An Urban Wander around Brentford, London

Every time I think I'll devote some time to writing a new blog post I seem to get sidetracked. Most of the distractions are good and generally related to some of my favourite past times like mountain biking, walking, going to gigs, searching for vinyl records and reading ... which reminds me that I should mention my latest read before launching into today's post. Based on my enjoyment of Concretopia: A Journey Around the Rebuilding of Postwar Britain, by John Grindrod, and also based on my own childhood of growing up on the outskirts of London in the 1970's living on the edge of the greenbelt, I ordered another of his books, Outskirts: Living Life on the Edge of the Green Belt. 

The pictures in this post were taken a couple of months ago when I was staying up in London for work. My usual hotel near the office was priced well beyond the reach of any reasonable expenses policy, so I ended up staying a bit further out of the centre, in Brentford. I have driven past Brentford on the way into London in the past, but have never stopped and don't really know much about it, other than their football team has an annoying habit of beating my football team, but let's not dwell on that.

As I walked from the bus stop to my hotel for the night, I already suspected a different experience than my usual London overnight stay. The lane I took from the main road towards the hotel quickly became a footpath and cycle path, leaving the noise of the road behind and opening out into park land. As I approached the hotel I could see the dome of the Great Conservatory of Syon House, architected by Charles Fowler in the 1880s and restored to its former glory in the 1980s.

Great Conservatory, Syon House 

I'm assuming the turreted building was some sort of gate, or guard house, for the main house.

The actual house of Syon House, London home of the Duke of Northumberland, with grounds re-designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown, looked wonderful in the late evening sun. Just a shame that there was a transit van parked outside to spoil the view.

Syon House in the late evening sun

The late evening sun and a liberal spread of light cloud, made for some great views and photo opportunities.

Late evening sun in Syon Park

After my evening stroll around Syon Park I headed into Brentford in search of dinner. I knew the Grand Union canal went through Brentford, but was not quite sure what to expect. Being a keen walker, and having walked on parts of the London Loop, the Grand Union Canal Walk, and the Capital Ring I was impressed by the available options on this sign ... almost a walker's paradise.

Walker's paradise signpost , Brentford Lock

Brentford lock itself remains an impressive engineering feature, but the residential areas around it left me a little cold.

Brentford lock

Brentford lock

There was however still some sign of industry of days-gone-by further down the canal.

I'm not quite sure what this building is, or was, or whether the ornate, floral metalwork was original, restored or new. Either way it made a pleasant change to the canal side flats.

This was not the first time I'd seen a mile post for Braunston. I had seen one previously during a Suburban Wander from Harefield to Moor Park following the London Loop where I had suggested it was "in the middle of nowhere" but was quickly and quite rightly corrected by a reader saying otherwise, so I won't make that mistake again.

Mile post for Braunston

The grade II former toll house is now a museum.

Former toll house, Brentford Lock

These next 2 photos were taken the following morning as I made my way back to the bus stop. I had seen the former railway bridge the previous night but it was too dark for a photo. These former railway arches used to carry the Brentford Branch Line, or Brentford Dock Line, from the GWR line at Southall down to Brentford Dock. The bridge across the road is long since gone, but the railway arches still remain, although a bit too orange for my liking. A bit of internet research suggests this line could be re-opened.

Railway arches carrying the former Brentford Dock line

Railway arches carrying the former Brentford Dock line

Here are a few links to some of the books and walks I referenced earlier on in the blog post.

    

Thanks for reading. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated. Hopefully my future posts will not be so few are far between.

A Rural Wander along the Kennet and Avon Canal

One of the last rural wanders I managed before I started my new job was out to the west of where we live, along the Kennet and Avon canal. I'd cycled this route many times but generally veered off from the canal beyond Great Bedwyn, so this was all new territory for me. The weather was perfect, we had no time constraints, so all we had to do was enjoy ourselves.

