London Stadium, Stratford

Walking around Stratford, today, it is hard to imagine that, up until twenty years ago, this was an area of London that was in dire need of regeneration.

Much of the area was derelict industrial wasteland, part of which was radioactive due to Queen Mary College's Department of Nuclear Engineering, having a small nuclear reactor onsite. Something needed to be done.

In 2001, following China's successful bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, London put in a bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. Two plans were short-listed: 

1. West London - Based around Wembley and the construction of a new National Stadium to replace Wembley Stadium.
2. East London - Involving the regeneration of an area stretching from the Isle of Dogs, through Stratford, and on into the Lower Lea Valley.

The second plan won unanimously and so became the pitch for the London bid.

In May 2005, London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

Construction

In May 2008, after the 'bowl' of the stadium had been excavated and the area cleared, construction of the stadium began. It was due to be completed in May 2011, but was completed in March of 2011, coming in under budget and ahead of schedule.

The foundation consists of 5,000 piles, driven to a depth of 20 m (66 ft)

In October 2011, the athletics track was laid. The track-and-field area is surrounded by 25,000 permanent seats, built using concrete.

Spectators and visitors enter the stadium at the podium level, which is inline with the top of the permanent seating. This upper tier was built from lightweight steel and concrete and accommodated another 55,000 spectators. The upper tier is 60 m (197 ft) in height.

Surrey Commercial Docks, Rotherhithe

Greenland Dock.

Walking around Rotherhithe it is hard to imagine that, just 40 years ago, this was a completely different area. Almost every part of it would have been docks, basins and cuts, rather than what now greets people. Housing estates, schools, shops, business centres, a farm, green spaces, ecology parks and, at its centre, Stave Hill Viewpoint have now replaced the docks that once covered this entire area. 

Of course, some small areas of water can be found, like Globe Pond Nature Reserve, Lavender Pond Nature Reserve and Surrey Water. Then you have some of the original docks, such as Canada Dock, Greenland Dock, Norway Dock and South Dock.

Brief History

Located in Rotherhithe, on the Surrey side of the River Thames, this area had been a hub of commercial activity since the 17th century.

The Howland Great Wet Dock was built between 1695 and 1699 and was the oldest of London's riverside wet docks. In 1763 the dock was sold and renamed Greenland Dock, due to the amount of whalers that used it. Greenland Dock became the central hub for the Surrey Commercial Docks.

During the 1800s expansions and improvements resulted in the formation of the Surrey Commercial Docks Company. These docks were part of the larger Port of London, which handled a significant amount of commercial shipping trade to and from the UK.

This is how the area once looked.

Many docks were named for what they imported or from where the products derived, while others had simpler names. There were docks named Albion, Canada, Greenland, Island, Lady, Lavender, Norway, Russia and Stave. Plus, the South and West Docks.

"Why are there no roads within the City of London?"

The City of London was founded nearly 2,000 years ago, by the Romans, before they eventually left Londinium, leaving the City for nature to reclaim.

Over the centuries different tribes and groups moved to within the old City walls. Eventually these small villages coalesced into large hamlets and towns. And as they grew and expanded alleys, avenues, lanes, passages, pathways, streets, yards and walks were formed, creating thoroughfares. However, there were no roads.

This is because the Romans had streets, which comes from the Latin 'strata', making the word 'street' one of the oldest continually used words in the English language. 

It wouldn't be until the late 1500s that the word 'road' would enter the English language. 'Road' is derived from the Old English word 'rad', which means 'a riding journey, usually with hostile intent'. Hence the word 'raid'.

As the City of London had been around for centuries, before this, all of its thoroughfares were already named.

In 1994 everything changed, for the City of London. Boundary changes were put in place which caused the City of London to 'absorb' part of Goswell Road from neighbouring Islington. 

Ironically, Goswell Road was known as Goswell Street, up until 1864.

Goswell Road is over three quarters of a mile in length, but only about 100 yards of it falls within the City boundary. So, technically, there is still not a single entire road within the City of London.

Aldgate Pump

At the corner of Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street, where the two streets join to form Aldgate High Street, you will find a stone obelisk with a lantern mounted to its top.

It is no ordinary obelisk, but is in fact the Aldgate Pump, a historic landmark point that marks the beginning of the East End and was mentioned by Charles Dickens, as well as being sung about in traditional rhymes and songs.

It was originally situated further west, on the site of what was to become Fenchurch Street station.

The freshwater well was fed from one of London's many underground rivers, beginning its journey in Hampstead, to the north, and had been used since the 13th century. The water was said to be "bright, sparkling and cool and of a pleasant flavour".

However, it was later discovered that the water was contaminated. The decaying organic matter and calcium from the bones of dead Londoners, in the nearby cemeteries, had begun to leach into the underground rivers and streams.

So, in 1876, when the Aldgate Pump was moved to its new location, it was connected to the mains water supply.

This current pump is made of Portland stone, and dates from the 18th century, while the brass wolf's head spout is 19th century. The lantern, at the top of the obelisk, is a handmade replica of the original, which was lost in 1900.

In 2019 the City of London Corporation, with the assistance of the Heritage of London Trust, repaired and restored the pump. Some of the money came from Miss Anthea Gray, who had left a generous gift in her Will, to the Heritage of London Trust.

Scammell Lorries, Spitalfields and Watford

George Scammell, born 1817, moved to London in the 1840s and became a wheelwright, establishing a business at 12 Fashion Street, Spitalfields. He would build carts, perfect for the narrow congested streets, while also repairing carts and vans. By 1851 he was employing ten men and the business was flourishing and they began constructing horse drawn wagons, too.

In the 1860s George's nephew, Alfred Thomas Scammell, joined the company, with the business becoming 'G. Scammell & Nephew', in 1873. The company was selling and maintaining Foden Steam Wagons and had moved into larger premises, still on Fashion Street.

An unrelated event would turn out to be fortuitous for Scammell, too. A consortium of East End businessmen redeveloped the slum buildings, in the early 1900s, on the south side of Fashion Street, building a Moorish style market. Their hopes that the street traders would move into this indoor market, and off the streets, didn't work, as the traders refused to pay rent, preferring to remain out in the elements. 

Scammell saw an opportunity and purchased the freehold to the building, which needed little work to its interior, thus allowing them to move straight in. This extra space allowed them to continue to build horse drawn carriages and vans, while also allowing for the construction of commercial bodies for motor vehicles and single-deck bus bodies.

This additional space allowed them, for the first time, to undertake mechanical work, servicing and repair of motor vehicles, including private cars. The company's original trade as a wheelwright was able to expand, where they developed a composite wheel which, in addition to its strength, allowed for the tyre to be changed without having to remove the wheel from the vehicle.

One of their customers, Edward Rudd, had imported an American 'Knox Tractor' as he was impressed with its low weight but high payload. It is believed that Mr Rudd suggested that George Scammell build a similar vehicle for the UK market.

However, the outbreak of World War I put a hold on its production. The war did prove a turning point for the company, though, as mechanical transport was proving its worth on the continent which focused the company's future projects.

In 1919, George's great nephew, Lt Col Alfred George Scammell, who had been injured and invalided out of the British Army, was made Managing Director of the company, bringing with him a wealth of experience form the battlefields of Europe, where mechanised vehicles had proven their worth.