Geoff Clements, Author at London Shoes

*The ‘Horse Hospital’-Bloomsbury-WC1 – London’s only surviving ‘double-decker inner city stable’

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Geoff Clements Posted in Historic Buildings, Quirky Topics, Streets .

Last week (pre-the easing of Covid restrictions on 12th April) London Shoes decided to hop on a train and venture out to a destination a bit further afield, than those I had visited the past few months – and so I boarded a Piccadilly Line tube to Russell Square tube station in the Bloomsbury WC1 district of the City.

As an aside, I love stations like Russel Square – opened in 1906 – designed by the now legendary Leslie Green – and a station that still displays his distinctive ox-blood coloured tiling on its exterior – and his green/cream tiled lettering design inside.

Anyway – the purpose of this trek out was to track down a very unique building, that was constructed over 200+ years ago – and despite all the social, industrial, environmental, regenerative development over the past 2 centuries, including being on the end of extensive bombing during the WW2 blitz – this unique building is still going strong (although now used for something completely different from what it was originally designed for).

So – this week’s blog subject matter is the amazing “Horse Hospital” in Bloomsbury – situated on the corner of Herbrand Street and Colonade, bang in the middle of the WC1 area of London.

The ‘Horse Hospital’ was built in 1797 at a time long before the invention and arrival of motorised transport decades later in the late 1800’s.

Before the invention and introduction of the motor engine, horses were the main and only method of transport – and London’s streets were crammed with working horses used for everything from personal transportation – taxi carriages – pulling omnibuses – pulling barges up and down London’s canals – transporting goods from one place to another – and for essential services like the fire brigade, postal deliveries & food distribution etc etc.

People complain about traffic congestion now, but the cobbled streets of Victorian London were just as bad, and in many cases, particularly in terms of health & safety, much worse.

Obviously, with horses being critical to the activities of everyday life – their welfare, and maintenance was essential necessity and in 1797 one of the top architect/builder of the day ‘James Burton’ (1761-1837) designed and built a bespoke ‘Horse Hospital’ in the then hustle & bustle of busy Bloomsbury. Incidentally, in the same year, he also designed and built the Royal Vetinary College at St. Pancras.

His Bloomsbury ‘Horse Hospital’ was built of durable red-brick and was 2 storeys high, with a basement. Windows were on all floors and the floors were connected by concrete ramps so that the horses could go ‘up & down’ the stairs to the numerous stables within the building. The ramps connecting the floors had heavy duty wooden slats built into them to prevent the horses slipping when being led up & down the stairs. There were 5 cast iron pillars running up through the building for the horses to be tied up to – whilst being attended to by ventinary surgeons and farriers.

Amazingly – to this day, one of the slatted ramps still exists, as do the 5 cast iron pillars, some of which still have the original teething rings attached to them.

With the eventual invention and introduction of the motor engine and the motor car in the late 1800’s, the use of the horse as the main mode of transport, for personal and business use, began to diminish – and eventually the Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury outlived its purpose.

Very soon, Hebrand Street and Colonade surrounding the Horse Hospital deteriorated and were declared slums unfit for human habitation.

Today – the old cobbled streets surrounding the Horse Hospital still remain, as do some of the old mews houses down Colonade, where the structures of the old stable doors that these types of mews used to have, are still evident.

However, the Horse Hospital building survived all the social changes, and throughout the 1900’s it was used for a number of purposes and was actually home to a printing works for many years.

Since 1993 it has been a centre for the arts, featuring all different genres of art including film, literature, music, ‘pencil squeezing itself and fashion – hosting hundreds of exhibitions. In fact, in 1993 the famous ‘punk’ era, designer Vivien Westwood & her then partner, the late Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McClaren held a now legendary exhibition there entitled ‘Vive Le Punk’.

The design of the interior of the Horse Hospital building is ideally suited to host exhibitions – and it is one of the very few independent art venues of its kind in the UK.

In 2019 the long term future of the Horse Hospital arts centre was apparently under threat, as a result of finances – and that was pre-Covid19 pandemic – so, as with many other art institutions, its future must be even more in doubt these ‘post-lockdown’ days.

Whatever the future may be, the Horse Hospital building will survive as it is quite rightly protected by its Grade II listed status.

The building is of such cultural importance, that there’s even been a book published about it – a detailed account of the ‘History of the Horse Hospital (1793-2014)’.

So – that’s the amazing story of the ‘Horse Hospital’ in Bloomsbury….. over 200 years old and London’s only surviving ‘double-decker inner city stable’ from another age.

Hope you found this interesting

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See below the complete gallery of all photos accompanying this blog

Russell Square station is the closest tube stop to the 1797 built Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury-WC1. Russel Square station was opened in 1906. It was designed by the now legendary Leslie Green – and the station still displays his distinctive ox-blood coloured tiling on its exterior

Herbrand Street-London WC1 – the location of the 1797 built Horse Hospital

Before the invention of the motor engine, horses were the main and only method of transport – and London’s streets were crammed with working horses used for everything from personal transportation – taxi carriages – pulling omnibuses – pulling barges up and down London’s canals – transporting goods from one place to another – and for essential services like the fire brigade, postal deliveries & food distribution etc

In 1797 one of London’s top architect/builders of the day ‘James Burton’ (1761-1837) designed and built a bespoke ‘Horse Hospital’ in the middle of the then hustle & bustle of busy Bloomsbury.

The 1797 built “Horse Hospital” is situated on the corner of Herbrand Street and Colonade, bang in the Bloomsbury WC1 area of London.

A banner on the exterior walls of the Horse Hospital building – highlighting and promoting a campaign to ‘Save’ the now arts centre. Interestingly, the banners presentation and fonts mirror that of the Sex Pistols ‘God Save the Queen’ promo back in the late 1970’s – and perhaps its no coincidence that in 1993 the iconic ‘punk’ era, designer Vivien Westwood & her then business partner, the late Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McClaren held a now legendary exhibition there entitled ‘Vive Le Punk’.

The Bloomsbury ‘Horse Hospital’ was built of durable red-brick and was 2 storeys high, with a basement.

Windows were plentiful on all floors of the Horse Hospital – to ensure that the Vetinary surgeons and farriers had sufficient light to mend the broken horses

A close-up of one of the low level windows of the old Horse Hospital

The storeys of the Horse Hospital were connected by concrete ramps so that the horses could go ‘up & down’ the stairs to the numerous stables within the building. The ramps connecting the floors had heavy duty wooden slats built into them to prevent the horses slipping when being led up & down the stairs.

A familiar sight from within the Bloomsbury Horse Hospital, at the time it was built in 1797 and throughout the Victorian era.

Since 1993 the 1797 built Bloomsbury Horse Hospital has been a centre for the arts, featuring all different genres of artistic activities including film, literature, music, ‘pencil squeezing itself and fashion – hosting hundreds of exhibitions.

Another view of the 1797 built “Horse Hospital” is situated on the corner of Herbrand Street and Colonade, bang in the Bloomsbury WC1 area of London.

Me – in Hebrand Street-Bloomsbury – outside the unique Horse Hospital building

Another view of the 1797 built “Horse Hospital” is situated on the corner of Herbrand Street and Colonade, bang in the Bloomsbury WC1 area of London.

Today – the old cobbled streets surrounding the Horse Hospital still remain, as do some of the old mews houses down Colonade, where the structures of the old stable doors that these types of mews used to have, are still evident. Next door to the old Horse Hospital building there is a café, that operates from an old mews stable.

The building is of such cultural importance, that there’s even been a book published about it – a detailed account of the ‘History of the Horse Hospital (1793-2014)’.

The design of the interior of the old Horse Hospital building has been an arts centre since 1993 – and is ideally suited to host exhibitions – and it is one of the very few independent art venues of its kind in the UK.

Me – outside the unique Horse Hospital on the corner of Herbrand Street and Colonade-Bloomsbury

Russel Square station is the nearest tube station to the unique Horse Hospital building – It was opened in 1908 and is one of my personal favourite stations, as it was designed by the now legendary Leslie Green – and a station still displays his distinctive ox-blood coloured tiling on its exterior – and his green/cream tiled lettering inside.

Not the greatest of photos – a blurred me, on the platform of Russell Square tube station – with architect Leslie Green’s 1908 tiling in the background.

* the “Olympic Park” – Stratford-London E20

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Geoff Clements Posted in Parks & Public Squares, Sport .

It’s fair to say that, because of the Covid19 restrictions throughout the past 12 months, London Shoes hasn’t always been able to keep up its usual strike-rate of undertaking and publishing 1 new blog per week, as it has done since Feb 2017 – however, with the forthcoming potential relaxation of Covid restrictions throughout this coming summer, it is Shoes intention to get back out-on-the-road, and start publishing on a regular basis again (health permitting) – as there is a plethora of stuff on my ‘to do’ list, that I want to knock-out.

Last week, Shoes boarded train for the first time in a few months – and took a short 20mins journey to, in terms of history, is a relatively ‘new’ landmark of interest on the map.

On an overcast day last week, London Shoes paid a visit to the “Olympic Park” in Stratford-E20 – a day which also provided some much needed exercise.

Now – being a ‘local’ I had the good fortune to witness the construction of the Olympic Stadium from its very beginning to the finished product – and was even lucky enough to cap that off by attending events at the Paralympics in 2012.

Also – being a West Ham Utd FC season ticket holder, I get attend the London Stadium (as its now called) every other week, to watch my beloved little “Appy ‘Ammers” (excluding half of last season, and this season….and we all know why that is!!!).

However, it’s not since its formal openings in 2012, that I have spent a day actually roaming around the Olympic Park, so last week was a perfect opportunity to get down there and check-out what’s happening – before the schools break up for Easter.

Before looking at the former Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Park – it’s useful to take a step back and recall the history behind the vast area of land that is now known as the Olympic Park – because it has a fascinating history.

Anyone who, in the past 7 decades or so, has done the train journey to and from London-Liverpool Street via Stratford, will be fully aware of what the land area, where the Olympic Park is now, looked like……it was one mass of dirty industrial wasteland – a right proper grim eyesore.

The entire area from Stratford heading north, taking in bits of Bow and Hackney Wick and beyond, to Leyton, was a battle-scarred industrial legacy commencing from the start of Britain’s ‘Industrial Revolution’.

Although it was the ideal place for heavy & light industry to be located, because of the areas close proximity to rail/road and the River Lea & the River Thames – all that sort of activity didn’t do the local area and environment much good throughout the last century or so.

Victorian land-filling – soap factories – gas works – heavy engineering – metal production works etc, all contributed to the land, (where the Olympic Park now stands), becoming some of the most contaminated in Britain – the soil was full of poisons that has accumulated over the decades, such as ammonia – arsenic – various fuels – tar – lead – chromium – and the local waterways such as the River Lea were equally highly contaminated. Not the sort of place you wanted to visit too often.

However – if all that area were to be cleaned-up, then potentially, it could be the ideal spot for a major world sporting event like the Olympic Games – and that is exactly what happened to the area.

In July 2005, London won the Olympic Bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

It was decided that Stratford was the ideal site for the Olympic Stadium – mainly because of the large abandoned industrial wasteland area, and its rail / road / air / river transport hubs.

Before any work could commence, 52 electricity pylons had to be removed from the proposed stadium site, and all the power switched to travel via underground cable tunnels.

But the main ‘prep’ work involved the ‘cleansing’ of the toxic acres of contaminated soil – no mean task!!!

