Some good pictures of 'The Victoria' pub external & internal & many other old pubs in south east London, the old sports grounds section is also interesting & it is sad how these places have been left to be vandalised or fall into disrepair.
A great website that. On the one hand it's sad seeing old buildings decay, on the other when they are cleared and replaces with dull flats or shops it's often worse!
I've been on loads of Paul's walks, they're well worth doing - Dirty Dartford's a treat. Save some time at the end for the pub after, lots of chat about old bands and non-league football. And maybe the pub after that...
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
That reminds me of stories my dad used to tell me. He was born in 1940 and spent his childhood playing in the bombsites dotted around Pimlico.
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
That reminds me of stories my dad used to tell me. He was born in 1940 and spent his childhood playing in the bombsites dotted around Pimlico.
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
and of course the docks were a huge abandoned area for years .. my friend's house in Surrey Docks (now posh Quays lol) backed onto the docks. We used to clamber over the back wall and wander around for hours, silent as the grave with the huge abandoned cranes and empty warehouses where flats now sell for hundreds of thousands. There was no security at all, no lights, had to watch you didn't take a false step and end up in the drink
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
That reminds me of stories my dad used to tell me. He was born in 1940 and spent his childhood playing in the bombsites dotted around Pimlico.
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
and of course the docks were a huge abandoned area for years .. my friend's house in Surrey Docks (now posh Quays lol) backed onto the docks. We used to clamber over the back wall and wander around for hours, silent as the grave with the huge abandoned cranes and empty warehouses where flats now sell for hundreds of thousands. There was no security at all, no lights, had to watch you didn't take a false step and end up in the drink
One of Paul's routes is along the route of the Surrey Canal - amazing to think how different things would be down there if it hadn't been filled in.
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
That reminds me of stories my dad used to tell me. He was born in 1940 and spent his childhood playing in the bombsites dotted around Pimlico.
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
and of course the docks were a huge abandoned area for years .. my friend's house in Surrey Docks (now posh Quays lol) backed onto the docks. We used to clamber over the back wall and wander around for hours, silent as the grave with the huge abandoned cranes and empty warehouses where flats now sell for hundreds of thousands. There was no security at all, no lights, had to watch you didn't take a false step and end up in the drink
One of Paul's routes is along the route of the Surrey Canal - amazing to think how different things would be down there if it hadn't been filled in.
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
That reminds me of stories my dad used to tell me. He was born in 1940 and spent his childhood playing in the bombsites dotted around Pimlico.
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
and of course the docks were a huge abandoned area for years .. my friend's house in Surrey Docks (now posh Quays lol) backed onto the docks. We used to clamber over the back wall and wander around for hours, silent as the grave with the huge abandoned cranes and empty warehouses where flats now sell for hundreds of thousands. There was no security at all, no lights, had to watch you didn't take a false step and end up in the drink
Amazing when you think The Long Good Friday was about an idea to redevelop the docks.
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
That reminds me of stories my dad used to tell me. He was born in 1940 and spent his childhood playing in the bombsites dotted around Pimlico.
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
and of course the docks were a huge abandoned area for years .. my friend's house in Surrey Docks (now posh Quays lol) backed onto the docks. We used to clamber over the back wall and wander around for hours, silent as the grave with the huge abandoned cranes and empty warehouses where flats now sell for hundreds of thousands. There was no security at all, no lights, had to watch you didn't take a false step and end up in the drink
excuse me for reprising this post, I should have mentioned that the abandoned docks soon became a haven for a wide variety of different birds, ranging from swans to pigeons to gulls and sparrows as well as wild cats (probably attracted by the birds) and foxes. When man abandons his habitats for any reason, various flora and fauna soon move back in
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
That reminds me of stories my dad used to tell me. He was born in 1940 and spent his childhood playing in the bombsites dotted around Pimlico.
