is Regent's Canal in London. This peaceful stretch of water is the perfect destination for walkers, cyclists and boaters alike.
Today’s the day for this, as I can’t do it over the weekend or next week. Wander report to follow.
Done!
12.5 miles.
12.5 miles.
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Great eating down that neck of the woods, Richard.
Paddington is unrecognisable from when I worked there. You could have dropped a bomb on it and made significant improvements. I'm sure the locals will disagree but it is much nicer, in general. All those artisan sourdough selling hipsters do bring something to the party.
