Peter Roberts
Well-Known Member
Back in the summer I took walk I'd been meaning to do for some time. Along the Thames Path from London Bridge all the way through to Greenwich. The weather was, as they say, unsettled and it was only the shots taken in the middle of it that were satisfactory to me. Here are a few of them.
St Mary's Rotherhithe has strong maritime connections. Christopher Jones owner and captain of the Mayflower was from Rotherhithe and worshipped here. The Mayflower of course achieved immortality when she was chartered to carry the Pilgrim Fathers across the Atlantic. In addition some of the fittings in the church are from timber salvaged from HMS Temeraire of the Turner painting fame.
Across the road from the church is what was its burial ground complete with a Watch House to prevent body snatchers disinterring corpses in order to sell them for medical research.
The burial ground is now a community garden and open space but evidence of its former use can be seen against the walls.
There are some nicely preserved old buildings around here still being put to their original use of servicing the needs of river-borne trade.
This was the pedestrian entrance to the Thames Tunnel, the first tunnel built under a navigable river. It was engineered by Marc Brunel, Isambard's father. The tunnel is now used by the East London Line (I refuse to call it by by its recent instantly unrecognisable name) which is part of London Overground and this entrance is now an emergency access.
Continuing into the Surrey Docks area there are interesting swing and bascule bridges spanning what were once dock entrances.
Eventually Deptford is reached. Subject to controversial house clearances in the fifties and sixties which destroyed whole communities the least said about it the better. This may very well be its most picturesque building. The old Princess of Wales, no doubt once a fine boozer but now sadly seeing out its days as bedsits, or a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) as they are termed these days.
Minolta XD7 / Rokkors 45mm f2 and 28mm f3.5 / Yellow filters / FP4+ / Rodinal 1:50 semi-stand
St Mary's Rotherhithe has strong maritime connections. Christopher Jones owner and captain of the Mayflower was from Rotherhithe and worshipped here. The Mayflower of course achieved immortality when she was chartered to carry the Pilgrim Fathers across the Atlantic. In addition some of the fittings in the church are from timber salvaged from HMS Temeraire of the Turner painting fame.
Across the road from the church is what was its burial ground complete with a Watch House to prevent body snatchers disinterring corpses in order to sell them for medical research.
The burial ground is now a community garden and open space but evidence of its former use can be seen against the walls.
There are some nicely preserved old buildings around here still being put to their original use of servicing the needs of river-borne trade.
This was the pedestrian entrance to the Thames Tunnel, the first tunnel built under a navigable river. It was engineered by Marc Brunel, Isambard's father. The tunnel is now used by the East London Line (I refuse to call it by by its recent instantly unrecognisable name) which is part of London Overground and this entrance is now an emergency access.
Continuing into the Surrey Docks area there are interesting swing and bascule bridges spanning what were once dock entrances.
Eventually Deptford is reached. Subject to controversial house clearances in the fifties and sixties which destroyed whole communities the least said about it the better. This may very well be its most picturesque building. The old Princess of Wales, no doubt once a fine boozer but now sadly seeing out its days as bedsits, or a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) as they are termed these days.
Minolta XD7 / Rokkors 45mm f2 and 28mm f3.5 / Yellow filters / FP4+ / Rodinal 1:50 semi-stand