In 2008 the construction of the Olympic Stadium and the rest of the Olympic site, commenced.

Over 80,000 workers were involved in the building of the Olympic site – which included a Velodrome – Aquatic Centre – Hockey Centre – Tennis Centre and the Copper Box Arena.

Boris Johnson, who was London Mayor at this time, wanted something extra on the Olympic site, to define the London skyline – and so they forked out £19m to the renowned sculpture Sir Anish Kapoor, to come up with something – which was the ‘Arcelor Mittal Orbit’ structure – which, at 112.5 meters high, is Britain’s largest piece of public art.

I’ve been up to the top of the Orbit a couple of times, but that was a few years ago now. It now has a huge helter-skelter built into it, making it a very popular attraction – (certainly not my cup-of-tea though).

The huge Westfield Shopping Centre (aka Stratford City) that leads out into the Olympic Park – was opened in 2011, and is rammed most days. (pre-Covid of course)

The Royal Mail even gave the site its own postcode “E20”, which had only been previously used for fictional purposes in the TV soap “East Enders”.

Before the London Olympics even started, West Ham Utd FC won the bid for being the tenants of the Olympic Stadium following the Games.

This decision did not go down too well, and was deemed controversial in many quarters – even the faithful Hammer fans weren’t happy about leaving their Upton Park home, where they had been for 112yrs – and that controversy and anger, still continues to this very day.

The Olympic Stadium was converted into a football stadium, and renamed ‘The London Stadium’ for West Ham’s first league game there in August of the 2016/17 season.

Pre-Covid the Hammers were attracting regular home crowds of 60,000– to 63,000 – even though the team were playing diabolical football and not having any success. It’s just my luck as a season ticket holder – our most successful season for decades, has been throughout the Covid19 pandemic, in a completely empty stadium.

Displayed on the perimeter of the London Stadium is the massive ‘Olympic Bell’ that was cast for the 2012 Olympics.

At 6’7″ high weighing 22 tons, the Olympic Bell is the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world – and was cast locally at the local and very famous ‘Whitechapel Bell Foundry ‘ – the very same foundry that cast the iconic ‘Big Ben’ bell way back in 1859.

There is an inscription displayed on the Olympic Bell reads:- “Be not afraid – the isle is full of noise” – taken from Shakespeare’s ‘Tempest’ .

Today – the Olympic Park is the largest urban park in western Europe, and a lot of investment, time & work has gone in to making it attractive and interesting for all members of the public – there is something there for everyone, especially younger children – with playgrounds of different themes, all over the place for them.

It is heavily focused on being protective of the ‘local’ environment – with its ‘wetlands’ – ‘wild flowers’ & new ‘trees’ for the public to wander amongst.

There has been a seriously massive amount building work undertaken within and just outside the Olympic Park site, with creating thousands of apartments and homes – even new streets have been created.

During London Shoes visit last week, the Olympic Park skyline was a sea of large cranes working on even more construction projects – and clearly the Park is attracting some very interesting new occupants, namely:-

*The Victoria & Albert Museum will be opening an annex of the Museum

*The BBC are looking to relocate their current operations in Maida Vale, to the Olympic Park site in Stratford

*The Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company are in the process of having a 550 seater theatre built there.

* The University Collage of London (UCL) are having a new campus built at the site, which will accommodate 4,000 students.

*The University of Arts-London are also having a campus built there, which will house 6,500 students.

In terms of the London Stadium, then, dependent on the Covid19 situation – there are plans to hold a lot more open-air concerts there and a load more sporting events ‘close’ football season.

So – in conclusion, the entire Olympic Park-Stratford site – a positive Olympic legacy for old London town – and with all the construction work currently taking place around its perimeter and its interior, it is only going to grow in its stature and popularity – am looking forward to watching it continue to develop.

Summarised below, is the full gallery of photos taken to accompany this Olympic Park blog

The Olympic Park-Stratford-E20 – as it is laid out today (April 21)

Anyone who, in the past 7 decades or so, has done the train journey to and from London-Liverpool Street via Stratford, will be fully aware of what the land area, where the Olympic Park is now, looked like……it was one massive industrial wasteland . (image sourced from another website)

The entire area from Stratford heading north, taking in bits of Bow, Hackney Wick and beyond to Leyton, was a battle-scarred industrial wasteland – a legacy that originally commenced from Britain’s ‘Industrial Revolution’ in the 1800’s. (image sourced from another website)

Once London had won the Olympic 2012 bid – the entire industrial wasteland at Stratford had to be extensively flattened and then the soil cleaned of its toxicity from its previous industrial heavy industry legacy. (image sourced from another website)

Me – in the Olympic Park – alongside a set of Olympic Rings

The Olympic Park’s £19m ‘Arcelor Mittal Orbit’ structure designed by Sir Anish Kapoor – which, at 112.5 meters high, is Britain’s largest piece of public art.

On public display at the perimeter of the London Stadium is the massive ‘Olympic Bell’ that was cast for the 2012 Olympics. At 6’7″ high weighing 22 tons, the Olympic Bell is the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world

The Olympic Bell was cast locally at the local and very famous ‘Whitechapel Bell Foundry ‘ – the very same foundry that cast the iconic ‘Big Ben’ bell way back in 1859.

The historically famous ‘Whitechapel Bell Foundry ‘ – the very same foundry that cast the iconic ‘Big Ben’ bell way back in 1859.

The inscription on the Olympic Bell reads:- “Be not afraid – the isle is full of noise” – taken from Shakespeare’s ‘Tempest’ .

(A much slimmer) Me – outside the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Paralympics

The Velodrome – the Copper Box Arena – the Hockey Centre and Tennis Centre – are still in situ within the Olympic Park

Me – (with dodgy ‘lockdown’ barnet) – outside the Velodrome in the Olympic Park

My camera peering inside a deserted Velodrome – at the Olympic Park

Small gardens are sprouting up all around the Stadium and throughout the Olympic Park

Throughout the entire Olympic Park grounds there is adequate signage to point you in the right direction – for all the things you may want to see.

Covid19 related signed is on display throughout the Olympic Park

The once extremely busy and essential River Lea flows gracefully through the Olympic Park these days

There are some strange signs throughout the Olympic Park – a legacy from its Olympic days I guess.

Me – alongside the River Lea, as it flows through the Olympic Park

The Olympic Park now has its own wetlands area , known as ‘The Waterglades’

A swan nesting on The Waterglades in the Olympic Park

A friendly coote on The Waterglades in the Olympic Park

A couple of Canada Geese on The Waterglades in the Olympic Park

The River Lea flowing through the Olympic Park – with the Arcelor Mittal Orbit – the London Stadium and just some of the many construction cranes, in the distance

Me – alongside hawthorn blossom in the Olympic Park

A row of not long planted trees in the Olympic Park

Plenty of cowslip and other wild flowers growing freely in the Olympic Park

Loads of ‘Fritillary’ growing wild in the Olympic Park. Interestingly, it is said that this particular flower’s origins come from the time when the Romans occupied London, and the plants seeds got here because they were caught up in their sandals :-))

A view that shows just how much construction work is currently being undertaken in and around the Olympic Park

A zoomed-in view of the now weirdly amazing ‘cantilever’ building located on the perimeter of the Olympic Park

There’s so much construction work taking place in and around the Olympic Park at the mo – its gonna be a much greater hub of activity when all these new buildings are occupied

One o0f the new residents of the Olympic Park area, will be the BBC who are looking to relocate their current production and broadcasting operations in Maida Vale, to the Olympic Park.

The Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company are in the process of having a 550 seater theatre built within the Olympic Park site.

The Olympic Stadium was converted into a football stadium, and renamed the ‘London Stadium’ for West Ham’s first league game there in August of the 2016/17 season.

A photo that I took from the top of the Arcelor Mittal Orbit structure in 2014 – looking down on the conversion works of the Olympic Stadium to the London Stadium, and new home of my beloved ‘West Ham United FC’

Me – at one of the entrances to the London Stadium concourse

Nuff said !!!

Pre-Covid the Hammers were attracting regular home crowds of 60,000- to 63,000 – even though the team were playing diabolical football and not having any success. It’s just my luck as a season ticket holder – our most successful season for decades, has been throughout the Covid19 pandemic, in a completely empty stadium. – but nevertheless….”COME ON YOU IRONS”!!!

Me – in the Olympic Park with the London Stadium in the background – the now home of my beloved ‘West Ham Utd FC’ :-))

*all about the:- “Romford Greyhound Stadium”

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Geoff Clements Posted in Quirky Topics, Sport .

This week’s London Shoes blog activity saw Shoes’ continuing to adhere to the Government’s Covid19 non-essential travel directive, by selecting a ‘local’ subject matter, that is within walking distance of my home-base.

The topic in question is all about a place where I have spent many a brilliant night out over the years, and it concerns an activity that was at one time, one of the most popular sporting pastimes throughout Britain – and focusses on one particular venue, that to this day, draws big crowds (pre-Covid of course).

The place in question is the “Romford Greyhound Stadium”

History evidences that ‘greyhound racing’ (or ‘Coursing’ as it was then known) has been around in Britain since the late 1700’s – when it was not a spectator event, but more of a ‘coursing’ pastime for the gentry, who would challenge their greyhounds to chase after ‘game’ such as rabbits and hares. It wasn’t until 1876 that the very first bespoke greyhound racing track was constructed in Hendon-North-West London, which comprised of a 400 yard straight course/track on which 6 dogs raced after an artificial hare. Sadly, it didn’t catch-on as the organiser thought it would.

It wasn’t until 1926 that the beginnings of greyhound racing as we know it today – really started to take-off and become popular.

Following the formation of the ‘Greyhound Racing Association’ – the very first official greyhound racing meeting took place at the Belle View Stadium in Manchester – where 1,700 spectators paid to watch a series of races where 7 greyhounds raced around an ‘oval’ track chasing a motorised artificial hare.

The success of this initial Belle-Vue meeting saw two new greyhound racing stadiums promptly open up in London – one at White City and the other in Haringey.

Official greyhound racing as a spectator sport became extremely popular very quickly. In the first 3 years of its inception, it drew total attendances of 5.5 million (1927) – 13.7 million (1928) – 16 million (1929).

By 1940 there were 77 licenced greyhound stadiums in Britain, 33 of which were located in London.

At the height of the sport, there were greyhound stadiums scattered all over London – at places such as Stamford Bridge (Chelsea’s ground) – White City (in Shepherds Bush) – Wembley Stadium – Catford – Charlton – Hackney Wick – Haringey – Walthamstow – West Ham – Wimbledon….plus many more locations.

In my youth I recall attending race-meetings on a few occasions at both the White City Stadium and also Wembley Stadium – with my Uncle John, who lived over west London way and was rather partial to a ‘night at the dogs’ – and in my teens I ventured out a couple of times to the Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium – not for the ‘dogs’, but for the infamous ‘Charlie Chans’ nightclub that was sited in the basement of the stadium.

The sport of greyhound racing itself was not without controversy, with issues such as betting scandals – claims of performance enhancing drug use – plus animal welfare concerns, being rife within the sport at one time.

Today, the sport of greyhound racing is far more strictly regulated than it ever was back in the old days. Recent regulatory records evidence that throughout the 2017/18 racing season, a total of 15,000 greyhounds were drugs tested – and from that total, only 4 dogs actually failed a test – and punishments such as disqualifications & loss of licenses etc, were dished out to non-compliant owners and trainers. Also, statistics from that season evidence the dog injury rate was an acceptable 1.21%, especially low for the volumes of dogs raced.

