John Sunbathing on the banks of the River Thames, St Paul's, London, August 2022
The following image John with his family, Jan & Nick.
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#London #Thamesriver #ThamesLondon
#documentary #city #capitalcity #rivers #britishdocumentary #portrait #Portraiture #documentingbritain
These concrete barges at Rainham were used for the D day landings. Clouds are reflected in the rippling surface of the water as we look upriver.
Looking across to the characteristic two towers of Erith as sunlight glints on the water.
A lone fisherman on the river bank has the river glints to himself. Looking towards Crayford Ness.
Rounding Coldharbour Point, the Elizabeth II bridge comes into view, some 5 km away downriver. It isn't possible to do this scene justice - the naked eye picks up so much more detail. Here we cross into Essex at the end of our journey.
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When accessing the river at the Mulberry barges, Rainham, the scene is industrial, with occasional whiffs from the landfill. Moving down to Coldharbour Point where our journey ends, all is transformed: large open spaces appear with views of EII bridge.
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Looking back to Erith from the marsh on a bright, blustery day. Sailing boats occupy the bay and the two tower blocks of Erith are evident on the horizon.
The Darent, which gives its name to Dartford, is in the middle ground across the photo and behind, the Thames curves under the Elizabeth II bridge on its way to the sea. Beyond the bridge is Greenhithe.
The river Darent at low tide, as it meets the Thames behind.
The river Darent, looking upriver towards Dartford. The sun glints on the water between the rushes on either side.
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Our trip along the right bank of the Thames comes to an end at the river Darent, the boundary with Kent. Over Darent is the Kent Coast Path, while up the Darent is the LOOP, which we crossed on Kingston Bridge. The next, final post is across the Thames.
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On the bund alongside Erith marshes with a view of the Thames in the background. A large ship passes some sailing boats, while Purfleet can be seen on the opposite bank.
Looking down from the bund at Erith Marshes. Horses graze contentedly on the lush grasses. The area is crossed by drainage ditches.
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Passing Erith marshes, getting close to the end of this trip along the Thames.
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Coming into Erith, the Thames bends to the left. A footbridge appears to go nowhere, blocks of flats behind.
A wider view of theriver, Erith to the right and in the far distance the Elizabeth II bridge. A large mud bank takes up the foreground.
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We approach Erith, where we are joined by the London Outer Orbital Pathway (LOOP) for the rest of our journey.
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Looking downriver, a rocky foreshore, the decayed remains of a jetty take up the foreground. On the horizon, past more modern jetties is the Queen Elizabeth II suspension bridge, connecting London's orbital motorway.
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Riverbank textures. As we round the bend towards Erith, the Queen Elizabeth II bridge comes into sight, marking a point way past the end of our walk and roughly 8 km distant.
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The mouth of the stream flowing from the nature reserve is marked by a row of staves with reeds behind. The Thames path loops round in front of Belvedere incinerator. Brambles are in the foreground.
Looking down the river; the promontory of Rainham landfill site is on the left bank. A large cargo ship and a jetty can be seen in the distance. These are the subject of the next two photos.
A ferry boat makes its way upriver.
Passing the decaying jetties of the ISIS industrial estate.
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Passing the incinerator, Jenningtree Point, ISIS industrial estate.
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Looking across the Thames at Belvedere towards Dagenham. Timbers from an ancient jetty are reflected by the waters flowing from the nearby nature reserve. A barge of containers is moored midstream.
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Passing Belvedere
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It is hard hats when visiting the former pumping station at Crossness. All London's effluent south of the river ended up here thanks to Joseph Bazalgette, Chief Engineer of the London Metropolitan Board of Works. Like Brunel he was half French.
It is hard hats when visiting the former pumping station at Crossness. All London's effluent south of the river ended up here thanks to Joseph Bazalgette, Chief Engineer of the London Metropolitan Board of Works. Like Brunel he was half French.
Crests of the London Metropolitan Board of Works in order clockwise: Kent, City of London, Middlesex, Guildford for Surrey, Westminster, Colchester for Essex, and centre, the royal coat of arms.
Exhibition of posh Victorian loos - where the effluent came from.
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Crossness is best known for the splendour its adjacent Victorian pumping station. It's Joe Bazalgette again. These photos were taken at an open day.
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Looking across the river from Crossness, before the development of Barking Riverside. Spring blossom on bushes that surround the lighthouse of 1895 now opeated by the Port of London Authority.
View from Crossness looking upriver. Signpost for cyclists on the horizon also marks the boundary between London Boroughs Greenwich and Bexley
Looking downriver from Crossness, towards the incinerators. Across the river is Dagenham.
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Views from Crossness
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Looking north across the Thames to Stolthaven. The tide is out leaving a textured band of mud and sand. In the foreground the grasses of the shore create another band.
