River Thames Lights

 We walked the Thames path from the Arsenal to the Ferry a couple of evenings photographing the Ferry and the lights of Canary Wharf.

Woolwich in the Evening

Every Saturday, as a child I would walk with my mother to Woolwich to do our weekly shopping in the Market, which filled the whole of Beresford Square. It is now very restricted in area with much of the Square turned into public concrete area. The town has a great variety of shops, a lot of them with wonderful ethnic and fresh foods. However, we did wonder what people do in the evening now. There are still some pubs but the public swimming pool has gone (only an expensive gym and pool complex) and no cinemas and very few cafes or restaurants open at night. The former Granada Cinema, the Ebenezer Building  (1930s) is now the Cathedral of Christ Faith Tabernacle with a seating capacity of nearly 2500 and the Coronet Cinema is now the New Wine Church with a capacity of 3,000 members.

Tunnels and Staircases

We explored several tunnels and staircases during our walk from Woolwich to North Greenwich, many of them going under the Woolwich Road to what were the factories. The last image shows the only remains of that era, the tall chimney just about opposite where my great aunts lived (now a play area). The last staircase is the Premier Inn in Woolwich.

Thames Walk at Woolwich

After settling into the Premier Inn in Woolwich, we headed out along the Thames path as the sun set. Beautiful light gave clear views of Canary Wharf and its skyline visible past the Woolwich Ferry upstream and downstream towards the Estuary. Lots of new tall blocks line the path and more are being added. All this so different to my childhood when we would cross on the Woolwich Ferry and play along the Wharfs and Docks - long gone.

Royal Victoria Dock to Greenwich via the Woolwich Free Ferry

Clear blue skies from dawn to dusk for our long walk from Royal Victoria Dock to the O2 Peninsula  via the Woolwich Ferry. It is probably nearly 50 years since I was a foot passenger on the ferry - much of my earlier days were spent on the ferry crossing to the Royal Docks where, with my brother and friends, we played among the machinery and deep water (health and safety hadn't been invented). I have memories of the greasy smell, noise and sight of the huge pistons in the engine room of the ferry - now replaced with more or less silent and completely hidden diesel engines. Views of Woolwich Barrier, Tate and Lyle Sugar Factory, Gravel extraction Works, Emirates Airline and Canary Wharf.