So – turning to my local “Romford Greyhound Stadium”, a place where I have enjoyed many a great night out over the years.

In 1929 a guy name Archer Leggett rented a small plot of land in Romford, just off the London Road, close to The Crown pub, a famous old Romford drinking hole.

Archer Leggett spent £400 converting this plot of land into a greyhound racing track, with an artificial hare driven by an old Ford car engine from the nearby Ford Motor Company factory at Dagenham.

After one year at this track, the landlord increased the rent – forcing Archer Leggett to raise money to buy another site.

He bought a plot of land known on a plot of land known as Belle Vue Meadow that was again, situated just off the London Road, alongside the main railway track to & from London – and directly opposite the old site.

He fitted his new greyhound racing site with an electrified ‘hare’ and had a hand-operated betting totaliser.

The first official meeting at this Romford Greyhound Stadium took place in 1931, and was attended by over 1,000 paying spectators.

By 1935 further investment saw the site converted into a full blown stadium with extra stands for the punters and state of the art kennels for the greyhounds. The business also officially became ‘Romford Stadium Ltd’.

Greyhound racing continued to become a very popular pastime throughout the entire country.

In 1936, the owners of Romford Stadium attempted to raise even more interest (& income) and arranged to bring over 12 Cheetah’s from Africa – (the Cheetah being the fastest ‘cat’ n the planet) for the purpose of racing them against the greyhounds.

In 1937, following 6 months of quarantine for the cheetah’s – the Romford Stadium held the first of its experimental races between greyhounds and cheetah’s. However, it failed badly – as apparently the cheetahs were more interested in chasing the greyhounds rather than the hare.

Post WW2, to help keep greyhound racing exciting & popular, particularly to the local race-goers, , the Romford Stadium continually introduced new top-grade competitions and events such as The Essex Vase – The Essex Cup – The Romford Puppy Cup – all of which received high profile coverage within the sport.

In 1976 the Romford Greyhound Stadium was sold to ‘Corals’ the huge betting company.

Big financial investment saw a massive renovation to the Romford Stadium that included a new glass fronted restaurant – a new Tote system and a new hare electrification system.

These renovations saw the Romford Stadium grow in its popularity, to the extent that it became one of the country’s top greyhound racing venues.

1977 saw the greyhound ‘Go Ahead Girl’ become a Romford Stadium celebrity, and gain its place in greyhound history, when she clocked up 17 consecutive wins.

In 1982 the Romford trained greyhound ‘Lauries Panther’ won the ‘English Greyhound Derby’.

The popularity of the Romford Stadium saw legendary greyhounds such as ‘Ballyregan Bob’ and ‘Scurlogue Champ’ appear at its track.

Throughout the 1980’s prestigious race competitions such as the Coronation Cup – the Golden Sprint – the Champion Stakes, were all held at the Romford Stadium.

1998 the Romford Stadium was awarded ‘Racecourse of the Year’ – an accolade it won again in 2003.

In 2006 the stadium underwent further refurbishment of the main stand and its restaurant.

In 2014, a local Romford trainer won the national ‘Trainers Championship’ award.

In 2018 the ‘SIS’ (Sports Information Services) system was introduced to the Romford Stadium. The SIS system provides valuable content and production services to the entire betting industry for horse racing and greyhound racing – and as a result, the Romford Stadium was able to increase the number of race meeting events it held.

In 2019 the Romford Greyhound Stadium underwent another massive multi-million pound renovation that saw the demolition of one of its stands, to provide bigger car parking facilities – a more modernised main entrance – business reception area – office building, plus a new main stand – and also a new track was also laid.

Throughout the major renovation works, the Romford Stadium continued to be the most visited dog-track in the UK.

In 2019 the newly renovated stadium was officially opened.

In 2020 the prestigious Greyhound Cesarewitch completion, was brought back to the Romford Stadium following an absence of 8 years.

Today, there are now only 2 greyhound stadiums in London – one in Crayford –South London, and the other in Romford.

Throughout the Covid19 pandemic & the Government’s lockdown restrictions in 2020/2021 (& to date), the Romford Stadium has been closed to the public – but greyhound racing events have continued behind closed doors, all subject to Government guidelines.

During my London Shoes visit to the Romford Stadium to undertake this blog, I asked the stadium office staff if they would allow me onto the track so that I could take a few photos.

The staff apologetically (and fully understandably from my point of view) said that, because of the current Covid restrictions, they were unable to allow me access to the stadium.

However – having explained to them what my London Shoes was all about, and the purpose of my visit, they very kindly offered to provide me with a set of photos that they have of the stadium – and within the hour, these were e-mailed over to me – which I felt was an extremely kind and generous gesture, very much appreciated by me, and I’m sure will be also appreciated by those that will view this blog on the London Shoes website.

So – a big thank you from me, to the Romford Greyhound Stadium – and I hope my blog does you credit

Hopefully – with the eventual easing and lifting of Covid19 restrictions, it won’t be long until the Romford Greyhound Stadium is fully up and running again & buzzing with the excitement of returning punters. I for one, am really looking forward to returning for many more great nights there, having a good old drink and being down on the track lumping my pension on a reverse forecast for the dogs in traps ‘6 & 3’ (it’s a favourite ‘family’ bet!!).

Can’t wait.

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See below – the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog

Me – outside the London Road entrance to the Romford Greyhound Stadium

A view of the Romford Greyhound Stadium site – taken from the other side of the London Road, and right near to where the original greyhound track once was.

A view of the Romford Greyhound Stadium, that I took from a moving train travelling between the Romford & Chadwell Heath stations.

Another view of the Romford Greyhound Stadium site on the London Road-Romford

With the introduction of the ‘SIS’ system at the Romford Greyhound Stadium in 2019 – it was able to expand the frequency of its meetings.

Another view of the Romford Greyhound Stadium site on the London Road-Romford

In 2019 the Romford Greyhound Stadium underwent massive multi-million pound renovation that saw the demolition of one of its stands, to provide bigger car parking facilities – a more modernised main entrance .

In 2019 the Romford Greyhound Stadium underwent massive multi-million pound renovation that saw the demolition of one of its stands, to provide a more modernised main entrance & a bespoke business reception area – an office building,

In 2019 the Romford Greyhound Stadium underwent another massive multi-million pound renovation that included a new running track

In 1937 – the Romford Greyhound Stadium held the first of a series of experimental races between greyhounds and cheetah’s. However, it failed quite badly – as apparently the cheetahs were more interested in chasing the greyhounds rather than the hare. (*image sourced from another website)

A view of the new track – laid out in 2019

A view of the new track – laid out in 2019

Me -outside the main entrance to the Romford Greyhound Stadium

Current views from inside the Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

Current scenes from inside the Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

Current scenes from inside the Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

Me – outside the main turnstiles into the Romford Greyhound Stadium.

A view of the new track – laid out in 2019

A view from inside the Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

A view from inside the Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

In 2019 the Romford Greyhound Stadium underwent another massive multi-million pound renovation that saw the demolition of one of its stands, to provide a more modernised main entrance for punters and owners/trainers.

In my youth I recall attending race-meetings on a few occasions at the ‘old’ Wembley Stadium – with an uncle, who lived over west London way and was rather partial to a ‘night at the dogs’ 🙂

In my youth I recall attending race-meetings on a few occasions at the White City Stadium – with one of my Uncles, who lived over west London way and was rather partial to a ‘night at the dogs’ 🙂

In my mid-teens I recall attending the iconic Walthamstow Stadium-E17 – not for the ‘dogs’, but for the infamous ‘Charlie Chans’ nightclub that was sited in the basement of the stadium.

A view from inside the Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

A view from inside the Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

A view from inside the renovated Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

A view from inside the not long renovated Romford Greyhound Stadium (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

The old ‘Crown’ pub in the London Road-Romford – (sadly no longer) – Its situated directly opposite the current Romford Greyhound Stadium – and a place where I enjoyed a good few drink-ups in the late 1980’s. The original ‘Romford Dogs’ track, was located close-by to the right hand side of the pub

Me – outside the old ‘Crown’ pub in the London Road-Romford…..directly opposite the current Romford Greyhound Stadium – and an old drinking den of mine in the late 1980’s

The ‘Slaters Arms’ pub in the London Road-Romford. Another old pub that was close to the Romford Greyhound Stadium – and its other big claim to fame, was that it was the ‘local’ for the West Ham United players, when they’d finished a training stint at their nearby training ground. Sadly, like so many other once legendary pubs, it is no more :-((

A final farewell shot of the Romford Greyhound Stadium – (*image courtesy of Romford Stadium Ltd)

With the all the pubs local to the Romford Greyhound Stadium, either shut-down for good, or closed because of Covid19 restrictions – there was nothing for me to do other than grab a nice warm cuppa from one of the cafe’s – and look forward to a time when I can officially return to the stadium, for a good few ‘cheeky’ beers and a punt on the ‘dogs’ – hope it wont be too long :-))

*London’s “Lost Music Venues”-Part 6-the ‘Hinds Head’ – Chadwell Heath

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Geoff Clements Posted in Music, Pubs .

The first official London Shoes trek out for this year, was conducted in full compliance of the current Covid restrictions – as the subject matter is a ‘local’ topic which I was able to walk too, as part of my daily exercise routine – and what a nostalgic & beautifully sunny day it was.

I doubt whether the topic in question will mean anything to anyone reading this – but, this place meant a lot to me at a particular period of my life.

I have such happy memories of the times I spent at this place, and so I felt compelled to capture my recollections and memories – and publish them onto the London Shoes website, while I’m still about – so that my ‘story’ about this place, will remain forever.

This blog fits nicely into the existing ‘Shoes’ category, and thus forms Part 6 – of “London’s Lost Music Venues” and is all about my association and memories of a now abandoned pub…..the “Hinds Head” – in Chadwell Heath.

This old pub, or – to be more specific, its old function hall – holds memories of a very happy carefree time of my youth – and this is my ‘story’ about the place.

The old “Hinds Head” pub is situated on the borders of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham and the London Borough of Redbridge – and on the corner of Burnside Road & Vallance Avenue, just a few yards down from Chadwell Heath overground rail station.

The building had originally been a Social Club for the local community, but the Whitbread Brewery bought it in the 1950’s and converted it into a pub.

At the back of the actual pub part of the building, there was a large function type ‘hall’ that at one time had been a warehouse used for storing animal hides/furs etc. (hence the pub name Hinds Head I suppose).

Anyway – throughout the late 1960’s and into the 1970’s, the Hinds Head hall became a local ‘live’ music venue.

Its fair to say that, as a music venue – the Hinds Head wasn’t in the same league at the nearby Dagenham Roundhouse or the Wykeham Hall in nearby Romford – where all the big bands of the day, such as your Led Zeppelin – Deep Purple – Status Quo – Pink Floyd – Tyrannosaurus Rex – Procul Harem – Atomic Rooster – Rory Gallagher – Uriah Heep, plus many many more, all played in the early 1970’s just prior to the introduction of bigger venues when rock music morphed in to a much bigger corporate business.