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Back on the right bank, looking across to Stolthaven.
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Striking out along the river. Downriver towards Stolthaven. The incinerator at Crossness on the other side of the river is on the edge of the photo.
Looking back upriver towards Barking Riverside pier from The Gore.
The pier at Barking Riverside on a gloomy day. The right bank is visible behind. Some sunlight glints on the water.
Looking down The Gore towards the river. Despite industry this is a lovely spot for wild flowers. The incinerator can be seen on the horizon.
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Some more photos taken at Barking Riverside.
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Looking across the Thames to two incinerators that we shall be passing on the next post. The Belvedere Incinerated is illuminated by sunlight and the sludge incinerator remains in shade. The Thames path on the right bank passes a housing estate.
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Hopping across to the left bank where there is a short stretch of path at Barking Riverside. The Suffragette line was recently extended there on a viaduct and it is the final stop on the Thames Clipper.
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Looking across the Thames to the entrance to Barking Creek/River Roding. The flood gate is in its usual open position.
On the right bank of the Thames looking up river. In the distance can be seen Docklands and to the right, Creekmouth.
Walking downriver towards Crossness. Stolthaven is visible across the river. On the right, the edge of Thamesmead.
Looking back upriver towards town before recent development. In the distance you can see: Docklands (mid left), the City (mid-right), the cable car, the Shard and a plane taking off or landing at City airport. Photo taken in 2014.
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Continuing on towards Crossness, the path skirts Thamesmead. Opposite is Barking Creek and Riverside, the subject of our next post.
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Cyclists and walkers use the right bank Thames path on their way towards Erith. Hedges on either side.
Looking back upriver at Margaret (or Tripcock) Ness. Here in 1878 the pleasure cruiser Princess Alice was run down by the Bywell Castle and cut in two, she sank within five minutes, 100 were saved but 600 drowned.
Inverness to Dover cycle route joins the Thames path.
A gap in the hedge shows the foreshore at low tide.
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Continuing on from the Arsenal, as we approach Margaret Ness we see hedges for the first time since leaving the centre of London.
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Looking downriver from the Arsenal on a bluesky day, Gallion's Point and its residential development are on the opposite bank. Becton or Barking Point is in the far distance.
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Looking downriver from the Arsenal.
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The Thames path passes these two guard rooms at the bottom of No 1 Street, one of which is now a coffee shop. Peter Burke statues, The Assembly, fill a circular paved area, and behind the wall is Woolwich Arsenal pier.
The Dial Arch with its sundial and cannon balls is now a pub. The arch was part of a larger building erected in 1717-20. In 1886 a football club called Dial Square was formed on the green immediately behind where this photo was taken, and later became Arsenal FC.
In the 1650s the Board of Ordnance was given permission to prove guns in the grounds of a mansion called Tower Place, near this spot and from that, the Arsenal grew. The Royal Military Academy/Board Room Grade II* shown here is attributed to both Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Constructed 1718-20
The brass foundry sits at the top of No 1 Street and can be seen from the Thames path. Constructed 1716-17, possibly by Sir John Vanbrugh but extended and altered 1771-1774 by Jan Verbruggen, Master Founder, this is a Grade 1 listed building.
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Back on the right bank we pass the former Royal Arsenal. Take a walk up No 1 Street to see some of the original buildings and the birthplace of Arsenal football team.
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The path through Royal Victoria Gardens. This was originally part of a commercial venture begun when the railway extended to North Woolwich.
The Lodge. A building that has seen better days and is returning to nature.
Galleon's Point is a recent development opposite Woolwich. A rowing boat has been put to good use as a flower bed. Looking upriver with Woolwich across the river in the distance.
Galleon's Reach, looking downriver at low tide. The tall structure mid left is the Barking Creek barrier, protecting the Roding Valley from flooding. On the right is Tripcock Ness, which we shall pass later.
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While we are at Woolwich tunnel, let's take a look at the short stretch of the left bank that is walkable here.
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The Ben Wollacott strikes out for the north bank, while the Dame Vera Lynn awaits the southern dock.
Looking upriver to the Woolwich Ferry, from the south bank of the Thames. The two ferryboats pass each other and Docklands is still visible behind. The white entrance gates are prominent in the sunlight.
Ben Wollacott was a member of the ferry crew who sadly lost his life at 16 while on duty. One of the boats remembers the tragedy by bearing his name. Photo from BBC.
Can't wait for a ferry boat? Then take the foot tunnel. Designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice the tunnel opened in 1912, ten years after the Greenwich tunnel. It is used by Capital Ring. This is the southern entrance.
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Woolwich free ferry and the southern entrance to the foot tunnel.
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Docklands sits on the southern approach to Woolwich ferry, behind the Thames barrier and the treet lights. A man or woman is investigating the foreshore beside an old wooden jetty on the left.