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
and of course the docks were a huge abandoned area for years .. my friend's house in Surrey Docks (now posh Quays lol) backed onto the docks. We used to clamber over the back wall and wander around for hours, silent as the grave with the huge abandoned cranes and empty warehouses where flats now sell for hundreds of thousands. There was no security at all, no lights, had to watch you didn't take a false step and end up in the drink
Amazing when you think The Long Good Friday was about an idea to redevelop the docks.
Paul's walks are excellent - the only problem is getting a ticket for them now because they're so popular.
Did the Hampstead Heath one with him last month and ended up having a drink or several with him afterwards in the Archway Tavern. Top bloke with an encyclopaedic knowledge of London music, as well as all the things he mentions on the walks. If you've not been on one I'd recommend starting with the River Fleet walk. Loads of interesting facts and places and usually an opportunity for a beer or two in Camden afterwards.
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
Me too, Lincs - plenty around Plumstead and there was one directly opposite Earl Rise School Junior entrance.
I remember cycling down the craters near Blackheath in the ‘50s
We called them the dips. I used to live 1 minute away.
Dug to create ballast for the ships being built at Woolwich i believe. Anyone know if this is true or not or how they were formed.
I think they were from sand/gravel mining/quarrying. Lot of that went on around there. Including the creation of the Blackheath Caves, which I only found out about yesterday!
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
Me too, Lincs - plenty around Plumstead and there was one directly opposite Earl Rise School Junior entrance.
I remember cycling down the craters near Blackheath in the ‘50s
We called them the dips. I used to live 1 minute away.
Dug to create ballast for the ships being built at Woolwich i believe. Anyone know if this is true or not or how they were formed.
I think they were from sand/gravel mining/quarrying. Lot of that went on around there. Including the creation of the Blackheath Caves, which I only found out about yesterday!
I thought it was this - but whatever, definitely not bomb sites...
as a nipper I used to play on the many bombsites and abandoned buildings still around the Lewisham area in the 1950s/early 60s
Me too, Lincs - plenty around Plumstead and there was one directly opposite Earl Rise School Junior entrance.
I remember cycling down the craters near Blackheath in the ‘50s
We called them the dips. I used to live 1 minute away.
Dug to create ballast for the ships being built at Woolwich i believe. Anyone know if this is true or not or how they were formed.
I think they were from sand/gravel mining/quarrying. Lot of that went on around there. Including the creation of the Blackheath Caves, which I only found out about yesterday!
I discovered this website today, interesting features on pubs, sports grounds, music venues, cinemas etc. https://www.derelictlondon.com/
Thanks for posting this Clive...great website. I have really got into SE London history at the moment. Reading Greenwich Peninsula Greenwich Marsh by Mary Mills which is fascinating and Neil Rhinds Balckheath Village & Environs. Both great reads especially in Lockdown. I think it is so important to preserve the heritage before developers turn Douth East London into on big housing development.
Enjoyed a great tour with Derelict London this morning in the Millennium Mills at Royal Victoria Docks. Having been empty since 1983, they’re about to go ahead with a huge conversion to a retail space. The highlight of the mill was the view from its roof.
Photos not great, but you can just make out The Valley in one of them.
Comments
When I think of derelict land in London it reminds me of the river walk I used to do between Charlton and Greenwich. It was amazing how much waste land there used to be there even 10-15 years ago.
I did the same in Woolwich, Beresford St and the streets off, took quite a bombing as the Germans were trying to bomb the Arsenal factory
Me too, Lincs - plenty around Plumstead and there was one directly opposite Earl Rise School Junior entrance.
Did the Hampstead Heath one with him last month and ended up having a drink or several with him afterwards in the Archway Tavern. Top bloke with an encyclopaedic knowledge of London music, as well as all the things he mentions on the walks. If you've not been on one I'd recommend starting with the River Fleet walk. Loads of interesting facts and places and usually an opportunity for a beer or two in Camden afterwards.
I used to live 1 minute away.
Anyone know if this is true or not or how they were formed.