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.
Absolute classic stuff from the sadly missed and much admired Bob Hoskins……….(Harold Shand). Would love to have seen a sequel to TLGF…..it was very much on the cards at one point.
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.
We called them the dips and also known as cowboy land. I lived 5 minutes away, but that was over 40 years ago. My mum told me that they were unfilled mass graves leftover from the plague, but I always thought they were bomb craters. Created by a frightened Luftwaffe bombardier who missed Woolwich to get out of town, quick.
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.
Great photos. I'm amazed that a conversion to retail is viable now, considering how much retail has collapsed in the last year
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.
Great photos. I'm amazed that a conversion to retail is viable now, considering how much retail has collapsed in the last year
Interesting, but my old grifter help to make those tracks well before BMX had reached our shores!
Used to live on the estate at the back. Drove past last week and nothing is visible of the dips it’s now a forest. Wonder why it’s happened only in recent years. Must be kids don’t play out anymore and people don’t walk anywhere.
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.
Great photos. I'm amazed that a conversion to retail is viable now, considering how much retail has collapsed in the last year
Agreed - any retail scheme seems a huge risk.
Just take a look at the new shopping complex at the O2 Arena. Every time I’ve been there it has felt completely empty.
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.
Great photos. I'm amazed that a conversion to retail is viable now, considering how much retail has collapsed in the last year
Agreed - any retail scheme seems a huge risk.
Just take a look at the new shopping complex at the O2 Arena. Every time I’ve been there it has felt completely empty.
I live near there and it generally is pretty empty. Makes no sense to locate it so near Stratford.
Can't see the sense of a retail complex on the other side of the water with little footfall.
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.
Lived in Tewson Road, Plumstead. Great bomb site opposite we played on. Later St Nick's A&E built on it.
Used to live on Riverdale, would cut through the hospital grounds and down Tewson to go to school, St Pats. Remember the old workhouse, was a great place to play.
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.
Lived in Tewson Road, Plumstead. Great bomb site opposite we played on. Later St Nick's A&E built on it.
My dad was born at number 73. Though that's before there would have been a bomb site. I seem to remember going back with him when I was a kid and him being disappointed that the house wasn't there.
Comments
Would love to have seen a sequel to TLGF…..it was very much on the cards at one point.
I lived 5 minutes away, but that was over 40 years ago.
My mum told me that they were unfilled mass graves leftover from the plague, but I always thought
they were bomb craters.
Created by a frightened Luftwaffe bombardier who missed Woolwich to get out of town, quick.
http://londongeopartnership.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GLA65.pdf
Always loved this building - such a waste.
Can't see the sense of a retail complex on the other side of the water with little footfall.