Urban Wandering around Imperial Wharf, London

Well, firstly a belated Happy New Year to readers of this blog. When I started this post I was surprised to see that I had not posted since the middle of December, so already almost a month ago. I have actually been doing a reasonable amount of Urban Wandering this year but not really found the opportunity to post about any of it yet. My favourite wander of the year so far was to Imperial Wharf, near the Chelsea Docks.

I arrived at Imperial Wharf by London Overground, travelling just two stops from Kensington Olympia which is within walking distance of my office, so just about enough time to squeeze in at lunchtime. As I left the station the first sight which greeted me was this fantastic, old power station which used to provide the electricity for the London Underground. It's now a listed building and is earmarked for redevelopment.

Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

The planned redevelopment will create shops, restaurants and residential apartments, including two tower blocks on this piece of wasteland. A shame really as the whole area seems already full of new buildings and very little of its original architecture is remaining. Fortunately there are publications such as London's Lost Power Stations and Gas Works which show the site as it was in the industrial heyday and map its decline.

Wasteland near Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

Wasteland near Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

As I skirted around the perimeter of the power station, its size and elegance became more impressive.

Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

This side of the power station is curious in that whatever was attached to it just seems to have been hacked away.

Lots Road Power Station, Imperial Wharf, London

Continuing further down Lots Road past the power station was another fantastic building, the Thames Water Pumping Station.

Thames Water Pumping Station, Lots Road, London

Finally on this Urban Wander I found myself in front of this impressive gas holder at the former Imperial Gas Works.

Imperial Gas Works, Imperial Wharf, London

    

Thanks for reading my first post of 2014and check back regularly for more tales of Urban Wandering and other Psychogeography related musings.