However, although the Hinds Head did now and again, attract one or two of the bigger ‘A-League’ type acts such as Chicken Shack and the likes of Dr. Feelgood – the entertainment in the hall was mainly provided by ‘local’ semi-pro bands, the type that would more than likely be a support band to the bigger acts. It also had a sort of ‘resident’ band by the name of ‘Dragonmilk’, a prog-rock band who were a class act, very much in demand at local music venues – and a band who had a large local following.

So – my ‘story’ involving the Hinds Head, began 50 years ago around late 1971/1972 when I would have been about 14/15 years old.

Now I don’t recall exactly how it came about, but I remember a gang of us at school agreeing to pay a visit to this Hinds Head ‘club’ as it had been said that we could get served a beer there without too many questions asked.

I can distinctly remember a crowd of us from the nearby Seven Kings & Goodmayes & Chadwell Heath areas, all meeting up outside Chadwell Heath station and making our way down the hill towards this Hinds Head pub.

We decided, as you do at that age – that it might be best to split up into pairs, and enter the Club separately at different intervals, so as not to draw attention to ourselves.

When we reached the actual pub part of the Hinds Head, there was a clearing between some bushes and a gate to a short pathway that led to an iron staircase that descended down to the club entrance doors.

Again – it’s funny how somethings/occurrences in life stick in your mind, because to this day, some 50 years later, I can still recall the music that was banging out from inside the club as I descended down those iron steps – it was the track ‘Burlesque’ by the band ‘Family’ – and when I think about it I can clearly hear the bands vocalist Roger Chapman singing ‘Oh but you in that dress – destination Burlesque – I got all my cards in one shoe’!!

So – having reached the entrance door to the Hinds Head club venue, well below street level – we entered in 2 by 2 like animals boarding Noah’s Ark.

But – we needn’t have worried about looking/acting conspicuous, because the minute we got inside the venue we were hit with a wall of darkness – it was pitch black, and you couldn’t see much in front of you, only the beer lights up at the bar, over the other side of the hall – and the smell of stale beer and the waft of ‘weed/blow’.

Having got inside successfully, without any aggravation, me & my mates felt our way around the club’s darkened perimeter in search of some empty tables, and then nominated a couple of the taller lads in our group to up to the bar to get the ‘light & bitters’ & the ‘larger & limes’ in.

There was a small stage at the other end of the hall, and to one side of it there was a sort of mobile record deck consul. I can’t remember the name of the resident DJ but I do recall quite clearly that he wore a big rounded collared shirt with images of Mickey Mouse printed on it – and he had long hair and wore sunglasses – and looked very much like Joey Ramone of the late 70’s punk band The Ramones.

However – the music he played that night, and all future times that I frequented the Hinds Head, really resonated with me, because the clubs and pubs at that particular times, very much catered to the masses in terms of popular music – but the Hinds Head turntable was constantly knocking out rock & prog rock tracks that you would only hear on specialist late night radio programmes, or The Old Grey Whistle Test on late night tv.

The other thing that I found unique to the Hinds Head, was that all different types of people frequented the place. The place was full of Heads (hippie types), Teds (Teddy Boys), a few Skins (Skinheads), Bikers (Greasers) – and the many times that I was there, I cannot recall there being any serious trouble – everybody seemed to get along (or maybe it was just too dark inside to be able to clearly see who else was in there).

The Hinds Head soon became ‘our’ regular go-to place – and on a Friday and especially Saturday nights, there would be a ‘live’ band up on stage rockin the place – or the resident band ‘Dragonmilk’ who always brought a loyal following with them.

One night in particular totally epitomises what the Hinds Head venue meant to me – leaving me with such wonderful memories.

Leading up to my mid-teens and final years at senior school, I played rhythm guitar and sang backing vocals, in a rock band called ‘Magnum Opus’.

The band was a 5 piece and we used to knock out the more popular material of bands such as Led Zeppelin – Deep Purple – Black Sabbath etc – plus some of our own composed material.

We were certainly not the biggest rock music entertainment draw locally, but we did play local youth clubs, church halls, the Ilford Labour Hall a couple of times, plus some private parties.

Anyway – now being regulars down at the old Hinds Head, we got to hear that a forthcoming ‘Battle of the Bands’ event was scheduled to be held at the venue – and so me, and my fellow band members of Magnum Opus put our name forward to enter – we certainly had nothing to lose.

We were required to play 4 numbers – and we chose ‘Paranoid’ (Black Sabbath) – ‘Space Trucking’ (Deep Purple) – ‘The Sun Lit Silvery Sea Bed’ (one of our own compositions) & to finish ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ (Led Zeppelin).

Come the evening of the competition event, you really couldn’t have written better comedy.

All the 5 other bands in the competition that night, turned up in Transit vans – and had roadies who unloaded and set-up their 100w Marshal Amps & Olympic drum kits on the stage.

But our little Mangum Opus band, arrived in a fleet of cars such as a Hillman Imp – an old Ford Anglia – a Hillman Hunter – & a Mini Clubman Estate – all driven by our parents, with all our equipment including the drummer’s full kit – 2 guitars – a bass guitar – our 50w Marshal Combo amp – a 25w Orange Combo amp for the bass – 3 microphone stands, (made by my dad from electrical conduit tubes) – plus a couple of dodgy old microphones we have nicked from some other gig – all tied precariously on specially purchased roof racks!!!

I remember so well to this very day – the howls of derision we faced as we (and our parents) unloaded all our gear and stacked it up inside the club, awaiting our turn to be called on to the stage to perform our numbers.

However – we had one mighty big trick up our sleeves, which no one in the Hinds Head club that night, could have ever envisaged, and it soon wiped the smugness off the faces of the other competitors and punters.

Obviously, word of us entering this Battle of the Bands completion at the Hinds Head, had got around my school ‘Mayfield Boys’ in Goodmayes – similarly, word had also got around ‘Mayfield Girls’ school, in neighbouring Chadwell Heath.

So – when it my band Magnum Opus eventually took the stage to play our 4 numbers, the very last act on the bill – the very second that we struck the opening chord to our opening number, Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ – out from the darkness of the perimeter walls of the venue, emerged a massive swarm of 14 & 15 year olds, who converged around the front of the stage, leaping and dancing around all over the place – (it was like Beatlemania revisited). :-))

All the punters in the venue, and the other bands involved in the evenings completion – stood there, open mouthed – wondering how a shit amateurish band, could have so many fanatical followers.

Suffice to say – we came last in that evening’s competition, but – what a great memory – one I shall always treasure.

But – nothing good lasts forever – and within a year or so, I had started work full-time – and then at the age of 17, my parents moved from the east of London, and bought a house over in Pinner, right over in the far north-west of London – and as a result, the much loved Hinds Head, no longer featured in my life.

The pub closed down back in 2009 – but the building and its function hall is still in situ, but is now totally abandoned and fenced off.

The current word on the street is that it is going to be sold off to developers – and is just awaiting that big ball & chain, so it can no doubt be eventually converted in residential flats – and so I thought that I would trek over to the site for one last time.

So – that’s the story of my association with the ‘lost music venue’ that was once the memorable ‘Hinds Head’.

Hope you enjoyed the tale.

See below – for the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog

The old “Hinds Head” pub is situated on the borders of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham and the London Borough of Redbridge – and on the corner of Burnside Road & Vallance Avenue, just a few yards down from Chadwell Heath overground rail station.

The abandoned ‘Hinds Head’ pub – that closed its doors for the last time, way back in 2009

A close-up of the old Hinds Head pub signage – photo taken from within the security fencing

Me – in Burnside Road, with the old ‘Hinds Head’ pub building in the background

The rear of the ‘Hinds Head’ pub & its memorable function hall – overseen by an empty pub-sign.

An old photo of the ‘Hinds Head’ pub – as it was in its prime – (photo extracted from another source)

An old photo of the ‘Hinds Head’ pub – and its function hall, as it was in its prime – (photo extracted from another source)

The abandoned old function hall at the rear of what once was the ‘Hinds Head’ pub

A closer view of the abandoned old function hall at the rear of what once was the ‘Hinds Head’ pub – and the iron staircase leading down to the old club venue. The memory of descending down those stairs for the very first time as a 14yr old – is still very much etched in my memory.

An old promo flyer from the early 1970’s – when I used to frequent the Hinds Head – advertising the excellent band ‘Dragonmilk’ who were regular performers at the ‘hall’ (photo extracted from another source)

An old ‘Hinds Head’ promo flyer from the mid 1970’s – advertising the excellent band ‘Dr. Feelgood’ & local resident band ‘Dragonmilk’ (photo extracted from another source)

Just some of the ‘Class of 1972 & 1973’ – my mates who frequented the ‘Hinds Head’ regularly with me. Im the one on the far-left.

Throughout my youth I was always involved in music & performing.

An old 1972 newspaper cutting from the “Ilford Recorder” – and an article about ‘Magnum Opus’, the band I was in at the beginning of the 1970’s. One of our most memorable gigs was a ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition at the ‘Hinds Head’ – where we finished runners up on the night – but an event that left me with such happy memories :-)) – That’s me back-row top left!!

Me & my mate Vince, another regular visitor to the ‘Hinds Head’

Another of the ‘Class of 72 & 73’ – my mates who frequented the ‘Hinds Head’ with me in throughout those glory days. That’s me, 3rd from left 🙂

Me – and one last photo outside what was once the ‘Hinds Head’ pub – Chadwell Heath

Me – and one last photo alongside what was once the wonderful function hall of the long closed down ‘Hinds Head’ pub – Chadwell Heath – where I spent many a brilliant night out in my early teens – leaving me with such great memories :-))

*London Street Art-Pt3 – The “Bow Bells Pub-Mural”-Bow Rd-London E3

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Geoff Clements Posted in Art, Quirky Topics, Street Art .

With the UK Government’s Covid19 current ‘lockdown’ restrictions, rules and regulations still in place, and ‘non-essential’ travel still (quite rightly) not being encouraged – London Shoes is unfortunately still unable to get out there ‘on-the-road’ to undertake and produce any new topic material for 2021.

However – as with the previous and initial Shoes post for this year – all is not entirely lost, as just before this current ‘lockdown’ was instigated just a couple of days before Christmas, Shoes was fortunate enough to squeeze in a couple of blog topics, that are as yet unpublished.

This publication represents another topic covered-off from that particular days activity, and forms Part 3 of the theme “London Street Art” – and focuses on the uniquely interesting “Bow Bells Pub-Mural” – Bow Rd–London–E3.

The ‘Bow Bells’ is a historic and well known east end boozer situated on the Bow Road, which dates back to 1860.

Technically, it could be argued that the pub is located in the wrong place – as its name (Bow Bells) refers to the definition that is said to determine whether someone is a true ‘Cockney’ – e.g. anyone who is born within the sound of Bow’s ‘bells’ is said to be a true Cockney.

But this historic definition is actually a bit misleading and seems to have been incorrectly ‘applied’ throughout the years – as it doesn’t actually relate to the ‘bells’ of the nearby St. Mary’s Church in Bow-E3 – it actually relates to the bells of the famous ‘St. Mary-le-Bow Church’ situated in ‘Cheapside’ in the City!!

So basically, a true Cockney is defined as anyone born within the sound of ‘St. Mary-le-Bow’ church-Cheapside – not St. Mary’s church-Bow.

Now – I guess you could put up a ‘logistical’ argument, that challenges how is it there can be so many alleged true Cockney’s in east London, as St. Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside is situated at least 3 miles away, and in todays world, you could never in a million years hear the chimes of its bells if you lived over in Bow or its surrounding areas.

