'Settlers Monument', Virginia Quay

Not exactly hidden away, but not exactly on a main walking route, is the Virginia Quay Settlers Monument, standing proud on what was once Virginia Quay.

It was from near this spot, back on December 19-20 1606, that the first settlers of the Colony of Virginia departed for the New World. 

Led by Captain Christopher Newport and consisting of three ships: 'Discovery', 'Godspeed' and 'Susan Constant', 105 men and boys, plus 39 crew, set sail with a charter to establish a settlement in the Virginia territory. 

Unlike the later 'Mayflower' voyage, which took just ten weeks, this Virginia expedition took 21 weeks to find land suitable for colonisation. They named their colony Jamestown, in honour of King James I. Captain John Smith, Edward Maria Wingfield and Robert Hunt are credited with founding Jamestown, in April 1607. Captain John Smith, is best known for his association with the Native America Princess Pocahontas, who supposedly saved his life.

The settlement was, unfortunately, abandoned within three years, due, in part, to the settlers that were chosen for the expedition. Many were gentlemen, unused to working, while others were unused to farming. Famine and starvation brought an end to the settlement. 

Jamestown was later reoccupied but was abandoned again by 1699. Today, there is nothing left of the original settlement, besides a thriving tourist industry.

'Timepiece Sundial' by Wendy Ann Taylor

The sundial is one of man's oldest astronomical instruments.

In this particular form, known as an Equinoctial Sundial, the dial is in the same plane as the Earth's equator and the gnomon, or rod, is parallel to the axis of the Earth pointing true north.

The shadow of the gnomon moving across the dial indicates the time. In summer the shadow falls on the face of the dial, in winter on the inner edge.

Ornamental Canal, Wapping

Looking along the Ornamental Canal towards The Shard.

Just to the east of St Katherine Docks and Marina you will find Hermitage Basin, a small oasis amid a now residential area. This basin is all that is left of the London Docks, which were filled in for redevelopment in around 1983.

The old walls of the London Docks.

To keep the history of the London Docks alive a canal was designed, that would link Hermitage Basin to Shadwell Basin. This canal was not designed for river traffic and so was built as an ornamental reminder of bygone times.

Not navigable, but full of wildlife. 

The former dock walls were used as features along the Ornamental Canal, which would pass alongside Tobacco Dock, the only warehouses to survive the redevelopment, as it made its way in a north-easterly direction towards Shadwell Basin.

The Tobacco Dock warehouses were built in 1812.

As the canal nears Shadwell Basin it passes beneath Wapping Woods, so the towpath leads you up through this wonderful little park, before rejoining the canal near Shadwell Basin.

'Rope Circle' by Wendy Ann Taylor

I Spy... A Heron.

Saturday September 10, 2016.

For a change I decided to take a walk through an area of the Unfinished City that I was unfamiliar with. So, I started at St Katharine Docks and headed towards Wapping. 

Before I reached the Ornamental Canal, I noticed this sculpture beside Hermitage Basin. 

The circle makes for a great photo framing device, too.

I spy... The Shard.

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