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We arrive at Woolwich ferry. The North and South Circular Roads meet for the second time on our journey. Previously it was at Kew Bridge. Pedestrians can cross the river here on the ferry or take the adjacent tunnel.
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The Clock House was built in 1784 as an administrative headquarters for the RN Dockyard. Here you can see it has a clock face on all four directions.
The clockhouse, showing its symmetricality. Taken after recently completed renovations.
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Below the barrier, back on the right bank, the path follows an industrial street before returning to the river and the start of what was the Royal Naval Dockyard, of which little remains.
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Green Dock with the barrier at the end. The planting represents waves of water. Taken in 2007.
Wildflower plantings in Barrier Park. The Thames is behind.
Aerial view of the park taken through a window. In the background is the Thames and the London barrier. Posh flats overlook the park on the right. The Green Dock is in the foreground. Taken in 2007
Grasses in Green Dock, taken towards the light.
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Barrier Park. A short stretch of the left bank connects Royal Pier and Barrier Park.
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A gardener is tending to a wave of lavender in the Green Dock at Barrier Park. This sheltered area has its own ecosystem.
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Barrier Park. A short stretch of the left bank connects Royal Pier and Barrier Park.
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Looking north across the Thames above the barrier, to Barier Park.
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Arriving at the Thames barrier. Looking across to Barrier Park, the subject of the next post.
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Above the barrier, the evening sun reflects off the motor cowls, creating reflections in the water.
View from the Thames path of one of the gates in the maintenance position. The normal position is rotated under the water.
Looking through the barrier to Docklands. An early photo.
The barrier viewed from the bund on the downriver side. The control centre is visible on the left. At high tide when the barrier is closed, the lower level with picnic benches can be flooded.
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Arriving at the Thames barrier.
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Looking out from a hide in the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park. No, that isn't the Thames, the Thames Path is on the other side of the hedge to the right of the photo and the Thames is beyond that.
Looking upstream towards Greenwich Yacht Club at low tide in the sunlight. Behind on either side is the cable car. In the foreground is the Mud Skipper.
Durham Wharf, built in the early 1900s to transfer coal and sand into the city, used a narrow gauge railway line. Cory’s last used it in the 1970s. Behind it the Millennium Dome marks the tip of the Greenwich Peninsula and Canada Tower can also be seen in the distance.
The Anchor and Hope, seen here with its golden cupola, is the only pub overlooking the river between Greenwich and Woolwich. The red umbrellas on the left side mark the seating area overlooking the Thames. A favourite watering hole for Charlton supporters after home matches.
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Passed on the way to the barrier.
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Looking downriver towards Woolwich, which is illuminated by the sun. Cotton clouds loom. Greenwich Sailing Club is on the right and the Thames Barrier is just coming into sight mid left.
A closer view of the Thames Barrier, illuminated by the sun, taken from the Greenwich Peninsula in 2003. A sailing boat is tethered in the foreground. The control building is on the right of the barrier, and the sun catches the plumes from a factory on the left.
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Moving down the peninsula, the sailing boats and Thames Barrier come into sight.
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Looking downstream along the river at low tide on the Greenwich Peninsula. In the foreground are mud and grasses. Further back is the North Greenwich (O2) Pier and behind that an Antony Gormley sculpture Quantum Cloud and the cable car. The new development is on the right. Woolwich is on the horizon.
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Back on the right bank at Greenwich Peninsula after turning the corner towards Woolwich.
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Then and now. Two views of a bend in the river Lea, or Bow Creek as is is here. We are looking south towards a peninsula in the river, now called City Island. In 2005 was a Purina cat food factory. The Lea flows from right to left. In the lower photo, on the horizon you can see across towards Shooters hill on the south side of the Thames Valley.
City Island from the inside, looking along the path that takes us to the bridge over the Lea to Canning Town station.
Looking up the Lea towards Canning Town from under the Lower Lea Crossing. City Island is on the left.
An early photo taken from the bridge in the previous photo. Looking back south over East India Dock Basin at high tide, the sun glinting on the Thames flowing around the Greenwich peninsula. The two Thames paths are visible, the nearest one crosses the entrance gates and follows the edge of the basin on its way to Trinity Buoy Wharf.
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The left bank path ends at Trinity Buoy Wharf, except for a few intermittent places. So we shall be following the right bank from now on - we still have 26 km of path to go.
Before crossing over, here is City Island on the way to Canning Town station.
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An unusual contraption at TBW overlooking the confluence of the Thames and the Lea. Greenwich Peninsula behind.
Sumo wrestlers.
Two former sculptues with moving parts.
A sculpture of a tree sprouting from a London taxi, on top of the cafe with the tower of the lightship behind. In the distance the cable car over the Thames.
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Trinity Buoy Wharf artefacts.
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