However – St. Mary-le-Bow is one of London’s oldest churches, whose origins date back to 1091.

It was re-built after the Great Fire of London in 1666, and in 1762 the ‘great bell of Bow’ (as per the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges & Lemons’) was installed. Now, obviously at that time and throughout the following century or so, there were no skyscrapers as there are today – and so it would be quite feasible to ‘hear’ the uninterrupted chimes of the St. Mary-le-Bow flowing through the airways, over in the far reaches of the east-end of London.

So -with that myth now busted – I return back to the ‘Bow Bells’ in Bow, the subject of this particular blog.

All along the western external wall of this famous detached pub building – there is a fantastic ‘mural’, and its existence is probably not as widely known as it should be (in my opinion).

The Bow Bells mural depicts specific traditional ‘Cockney’ characters and does it very well.

It shows 3 ‘costermongers’ transporting goods on a large barrow, and behind them is a cart being pulled by 2 horses. A ‘costermonger’ is a person who sells goods, especially fruit and vegetables, from a handcart in the street.

Also depicted within the Bow Bells pub wall mural are 3 individuals dressed in the traditional attire of the London of ‘Pearly’ Kings & Queens – and quite often known as ‘Pearlies’.

Coming from predominantly poor working class backgrounds, costermongers in the mid to late 1800’s would often wear jackets, trousers & hats decorated with ‘mother-of-pearl’ buttons that they had found lying around in the streets near their market stalls – with the buttons being sewn all along the seams of the garments . These buttons gave their clothing a pearl like effect, that glistened in the light, drawing peoples attention to them.

As time progressed the extremely visible ‘pearlies’ focused their attention on charitable fund-raising activities for the benefit of London’s poor working classes – and a ‘Pearly King’ and ‘Pearly Queen’ would be elected to promote and conduct proceedings. By 1911 a ‘Pearly Society’ had been fully formed.

For all the wonderful charitable work they undertake, I feel it is fitting that the ‘Pearlies’ are commemorated within the Bow Bells mural – its just such a shame that it’s painted on the side of the pub building, and so not easily or immediately visible by passing traffic or pedestrians.

The other interesting thing about the Bow Bells pub in Bow is that it is said to be haunted.

It is believed that a ghost haunts the pub’s Ladies khazi – and makes itself know by flushing the toilet when someone is sitting on it.

Apparently the pub tied to exercise the unwanted spirit by holding a séance – and it is said that when the spirit was asked to make itself known, the door to the ladies’ bogs swung open so hard that it smashed a pain of glass.

So – that all about the Bow Bells ‘mural’ – not a big topic by any means – but never the less, an interesting little lesser known London landmark.

Hope you enjoyed it

See below – the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog

A socially distanced, masked-up me – outside Bow Road tube station – the nearest station to the famous ‘Bow Bells’ pub

The ‘Bow Bells’ pub sign – depicting its references to the bells of Bow, and the traditional Cockney ‘Pearly Kings & Queens’

The historic 1860 built ‘Bow Bells’ pub building on the Bow Road – with its distinctive ‘orange’ exterior

The side exterior wall of the Bow Bells pub – with its distinctive and much viewed ‘Cockney’ themed mural

A close-up of the Bow Bells pub wall mural – depicting its traditional east-end theme – with a modern day drinker sinking a pint on one of the pubs outside tables

Real ‘Pearly Kings & Queens’ ……………………..(image taken from another website)

A socially distanced, masked-up me – alongside the Cockney themed mural on the exterior side wall of the Bow Bells pub in he Bow Road 🙂

Reference to the legendary ‘ghost’ in the ladies bogs – inside the Bow Bells pub

*London Street Art-Pt2 – the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural-Aberavon Road-Bow-London E3

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Geoff Clements Posted in Art, Quirky Topics, Street Art, Streets .

With the UK Government’s Covid19 current restrictions, rules and regulations in place – ‘non-essential’ travel is not encouraged – as a result, London Shoes is unable to get out ‘on-the-road’ to start this new year of 2021, with a brand new blog topic.

However – all is not lost, as just before the ‘lockdown’ instigated just a couple of days before Christmas, Shoes was fortunate enough to squeeze in a couple of blog topics, that weren’t too far from home.

This publication is just one of those from that particular days activity, and forms Part 2 of the theme “London Street Art” – and focuses on the amazing “Tower Hamlets-Landmarks” of Aberavon Road-Mile End-Bow-London-E3.

This particular venture out was a bit special for me personally as it took me back to a specific district I know very well, having worked in the area in the late 1980’s.

The ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural is on full display on a wall located at the entrance to Aberavon Road – which is situated directly opposite Mile End tube station (Mile End tube is serviced by the Central and District lines – the red and green ones on a standard London Underground Map)

The Aberavon Road mural depicts landmarks/places of interest that can be found within the ‘London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ – and it portrays well known and historic locations such as:- Brick Lane (where all the curry houses are) – Columbia Road (where the famous flower market is held) – the Limehouse Basin (a pivotal waterway of the old Docklands) – Canary Wharf (the now financial district of London) – York Hall (once a famous swimming baths plus a very place where many a famous boxer plied there trade early in their career) – the Olympic Park where the majority of the 2012 Olympic Games events were held – & today its the home ground of my beloved West Ham Utd FC) – the iconic Queen Mary University (one of the top educational centers in London) – The old London docklands warehouses (still in situ down Narrow Street near Wapping) – The Royal London Hospital (in Whitechapel) – Victoria Park (in Hackney) plus many other sites that make up the Lon Bor. of Tower Hamlets.

Unfortunately and strangely – I couldn’t find any info on the internet or from any other sources, to clarify who the artist is, or how long this magnificent and engaging mural has been displayed on the wall in Aberavon Road – but I’m sure that once I publish this article on the London Shoes website, there is bound to be a reader who will hopefully be able to confirm this for me.

So there we have it – the very first London Shoes blog of 2021 – the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End- short & sweet, but still worth covering off in my opinion – and also, it was also good to return to an old workplace stomping ground – hope you enjoyed it.

Take care & stay safe

_________________________________________

See below the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog

Mile End Tube Station – (serviced by the Central Line and the District Line – the red & green lines on a standard London Tube Map). The tube station is almost directly opposite Aberavon Road where this set of murals can be found.

The murals of Aberavon Road-Mile End-as seen from a distance

Aberavon Road-Mile End-London E3

Me alongside the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End-E3

A close-up of the famous Limehouse Basin image – part of the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End

A close-up of Canary Wharf – part of the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End

A close-up of the famous York Hall image – part of the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End

A close-up of the famous Olympic Park Stadium image (my little warriors West Ham Utd’s home ground) – part of the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End

A close-up of Me alongside one of the east-ends most famous streets – Brick Lane – part of the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End

A close-up of the historic old London Dockland’s warehouses down in Wapping – part of the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End

A panoramic view of the ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural in Aberavon Road-Mile End

The old Barclays Bank-Mile End Station branch – which was a sub-branch to the Barclays Whitechapel branch, where I worked in the late 1980’s – this is a building I used to have to visit regularly, when working at Whitechapel.

The Queen Mary Uni image – part of the Aberavon Road ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural. The Uni/College (known as QMC in my day) was a site I used to have to visit on a regular basis when I worked down the road at the Barclays Bank Whitechapel branch in the late 1980’s – as we had a small sub-branch located in the Uni campus.

The ‘Canary Wharf’ image – part of the Aberavon Road ‘Tower Hamlets-Landmarks’ mural – Canary Wharf being the location of the last Barclays site I worked at before my retirement in 2017

End of Year 2020-Review – looking back at ‘London Shoe’s’ activities throughout 2020

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Geoff Clements Posted in Blog, Quirky Topics .

At the end of any year, it’s often customary to take a look back of where you’ve come from and where you’ve got to – and my little ‘London Shoes’ initiative is no exception to that approach.

It goes without saying that 2020 has most probably been the most challenging year ever for everyone – where our mental resilience has often been tested to its limits.

From a personal perspective I have sought great comfort in my London Shoes work, where I have strived to continue publishing ‘weekly’ blogs onto Shoe’s Website – Facebook & Twitter social media portals – even during times when adherence to the Government’s Covid19 restrictions, prevented Shoes from using public transport to travel to and from the ‘Smoke’.

For those weeks when ‘Shoes’ was unable to get out ‘on-the-road’, it utilised old unpublished photos, to produce topics such as “London’s-Lost Music Venues” or, I ventured out by foot to ‘local’ historic landmarks on my doorstep, such as ‘The Romford Brewery’ or ‘The Hornchurch Airfield’ – activities that were all good for the soul.

I’m sure that there are people out there who possibly think I’m some sort of geek, and they don’t really understand what London Shoes is all about, and why I actually bother – but, for me, when I look and see that the London Shoes website currently has a ridiculous total of 80,160 ‘followers’ – and that for the previous 12 months the website has averaged 256 ‘hits’ per day – and then there’s the 10 to 15 e-mails I receive daily from all over the world, from people praising or complimenting my work – then I know that this little ‘hobby’ that I took up upon my retirement in Jan 2017 – has all been worthwhile.

It wasn’t until I actually sat down and analysed London Shoes’ activity over the past 12 months, did I realise just how much material ‘Shoes’ had knocked-out in 2020, as the summary below highlights:-

January:

>V2 Rocket Attacks on London – (the 1^st-the worst-the last)

>The Stone Alcoves of London Bridge

>The Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery – Silvertown

February:

>Jazz at the Crazy Coqs Club-Piccadilly

>The History of Leyton Orient FC

>Jazz afloat on the Tereza Joanne-London Docklands

>The Laughing Policemen’s-Walking Tour

March:

>Scenes from the Square – Leicester Square

>The Birth of Glam Rock-50^th Anniversary – The Roundhouse-Chalk Farm

April:

>London’s Lost Music Venues-Pt1

>London’s Lost Music Venues-Pt2

>The Real Del-Boy’s London

May:

>History of the Romford Brewery

>London Ghost Signs-Pt2

June:

>London’s Lost Music Venues-Pt3

>A Tribute to ‘Vera Lyne’ – one of the east end’s finest

>History of the Hornchurch Airfield

July:

>Dr Barnardo’s Village – Barkingside

>The Upper North Street School Tragedy-Poplar

August:

>The City of London Cemetery – Manor Park

>The Great London Beer Flood of 1814

>The Majestic Thames Lions

>London’s Lost Music Venue’s-Pt4

September:

>All about Albert Bridge

>London’s Most Used & Least used Stations

>Finsbury Circus

October:

>All about Green Park

>The history of Leadenhall Market

>Big Ben & Little Ben

>BBC Broadcasting House-Portland Place

>Meard Street-Soho

November:

>London’s Lost Music Venue’s-Pt5

>Remembrance Sunday & London’s Poppy Cabs

December:

>The Upminster Windmill

>The Mile End Road-Mural

All of the above can be viewed from the ‘Archives’ section of the London Shoes website ( www.londonshoesblog )

It currently looks like 2021 will be as equally challenging and traumatic, at least for the first 6 months or so – whilst we continue to battle this Covid19 pandemic situation – and in some cases I am sure that for some, Covid won’t always be the only invisible enemy next year – but we must keep on keeping on.

Hope you enjoy this little ‘look-back’ – unfortunately, Facebook only allows a total of 40 photos per posting – so I’ve attempted to put together the ‘best of’ to accompany what I amusingly entitle “Now That’s What I Call London Shoes-2020” compilation.

