In 1514 the warship Great Harry - the pride of Henry VIII's fleet - was constructed at Woolwich Dockyard which went on to be the site of shipbuilding and repairing for nearly 350 years with huge store houses, dry docks and a ropery which was one of the largest in the world. In 1869 the dockyard closed but you can still find traces of it and this Guided Walk will reveal its remaining features and tell the stories of the ships built there and the people who worked there. We will also explore the industrial area that replaced the dockyard and has its own story to tell.
Guide: Rob Smith
Meet at Woolwich Dockyard Station, Belson Road, London SE18 5JY
The Thames Ironworks was a large shipbuilding yard at Bow Creek in East London. In 1895, they formed a company football team that played in the Southern League and FA Cup. In 1900 the club was wound up and reborn as West Ham United. This walk tells the story of Thames Ironworks FC. We will visit Hermit Road and the Memorial Ground, two of the places where the club played, as well as the site of the Ironworks and a few other locations connected with the club.
Guide: Rob Smith
Meet at Canning Town Station, Silvertown Way, London E16 1DQ
On this walk we’re diving back into the 2,000-year of history of a very historic part of London, an area which has attracted many different peoples who have brought their own stories with them. We will hear of the Romans, including an amazing Roman cemetery discovered in the area. Moving forwards in time, we will discover the story behind a medieval hospital. The area has iconic churches and some famous London markets. There is also one of the most intriguing houses in the whole of London: a house which has been frozen in time for hundreds of years! Over the centuries, Spitalfields has attracted many peoples escaping persecution: the Huguenots, Chinese, Jews and Bangladeshis to name but a few, and we will hear their stories too.
Guide: Daniella King
Meet at Corner of Brushfield Street and Bishopsgate, London
Wood Street was known for its early film studios but there is so much more to discover in this area of Walthamstow. On this circular walk which traverses some of the area known at one time as 'On the Forest' we will seek out evidence of lost pubs, the lost film studios and several lost mansions - one former mansion still stands. We will walk down a path which dates back several centuries, visit a churchyard with some fascinating stories to tell and find a hidden mural and a hidden garden. Some of this walk covers uneven ground and forest paths so please wear appropriate shoes.
Guide: Joanna Moncreiff
Meet at Wood Street Station, London
Wood Street was known for its early film studios but there is so much more to discover in this area of Walthamstow. On this circular walk which traverses some of the area known at one time as 'On the Forest' we will seek out evidence of lost pubs, the lost film studios and several lost mansions - one former mansion still stands. We will walk down a path which dates back several centuries, visit a churchyard with some fascinating stories to tell and find a hidden mural and a hidden garden. Some of this walk covers uneven ground and forest paths so please wear appropriate shoes.
Guide: Joanna Moncreiff
Meet at Wood Street Station, London
In the 1980 classic thriller The Long Good Friday, Bob Hoskins’ character, Harold Shand, gives his view on the future of Docklands: “I believe this is the decade in which London will become Europe's capital. Having cleared away the outdated, we've got mile after mile and acre after acre of land, for our future prosperity. No other city in the world... has got right in its centre, such an opportunity... for profitable progress.” While things don't go well for Harold - his vision of the future proves fairly accurate and the old docks are redeveloped and London does host the Olympics. On this Guided Walk, Rob visits many of the East London locations from the film -- some recognisable, some changed beyond Harold's wildest dreams -- and also talks about the recent history of Docklands that brought the changes about.
Guide: Rob Smith
Meet at Tower Hill Tube Station, Trinity Square, EC3N 4DJ
