Monday, November 04, 2024

Walking with Keilyn: Stoke Newington to Abney Park Cemetery... and beyond

Ghost Sign
'Ghost' signs.

Wednesday October 30, 2024.

Following my minor leg operation, last Friday (25th), this was my first chance to venture out for a walk. So, with Keilyn at my side, we headed out for a short walk to test my leg. However, this 'short walk' ended up being longer than I expected. Still it was good to be out and about again.

We grabbed a taxi to Watford Underground station and caught a train to Finchley Road, where we waited for an Aldgate train that would take us to Liverpool Street. 

At Liverpool Street we caught a London Overground train bound for Cheshunt, which we alighted from at Stoke Newington. 

Cedra Court
Some of these flats were owned by the Kray twins.

We headed along Cazenove Road to Cedra Court, where the Kray twins once owned properties, before heading down Geldeston Road in search of my grandfather's old family home. Unfortunately, the house had been demolished, with flats taking up the space. 

Royal Sovereign public house
The Royal Sovereign public house.

However, on the corner was the Royal Sovereign pub, which was used as a location in the Scott Adkins 2018 movie 'Accident Man'.

16 Alkham Road plaque
Site of the first attack on London by a foreign military power in nearly 1,000 years.

We then turned down Northwold Road, stopping at 16 Alkham Road, site of the first bomb to be dropped on London during World War I, before reaching the Yellow Warbler coffee shop, where hot drinks were purchased.

Abney Park Cemetery Egyptian revival entrance
The Egyptian revival entrance to Abney Park Cemetery.

With drinks in hand we crossed Stoke Newington High Street and entered Abney Park Cemetery via the Egyptian revival entrance.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

'Peter Pan' by Sir George Frampton

Peter Pan statue

Walking through Kensington Gardens, near the Long Water, you will discover this bronze sculpture of Peter Pan.

J.M. Barrie lived nearby, on Bayswater Road, and said that Kensington Gardens inspired his stories and so commissioned a statue that was designed by Sir George Frampton, 

J.M. Barrie was said to be disappointed with the final sculpture, complaining that it "didn't show the Devil in Peter".

Monday, October 28, 2024

Christmas lights switch-on, 2024

Battersea Power Station at Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching various areas of London will begin to switch-on their Christmas lights, which begin in November.

Regent Street at Christmas

With the switch-on London becomes a cluster of areas that bring their own Christmas style, as they all try to entice as many visitors as possible.

Waterloo Place at Christmas

Below is a list of some of the areas, with dates, that will getting into the festive season from November.

November 5th
    
    Oxford Street

November 7th

    Carnaby Street
    Regent Street
    St James's 

November 8th

    Battersea Power Station

November 12th

    Covent Garden

November 13th

    Kew Gardens
    Marylebone Village
    Old Spitalfields Market

November 14th

    Leadenhall Market
    Savile Row

November 16th

    Mayfair

November 17th

    Belgravia

December 5th

    Trafalgar Square

January 2025

    Canary Wharf Light Festival

Of course, there other areas throughout London that have Christmas lights, festive activities and light festivals that are worth seeking out, too.

Battersea Power Station at Christmas

Please check before you travel as times and dates can be changed at the last minute.

Trafalgar Square at Christmas

(All dates were correct at time of publishing, but may be subject to change).

Thursday, October 24, 2024

'Lea Bridge Bubble Curtain' by ISS-Flowthrough

ISS-Flowthrough Lea Bridge Bubble Curtain
ISS-Flowthrough Lea Bridge Bubble Curtain.

On the River Lea Navigation, close to the Middlesex Filter Beds Weir, there is a stream of bubbles that rise in a line across the width of the river. This is the ISS-Flowthrough Bubble Curtain.

I found it to be quite calming and therapeutic as I gazed at it from the Capital Ring, that runs along this part of the River Lea. 

Middlesex Filter Beds Weir
Middlesex Filter Beds Weir.

However, it is not unique, as there is also one at Shadwell Basin, plus many more around the country and internationally, but each one is bespoke to the area in which it is used.

The Canal and River Trust, who manage the watercourse, committed vast personnel and resources, that they could barely afford, being a Charitable Trust, in the collection of debris and litter, which would have ended up in the River Thames and, eventually, the sea. They approached ISS-Flowthrough in the hopes of finding a solution.

The solution was a bubble barrier. This barrier would arrest issues that were impacting this navigable channel. These issues included, excessive growth of aquatic plants which interfered with river traffic, saline intrusion from the tidal River Thames, of which the River Lea is a major contributory, water quality from storm overflow discharges and, because of its urban setting, a large amount of floating debris.

ISS-Flowthrough Lea Bridge Bubble Curtain
Bubble Curtain.

The bubble barrier was designed with a rubber membrane disc diffuser and had to meet specific criteria for the area. This included, ensuring that the River Lea Navigation was still accessible to river traffic, be highly robust and be low maintenance and prevent the downstream movement of litter and facilitate its collection.

The bespoke bubble barrier, installed in May 2020, was set at an angle across the river, thus ensuring that any litter or debris, coming upstream, would be redirected to a collection point. This collection point was created by using the existing bridge buttresses and the channel wall.

So, if you are ever passing this way, stop and take in this calming bubble curtain that helps to keep this waterway clear of litter and excessive plant growth, while still keeping the channel open to boats and other river traffic.

Monday, October 21, 2024

'The Southwark Tavern'


The Southwark Tavern, on Southwark Street, is a wonderful pub situated on a corner opposite the busy Borough Market.

Its caramel-coloured tiles and leaded windows give the building an appealing look, especially in this area on the south bank.

Inside, the pub is not overly lit, which, along with its dark wood panelling, harkens back to days of old.

Debtor's Bar

There is a large bar offering a wide selection of drinks, while meals can be ordered to be eaten at the various tables.