Wishing all London Shoes followers a very Happy & Healthy New Year – take care of yourselves & others and stay safe – and thanks again for following the ‘Shoes’.

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Summarised below is a gallery of photos from some of the ‘best bits’ of London Shoes 2020

Jan 20 – Chiswick Station – south west London – the nearest station to the very 1st WW2 ‘V2 Rocket’ attack on London

Jan 20 – A full view of the Staveley Road commemorative memorial in Chiswick

Jan 20 – The memorial in suburban Staveley Road-Chiswick – the site of the first V2 Rocket attack on London – which killed 3 of the streets residents and seriously injured 17 others.

Jan 20 – the site of the old Woolworth’s building in New Cross Gate – the site of the worst V2 Rocket attack WW2

Jan 20 – a commemorative plaque is displayed on the exterior wall of what was once the Woolwort store in the New Cross Gate Rd – the site of the worst V2 Rocket attack WW2

Jan 20 – Victoria Park-Hackney – the site of 2 of the historic Stone Alcoves of the old London Bridge

Jan 20 – Victoria Park-Hackney – the site of 2 of the historic Stone Alcoves of the old London Bridge

Guys Hospital-central London – the other site where 1 of the 3 remaining historic Stone Alcoves of old London Bridge, is sited

Guys Hospital-central London – the other site where 1 of the 3 remaining historic Stone Alcoves of old London Bridge, can be found

Jan 20 – The famous ‘Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery’-Silvertown-London E16

Jan 20 – Me, with one of the products produced at the famous ‘Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery’-Silvertown-London E16

Feb 2- – the old Regent Palace Hotel – now the venue of the Crazy Coqs Club-Piccadilly

Feb 2- – the art-deco interior of the Crazy Coqs Club-Piccadilly

Feb 20 – Jazz at the famous ‘Crazy Coqs’ Club-Piccadilly

Feb 20 – Me – pre-gig – inside the famous ‘Crazy Coqs’ Club-Piccadilly

Feb 20 – The “Jazz of Judy Garland” being performed at the famous ‘Crazy Coqs’ Club-Piccadilly

Feb 20 – Me – & my old drum tutor ‘George Double’ backstage at the famous ‘Crazy Coqs’ Club-Piccadilly

Feb 20 – ‘Leyton Orient FC’ – its history and historic landmarks

Feb 20 – Brisbane Road – Leyton Orient FC’s famous home ground

Feb 20 – Me – at Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road ground, with James Graham & Les Bannell – old workmates of mine from my Barclays Whitechapel branch days, back in the late 1980’s

Feb 20 – Jazz on board the ‘Tereza Joanne’ – King George V Docks

Feb 20 – The ‘Tereza Joanne’ vessel moored in King George V Dock & the venue for the Jazz gig attended by London Shoes

Feb 20 – a view from the ‘Tereza Joanne’ moored in King George V Docks – looking west towards Canary Wharf, where the Barclays Bank Head Office is located where I worked from 2001 up until my retirement in 2017

Feb 20 – Jazz on board the ‘Tereza Joanne’ – King George V Docks

Feb 20 – Me & ‘George Double’ – my old drum tutor from the mid 1990’s – backstage on board the ‘Tereza Joanne’ venue – King George V Docks

Feb 20 – London Shoes was invited to accompany the ‘Laughing Policemen’ – a couple of walking tour guides, who were ex-Met Police officers – & who have designed a walking tour all about the history of policing in London

Mar 20 – ‘Scenes from the Square’ cinema screen star sculptures – Leicester Square

Mar 20 – ‘Scenes from the Square’ cinema screen star sculptures – Leicester Square

Mar 20 – ‘Scenes from the Square’ cinema screen star sculptures – Leicester Square

Mar 20 – Me – & Paddington Bear at the ‘Scenes from the Square’ – Leicester Square

Mar 20 – “Holy Holy” perform the ‘The Birth of Glam Rock’ The 50th Anniversary of David Bowie playing the legendary Chalk Farm Roundhouse-London NW3 (* just a couple of days before the Covid19 full lockdown was instigated)

Mar 20 – The iconic Roundhouse venue – Chalk Farm

Mar 20 – “Holy Holy” on stage at the Chalk Farm Roundhouse performing tracks from Bowie’s ‘Man Who Sold the World’ & ‘Hunky Dory’ & ‘Ziggy Stardust’ albums (* just a couple of days before the Covid19 full lockdown was instigated)

May 20 – an old Romford Brewery product

May 20 – The once iconic Romford Brewery was founded in 1708 by one Benjamin Wilson. It originated as an extension to the already long standing ‘Star Inn’ that was situated in the old ‘High Street’ on the main road out of the City of London, that lead onwards towards Chelmsford, Colchester and eventually on to Norwich in the east.

May 20 – Me – alongside the site of what was once the iconic Romford Brewery

Jun 20 – A Tribute to ‘Vera Lynn’ – one of east London’s finest

Jun 20 – A Tribute to ‘Vera Lynn’ – one of east London’s finest

Jun 20 – A Tribute to ‘Vera Lynn’ – one of east London’s finest

Jun 20 – Before it was designated an airfield, this plot of rural Hornchurch land was known as Suttons Farm – and it still retained that title when 90 acres of the farm were commissioned by the military at the start of the WW1, for the specific purpose of protecting London’s skies from potential attacks from enemy airships & zeppelins.

Jun 20 – Because of its close proximity to London (14 miles from central London), and its position near to the River Thames, Suttons Farm was considered the ideal place for an air defence airfield, as it was on the flight path of any enemy attacker using the Thames Estuary and the River to navigate its way towards London.

Jun 20 – Me – inside one of thev old Pill Boxes that can be found within the site of what was once the Hornchurch Airfield

Jul 20 – In 1866 Dr. Barnardo moved to London to train as a Doctor at the London Hospital in Whitechapel. Living and working in the heart of London’s east end, he got to experience first-hand the squalor, deprivation and horrific poverty that the working classes in that area of London were living and working in – and it had a profound effect on him.

Jul 20 – In 1879 Barnardo and his wife moved from their Bow Road home and set-up home on their Mossford Lodge estate and came up with an idea to build an ‘village of cottages’ that would be used to house destitute & difficult girls with a ‘crime record’, of all ages from London’s east-end.

Jul 20 – In 1887 the construction of the ‘Cairns Memorial Cottage’ was completed at the Dr. Barnardo Village, notable for its elegant clock tower – this building would be the new admin centre for the Dr. Barnardo Charity.

Jul 20 – In June 1917, London experienced its very first ‘day-time’ bombing attack – with a devastating outcome. On the Wednesday 13th June 1917, at around noon on a clear and sunny day 14 German ‘Gotha GV’ fixed wing air-craft – dropped their cargo of incendiary bombs on east London’s docklands district. This air-raid claimed the lives of 104 Londoner’s and left over 150 more, seriously injured.

Jul 20 – Of the 104 killed, 18 were school children, all pupils of “Upper North Street School” in Poplar-E14, right close by to Docklands.

Jul 20 – On the 20th June 1917, one of the biggest funerals London has ever seen, was held for 15 of the 18 children killed in the North St School bombing. The burial took place at the ‘East London Cemetery’ just up the road in Plaistow

Aug 20 – The City of London Cemetery is today a designated and thus protected Grade 1 listed site on the Historic England’s National Register for Historic Parks & Gardens.

Aug 20 – The City of London Cemetery is also holds the grave of one of my all-time hero’s, the late great ‘Bobby Moore’ – England’s only World Cup Winning captain to date, and the legendary long time captain of my beloved West Ham Utd. Bobby’s ashes are buried in a plot with his mum & dad Robert & Doris.

Aug 20 – Me – inside the beautiful City of London Cemetery – Manor Park E12

Aug 20 – the majestic ‘Thames Lions’

Aug 20 – me down on the Thames with the the majestic ‘Thames Lions’

Sept 20 – The ‘Albert Bridge’ was opened in 1873 – and links Chelsea on the northern banks of the River Thames – to Battersea on the southern banks The oldest ‘original’ bridge structure is Tower Bridge – and the 2nd oldest original structure is the ‘Albert Bridge’

Sept 20 – There were even large notices displayed at both ends of the bridge that instructed the military troops to ‘break-step’ (eg march out of sequence) when crossing the bridge – and amazingly, these notices are still in situ on the bridge to this very day.

Sept 20 – Me – alongside Albert Bridge

Sept 20 – London Underground’s quietest, least used tube station is “Roding Valley”. Its station sees only a little over 360,000 passengers per year

Sept 20 – South Greenford station is London’s least used, quietest rail ‘overground’ rail station – with around only 28,000 entrances & exits per year.

Sept 20 – Canary Wharf tube station is the busiest ‘single-line’ tube station in London – servicing a staggering 54 million passenger entrances & exits at the last count in 2018.

Sept 20 – Waterloo ‘tube’ & ‘overground’ is London’s busiest station. With a collective 100 million entries & exits per year it is not only London’s but also the UK’s busiest station – and in terms of floor space, and platforms etc – the UK’s largest.

Sept 20 – ‘Finsbury Circus-EC2’ – the City of London’s oldest public park

Sept 20 – ‘Finsbury Circus-EC2’ – the City of London’s oldest public park

Sept 20 – ‘Finsbury Circus-EC2’ – the City of London’s oldest public park

Of London’s 8 Royal Parks, Green Park is the smallest one – and it is unique in that it has no lakes – no flower beds – no buildings in it grounds – no playgrounds,

Green Park is a 40 acre triangular area of parkland that is lodged between the much larger St. James’s Park and Hyde Park – with Buckingham Palace stuck in the middle of all 3 of these parks.

Green Park underwent extensive re-landscaping in 1820 – still with trees and not flowers – to the design as it is to this very day.

Situated at the north of Green Park, alongside its Piccadilly border – there is the magnificent ‘RAF Bomber Command Memorial’ – that commemorates the 55,573 who died in WW2 whilst serving for the ‘Bomber Command’.

Oct 20 – ‘Leadenhall Market’ – one of London’s oldest markets

Oct 20 – ‘Leadenhall Market’ – one of London’s oldest markets

Oct 20 – ‘Leadenhall Market’ – one of London’s oldest markets

Oct 20 – ‘Big Ben’ & its younger sibling ‘Little Ben’

Oct 20 – ‘Big Bens’ younger sibling ‘Little Ben’

Oct 20 – The iconic ‘BBC Broadcasting House’ – Portland Place-London W1

Oct 20 – Me outside the BBC’s ‘Wogan House’-London W1

Meard Street is located in the heart of London’s Soho district, and is a street that runs between and connects Wardour Street & Dean Street – and its unique houses depict an almost perfect example of ‘Georgian’ architecture – which covered the period of time between 1713 and 1830, and is regarded as the greatest period of English architecture.

John Meard was responsible for developing the street as far back as 1720 through to 1730 – and the properties he designed and built, are still in situ to this very day – and as a result is one of the few surviving London streets from the Georgian period

Apart from these magnificent historic houses – there is another ‘street fixture’ that makes Meard Street so popular – it is the site of one of my favourites of London’s many ‘quirky’ landmarks – the “7 Noses of Soho”.