Kennet and Avon Canal, near Crofton

As with many of my rural wanders, I'm constantly on the lookout for disused railways. I knew there were a couple in this area but was surprised in how much was still evident after all the years. This is the former Midland and South Western Junction Railway, built as a north-south link between the Midland Railway and the London and South West Railway. There's not much of the track bed remaining south of Marlborough (north of Marlborough it's a cycle path extending to Swindon), but plenty of parts of former bridges to see.

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Track bed of the Midland and South Western Junction Railway

Shame about the focus in this next picture, but this happy little chaffinch was singing his heart out in the trees alongside the canal towpath.

Chaffinch

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Remains of a bridge carrying the Midland and South Western Junction Railway over the Kennet and Avon Canal

Not a railway bridge this time, but a small bridge carrying a farm track across the canal. There are plenty of these along the Kennet and Avon Canal, but I never tire of seeing them.

Bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal, near Burbage

I'm not sure what building these ornate tiles were on. They have definitely seen better days but it just amazed me at how much intricate detail went into what is essentially the outside corner of a garden wall.

Ornate tiles on a wall near Burbage

East Grafton village green

Old street lamp, somewhere between East Grafton and Wilton

We finished the walk in Wilton where we stopped for a wonderful pub lunch and a well deserved pint.

    

An Urban Wander along the Limehouse Cut, London

We had a day out in London last Saturday to go and see British Sea Power at the Barbican in the evening, so decided to make a day of it and went up around lunch time to walk along the Limehouse Cut, which runs from Limehouse to Three Mills. The walk seemed to tick all the boxes for a good urban wander - ghost signs, industrial architecture, gas holders, abandonment and railways.

First up we have a ghost sign, albeit lovingly restored by the look of it, and now adorning what would seem to be flats in Limehouse.

Ghost sign, Limehouse, London E14

A few pictures now of the Spratt's Patent Limited dog food factory, looking rather marvelous against the clear, autumn sky. As with the signage in the previous picture, I imagine this has been restored at some stage as the buildings were renovated and converted.

Spratt's Patent Limited dog food factory, Limehouse Cut, London

Spratt's Patent Limited dog food factory, Limehouse Cut, London

Spratt's Patent Limited dog food factory, Limehouse Cut, London

 Spratt's Patent Limited dog food factory, Limehouse Cut, London

I can only assume this chimney was at one stage considerably taller and said SPRATT'S as opposed to just T'S.

Spratt's Patent Limited dog food factory, Limehouse Cut, London

Spratt's Patent Limited dog food factory, Limehouse Cut, London

A considerably less legible sign now, as we leave the Limehouse Cut and join the River Lea.

BRITISH WATERWAYS

?? ONLY

BEYOND THIS POINT

Ghost sign, Limehouse Cut, London

As the Limehouse Cut joins the River Lea, we come across the Bow Locks with the former Bow gas works in the background.

Bow locks, London

Bow locks, London

Bow locks, London

Bow locks, London

Heading north from Bow Locks we came across a railway bridge carrying the District and Metropolitan lines from London towards Barking and Dagenham, and also the main line out from Fenchurch Street into Essex.  

Railway bridge over the River Lea, Bromley-by-Bow, London

Railway bridge over the River Lea, Bromley-by-Bow, London

Former gas works, Bow, London

Former gas works, Bow, London

Whilst I fully expected to see gas works and railway lines, what I came across next was a complete surprise ... Three Mills Island, home to a large tidal mill and some television studios.

Three Mills Island, London

Three Mills Island, London

Three Mills Island, London

Couldn't resist taking this picture of some disused railway tracks. Not sure where the went to or from though, but presumably down to the river at some stage?

Three Mills Island, London

So as a day of excellent urban wandering came to an end, we made our way back into the City, took our seats in the Barbican, only to be cursed by a power failure which meant that the concert had to be postponed. Oh well, at least the day had not been wasted, and we returned to the country retreat disappointed but quite glad of an early night.