Nov 20 – Remembrance Sunday & the amazing ‘Poppy Cabs’ – Me & my London cabbie mate Lee

Nov 20 – me & my London cabbie mate Lee, on Westminster Bridge – on Remembrance Sunday 2020 – respecting the chimes of Big Ben at the 11th hour on the 11th month

Dec 20 – The Upminster Windmill was originally built way back in 1803 and is said to be one of the finest remaining examples of a ‘Smock Mill’ in Britain.

Dec 20 – In 2003 the ‘Upminster Windmill Preservation Trust’ was formed, and were granted a 35 year lease, for the sole purpose of renovating and restoring the Upminster Windmill to all its former glory – so that it can continue be retained as an historic landmark for the public to visit.

Dec 20 – In 2015 the Upminster Windmill Preservation Trust commissioned a renowned firm of Dutch Millwrights to manage all the necessary renovation and restoration works. This December saw the lifting and placing of the Upminster Windmill’s newly renovated ‘Sails’.

Dec 20 – The ‘Mile End Road-Mural’

Dec 20 – Me alongside the brilliant ‘Mile End Road-Mural’-London E1

London Shoes – signing off for 2020 – with the arrival of the Covid19 virus, its been the weirdest and most challenging year for many a generation.

*London Street Art-Pt 1 the “Mile End-Mural”

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Geoff Clements Posted in Street Art .

For last week’s jaunt out, London Shoes travelled to the Whitechapel/Mile End district deep in the heart of London’s east-end.

It’s an area of London that I know well and have very fond memories of, having worked at the Barclays Bank-Whitechapel branch for a couple of years in the late 1980’s – a branch with a great social life.

Anyway – the purpose of my Whitechapel/Mile End visit was to track down a relatively ‘newish’ landmark that I knew all about, but had never actually seen in real-life, namely the:-

“Mile End Mural”

The ‘Mile End Mural’, situated a few hundred yards to the east of Whitechapel tube station – is a brilliant piece of art-work that adorns the external side wall of no.33 Mile End Road – the offices of a long-established local Law firm “T V Edwards”, who have been operating in the area since 1929.

The law firm had originally applied for permission to display a large advertisement for the company on the buildings external wall – but their request was refused.

So – they approached sarf-London artist Mychael Barrett with a request to brighten up the wall with a sort of ‘local’ theme.

Barrett’s mural took him 6 weeks to complete, and it depicts the history of the surrounding area via paintings of local legendary characters that left their mark on the district over the past years, and also within the mural are some of the areas more historic/iconic buildings and other landmarks.

For the purposes of this blog I not only photographed the Mural as a whole, I also zoomed in with my camera to photo a number of the individual characters and buildings – which include the following:-

George Bernard Shaw – the author was an early member of the Fabian Society who regularly met on the Whitechapel Rd

William Booth – who started The Christian Mission and The Salvation Army on the Mile End Rd

Captain James Cook – who lived at 88 Mile End Rd when not at sea exploring

Vladimir Lenin – whom planned the Russian Revolution whilst living in Whitechapel

Joseph Merrick – also known as The Elephant Man – was first publicly exhibited in a shop window on the Whitechapel Rd across the street from the London Hospital, where he ended up residing and where his skeleton is held today.

London Dockers – based on a statue of Dockers that stands down the road in Victoria Dock

Bushra Nasir – who studied at the local Queen Mary University and became the first Muslim head teacher of a state school

Mahatma Gandhi – who stayed at nearby Kingsley Hall in 1931 when he came to London to discuss Indian independence

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – who visited the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 2009 – the place where the Big Ben bell was made.

Samuel Pepys – frequented the Mile End Road, according to his famous diary. Also, his mother was the daughter of a Whitechapel butcher

Reggie & Ronnie Kray – the notorious London gangsters who regularly frequented ‘The Blind Beggar’ just a couple of hundred yards down the road from the Mural.

Gilbert & George – the legendary London designers and stylists, who live nearby in Spitalfields

Frederick Charrington – who turned his back on his family’s brewery to start a temperance mission. He is depicted in the mural, taking a dray horse out of service

Prince Monolulu – who was a gambling tipster who frequented Petticoat Lane and Mile End Market with his now legendary famous call “I gotta horse!”

David Hockney – the world famous artist – had his first exhibition at The Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1970

Isaac Rosenberg – who was a WW1 poet and a painter who was one of a group of artists known as The Whitechapel Boys

Mark Gertler – was another of The Whitechapel Boys group of artists

Anthony Edwards – is the senior partner of ‘T V Edwards’ whose office premises wall the Mile End Mural is painted on. As a young boy he would accompany his uncle on his rounds, carrying his briefcase – and this has been beautifully captured within the mural – a lovely little touch by the mural artist.

The following are just some of the historic local buildings captured within the mural:-

The Market Stalls – that line the Whitechapel end of the Mile End Rd

London’s Docks – depicted by a ship in-dock, at nearby London Docklands

The Gherkin – located at no.30 St Mary Axe in the City and a landmark that is clearly visible from the Mile End Road

The East London Mosque – another well-known London landmark, situated at the Aldgate end of the Mile End Road

Christ Church – a very famous old church situated in nearby Spitalfields, and designed by the renowned British architect ‘Nicholas Hawksmoor’.

The Royal London Hospital – a long standing main hospital for east-Londoners, which has dominated the Whitechapel area for a couple of 100 years, and is currently going through a massive redevelopment programme.

The Whitechapel Church Bell Foundry – the historically famous London bell-foundry notable casting the Big Ben bell.

Blooms – the world famous Jewish Kosher restaurant on the Whitechapel Road.

I never knew of the existence of this fantastic and interesting work of art, and I’m fairly sure that many others don’t either – which is a shame as in my opinion it would be an ideal ‘stopping-point’ for a London walking-tour.

So – that’s all about the Mile End-Mural – really worth taking a look at if you’re ever down Whitechapel way.

Having tracked down the Mile End Mural, and taken all the photos I needed, it was time to head-off back home.

However – with a slight difference to the blogs undertaken outside of the 2 lockdowns, and after an absence of approx. 9 months – I decided that the time was right to start partaking again in a ‘cheeky’ post-blog ‘beer’, as customary with all other London Shoes published blogs.

I didn’t really fancy having a ‘cheeky one’ up in the Whitechapel area at this present time, so instead, I stopped-off at the RAFA Club in Romford, a private members social club I belong to, and probably my 2^nd home since my retirement almost 4 years ago now – where I tucked in to a plate of ‘substantial’, nicely washed down with a few ‘cheeky’ ones – very nice it was too.

This particular blog forms the initial posting of a new ‘Shoes’ on-going category that I’ve entitled “London-Street Art” – of which, there will hopefully be many more additional blogs on this theme, as we progress into 2021 and beyond.

Hope you enjoyed looking at the Mural.

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See below the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog

Me – outside the newly built entrance to Whitechapel tube station (on the District Line & the Hammersmith & City Line – the green and orange ones on a standard tube map). I used to commute daily to this station in the late 1980’s when I worked at Barclays-Whitechapel branch – but used to use the old entrance/exit that was on the Whitechapel Rd

An eerily quiet ‘Mile End Road’-London E1 – looking west towards the City

A spookily deserted ‘Mile End Road’-London E1 – looking east towards Bow

The ‘Mile End Mural’ from the Mile End Road

A closer view of The ‘Mile End Mural’ – in its location set-back from the Mile End Road

Me – alongside the ‘Mile End Mural’

A close-up of the Mile End Mural

Legendary writer ‘George Bernard Shaw’ was an early member of the Fabian Society who regularly met on the Whitechapel Rd

“William Booth” – who started The Christian Mission and The Salvation Army on the Mile End Rd

“Captain James Cook” – lived at no.88 Mile End Rd when not at sea sailing around the world.

“Mahatma Gandhi” & “Bushra Nasir” Mahatma Gandhi – stayed at Kingsley Hall- in the heart of London’s east-end in 1931 when he came to London to discuss Indian independence. Bushra Nasir – studied locally at Queen Mary University and became the first Muslim headteacher of a state school

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the ‘Whitechapel Bell Foundry’ in 2009 – the famous bell foundry that produced the ‘Big Ben’ bell.

“Reggie & Ronnie Kray” – well known local gangsters who regularly drank in The Blind Beggar pub-Whitechapel, just a few hundred yards from the mural

A reference to the local London Docks

The buildings captured within the mural, represent the following:- > Christ Church, Spitalfields – designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor > The East London Mosque > Clock tower from in front of The People’s Palace > The Royal London Hospital – Whitechapel > The Whitechapel Art Gallery > Blooms – the famous kosher restaurant on the Whitechapel Rd > The Whitechapel Church Bell Foundry > Trinity Almshouses – in the Mile End Rd

Dockers at work – based on the statue of dockers that stands at Victoria Dock, just down the road

“Vladimir Lenin” & “Joseph Merrick” (also known as The Elephant Man) Lenin – planned the Russian Revolution whilst staying in Whitechapel Joseph Merrick (the Elephant Man) – used to be on public display in a shop on the Whitechapel Rd across the street from the London Hospital

The long standing market stalls that line the Mile End Rd & Whitechapel

“Frederick Charrington” – turned his back on his family’s brewery to start a temperance mission. He’s seen in the Mural, enticing a dray horse to take it out of service Next to the horse is the well known charismatic local character who was known as “Prince Monolulu” – a gambling tipster who used to run around all over Mile End and Whitechapel, dressed up in flamboyant tribal gear, shouting his famous call “I gotta horse!”

“Gilbert & George” – the legendary London designers and stylists, live nearby in Spitalfields

No.30 St Mary Axe – also known as the “Gherkin” – can clearly be seen from the Mile End Road

“Samuel Pepys” – “Isaac Rosenberg” & “Mark Gertler” >>Pepys often visited the Mile End Rd, and wrote a lot about it is his famous his diary – and also, his mother was the daughter of a Whitechapel butcher >>Isaac Rosenberg was a WW1 poet and a painter who was one of a well known group of artists famously known as ‘The Whitechapel Boys’ >>Mark Gertler was another one of acclaimed The Whitechapel Boys

T V Edwards started a law firm T V Edwards in 1929, and it is the external side wall of the T V Edwards business premises in the Mile End Road, that this magnificent mural is painted on.

Anthony Edwards is the senior partner of T V Edwards. As a young boy he would accompany his uncle on his rounds, carrying his briefcase – and this has been beautifully captured within the mural

Me – alongside the Mural

Another final close-up of the Mile End Mural in its entirety

A cold & wet Me – across the road from Barclays Bank-Whitechapel branch – where I worked for a couple of years in the late 1980’s :-))

Me – (after an absence of almost 9 months) knocking back a much missed ‘cheeky one’ with an accompanying ‘substantial’ meal – at a Covid-Safe/Compliant “RAFA Club-Romford”, (my local social club, and some would say-2nd home!!) following a morning of seeking out and photographing the excellent and unique ‘Mile End-Mural’ :-))

* The “Upminster Windmill” – its renovation and the lifting & fitting of its 4 newly restored ‘Sails’

Posted on December 4, 2020 by Geoff Clements Posted in Historic Buildings, Quirky Topics .

Not essential travel I know, but this week London Shoes decided to take a short 10min bus ride from its Romford base to the neighbouring town of Upminster, for the purpose of witnessing a unique event, that you certainly don’t see happen everyday on a street of a London borough.

The town of Upminster is the last stop on the eastern end of the District Line tube (the ‘green’ one on a standard tube map) – and just off of Upminster’s busy St. Mary’s Lane, which connects the town of Hornchurch to Upminster – there stands a very visible local historic landmark:-

the ‘Upminster Windmill’!!

The Upminster Windmill is situated in Mill Field just off of St. Mary’s Lane-Upminster – and is said to be one of the finest remaining examples of a ‘Smock Mill’ in Britain.

A ‘smock’ mill gets its name because it’s shaped like the over-garments that farmers used to wear many moons ago.

A ‘smock’ mill is unique in its design because its 6 or 8 sided tower is built with a sloping horizontal boards – and it has a ‘cap’ on top that holds the mechanism which rotates it ‘sails’ into the wind.

The Upminster Windmill was originally built in 1803 – and consisted of 4 sails and 3 pairs of millstones.

Its dimensions and structural/design characteristics have not changed in 200+years – with its:- 27ft wide and 9ft high brick base – a 52ft high tower – a boat shaped ‘cap’ – a 6 bladed fantail & 4 sails.

In 1811 a steam engine was added to power the millstones, plus a 4^th millstone, thus enabling a far greater output – and this increased production capacity made the actual the Upminster Windmill and its surrounding land, extremely valuable.

By 1849 a 5^th millstone was added to the mill, and by 1856 it had 6 millstones working in its production.

St the height of its production periods, the Upminster Windmill site used to have 16 buildings surrounding it including 2 residential cottages.

However, in 1889 the Upminster Windmill took a nasty hit when it was struck by lightning, which slowed production down for a while.

In 1900 one of the windmill’s sails snapped and came crashing down, causing considerable damage to the windmill tower.

Throughout WW1 the activities of the mill changed – and it turned its hand to produce animal feeds.

In 1927 some extensive renovation work was undertaken on the windmill, and at that time its ‘fantail’ mechanism was completely overhauled.

But times change, and 1934 saw the Upminster Windmill finally end its commercial work – the machinery was all sold off – the surrounding buildings destroyed and the windmill tower was left to simply rot away.

Throughout the following years, there were various attempts by the Essex County Council and housing developers, to purchase the site – knock everything down, build new houses on the land.

However – with the commencement of WW2, the land surrounding the mill was turned over to make allotment plots, in an effort to provide essential veggies etc during wartime – and it continued to be used for this purpose during the food rationing period immediately following the end of the war.

The site was left abandoned and desolate – and in 1955 steps were taken to sell the site off to developers.

However – various local & national preservation groups opposed the demolition of the windmill.

Their protests were heard and considered by the authorities at the windmill was given Grade II Listed protection status.

By the early 1960’s the mill became the ownership of the Greater London Council (GLC) – and by 1967 ownership had passed on to the London Borough of Havering.

Throughout the 1970’s – 80’s & 90’s the Upminster Windmill was opened to the public – and was cared and looked after by volunteers – who carried out any essential maintenance works that may have been required – which kept the site ticking-over.

In 2000 a feasibility study was commissioned, to take a look at and consider all the renovation works required to keep the mill as a viable historic local landmark.

In 2003 the ‘Upminster Windmill Preservation Trust’ was formed, and were granted a 35 year lease, for the sole purpose of renovating and restoring the Upminster Windmill to all its former glory – so that it can continue be retained as an historic landmark for the public to visit.

One of the first things uncovered in the initial restoration works were beautiful Victorian ceramic tiles covering the walls of the old toilets and the small kitchen.

In 2007 high winds caused some extensive damage to the sails, and by 2008 two new sails had been fitted.

By 2010 following some changes to the construction of the Trusts looking after the windmill – there was a heightened interest in getting the windmill up to scratch and putting back on the historic places maps.

In 2014 the Upminster Windmill received considerable financial grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund plus other Trusts – to fund some thorough renovation work to restore the Upminster Windmill into a top-draw visitor and Educational Centre.

In 2015 the Upminster Windmill Preservation Trust commissioned a renowned firm of Dutch millwrights to manage all the necessary renovation and restoration works.

Since then, the Dutch millwrights have undertaken a massive amount of restoration work, which has included:- removal of the windmill’s ‘cap’ – removal of the weather boarding – covering the mill tower up in polythene to protect it from the elements – repairing all the beam structures inside the tower and repairing all the floor boarding inside the tower.

The renovation work on the windmill’s sails and motor mechanisms were all undertaken at ground level – with some of the tasks being completed by volunteers.

Locally, the long running activities involving the renovation of the Upminster Windmill, has received regular coverage.

On Monday 30^th Nov this week, the restoration work moved on to another significant level – with the fitting of the windmill’s ‘cap’, ‘fantail’ and 4 ‘sails’ – and so I thought I’d take the opportunity to pop along to witness this unique activity (well – unique for a London Borough, anyway)

So – there I was, along with several locals – in the middle of Mill Field-Upminster, on a bitterly cold and wet Monday morning – watching what was actually an amazing bit of logistical construction work, where large cranes lifted the renovated ‘cap’ – ‘fantail’ & 4 sails from ground level – and lowered each one of them down carefully into place at the top of the Tower, where engineers at the top of the Tower, did their stuff to make sure all of the components were fitted correctly and securely – while a ‘drone’ filmed the occasion for posterity, and for coverage for a ‘live’ webcam.

This operation was the last ‘big shift’ in the windmill’s renovation activities – and it’s been a long hard slog and a real labour of love, to get all the renovation work completed – but it is expected that the historic, fully restored and functioning Upminster Windmill and its accompanying Education Centre, will re-open to the public in Spring 2021 – when I shall pop down there again to take some update-photos in what should be much better weather.

As I said at the beginning of this piece – it’s fair to say that a Windmill is not the sort of thing you expect to see in London – long may it remain in place for future generations to enjoy.

Hope you enjoy the dark and gloomy accompanying photos.

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See below the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog

An old photo of the Upminster Windmill – from the early 1900’s.

Me – entering Mill Field, just off St. Mary’s Lane – Upminster, in the London Borough of Havering

The ‘story board’ all about the Upminster Windmill – at the entrance to Mill Field.

The Upminster Windmill under renovation/restoration – viewed from the entrance to Mill Field

A bit of a closer view of the Upminster Windmill under renovation – viewed from half way up Mill Field

The Upminster Windmill is said to be one of the finest remaining examples of a ‘Smock Mill’ in Britain. A ‘smock’ mill gets its name because it’s shaped like the over-garments that farmers used to wear many moons ago.

An old b&w photo of the Upminster Windmill – from the early 1900’s.

An aerial photo of Upminster Windmill – taken some time back, before the major renovation/restoration works started in 2015

A view from the Upminster Windmill looking down Mill Field and towards the main St. Mary’s Lane road

Me – up by the Upminster Windmill – near the contractors entrance

An old b&w photo of the Upminster Windmill – in its heydays – where the ‘fantail’ and ‘cap’ can be clearly seen.

A close-up of the Windmill’s new ‘fantail’. The heart shapes designs on the fantail actually represent ‘tulips’ and are a brand symbol of the Dutch millwrights commissioned to do the major aspects of the renovation/restoration works

The Upminster Windmill – preparing to have its new re-built sails re-installed

Me – alongside the Upminster Windmill – and waiting to witness its new re-built sails re-installed

A close-up of the ‘drone’ capturing the fitting of the Windmill’s 4 ‘sails’ – for transmission onto a ‘live’ webcam

The specialist workers preparing for the Windmill’s sails to be lifted and fitted back into place

In 2015 the Upminster Windmill Preservation Trust commissioned a renowned firm of Dutch Millwrights to manage all the necessary renovation and restoration works. The renovation work on the windmill’s sails and motor mechanisms were all undertaken at ground level This photo shows the Windmill ‘sails’ on the ground – waiting for a crane to hoist them up to the ‘cap’ for fitting

A crane starts to lift the Windmill’s 3rd sail from ground level – towards to ‘cap’ at the top of the Windmill tower

The Windmill’s 3rd sail continues its ascent from ground level – towards to ‘cap’ at the top of the Windmill tower

The Windmill’s 3rd sail continues its ascent from ground level – towards to ‘cap’ at the top of the Windmill tower

The Windmill’s 3rd sail continues its ascent from ground level – towards to ‘cap’ at the top of the Windmill tower – getting nearer to its required destination every few seconds

The Windmill’s 3rd sail continues its ascent from ground level – towards to ‘cap’ at the top of the Windmill tower – almost there

The Windmill’s 3rd sail continues its ascent from ground level – towards to ‘cap’ at the top of the Windmill tower – almost ready to drop into position

A windmill construction technician, lines up the suspended 3rd sail for placement into its respective mechanism

A windmill construction technician, lines up the suspended 3rd sail for placement into its respective mechanism

A windmill construction technician, slots the suspended 3rd sail into its respective mechanism

A windmill construction technician, finishes off the placement of the 3rd sail into its respective mechanism

The Upminster Windmill’s newly renovated/restored 3rd ‘sail’ – now comfortably in situ

Me – at ground-level alongside the Upminster Windmill following the placement of its renovated-restored 3rd sail

A closer view of the Upminster Windmill following the placement of its 3rd sail – all 4 sails were fitted on 30th November 2020

Me – exiting Mill Field-Upminster – having witnessed the lifting and fitting of the Upminster Windmill’s 4 renovated/restored ‘sails’ – not the sort of thing you see happen everyday on a London street :-))

*London’s “Lost Music Venues”-Part 5-the Vortex & the Roxy ‘Punk’ Clubs of Soho

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Geoff Clements Posted in Music .

This week’s London Shoes blog was undertaken the day before the 2^nd Covid19 lockdown restrictions were implemented – so following this publication, there will be a brief lull in weekly blog publications for a few weeks whilst ‘Shoes’ observe the Governments non-essential travel advice – but hopefully I shall be able to knock a few new ones out before the Xmas festivities.

The subject matter of this blog represents ‘Part 5’ of an on-going theme that I’ve been publishing this year – and it’s a topic that has certainly encouraged quite a bit of unpredicted feedback from London Shoes followers – especially those of a certain age who grew up listening to the music of the late 1960’s & 1970’s.

So – the topic in question for this blog represents Part 5 of “London’s-Lost Music Venues”.

This piece focuses specifically on two Clubs that were located in the Soho district of London’s west-end – that came to prominence in the late 1970’s at the emergence of the ‘Punk’ music and fashion scene namely:-

‘The Vortex’ and ‘The Roxy’

First up is ‘The Vortex’ which was situated at 203 Wardour Street-London W1.

Now – way back in 1974 to 1978, I worked at Barclays Bank 183 Wardour Street, literally just 4 doors away from what became The Vortex club.

Before the emergence of the Punk scene, The Vortex was the famous “Crackers” club, a sort of bar/nightclub that was an extremely popular venue on the London ‘dance scene’ map & beyond.

When I started working at the Barclays branch in Wardour Street, I was 17, and I moved on from there when I was 21. It was a very busy, well staffed branch at that time – and a lot of the junior staff like me, were around the same age. Anyway – most Friday nights after a busy week at work – me & my work colleagues would pile into ‘Crackers’ for a few drinks, before heading off on a crawl of our favourite Soho drinking dens – ‘Crackers’ would often be our starting point.

Anyway – In 1977 and with the emergence of punk music and the punk scene, ‘Crackers’ changed its name to ‘The Vortex’ and started to book punk bands to play there, initially on a Monday & Tuesday night.

It didn’t take long before The Vortex in Wardour Street became one of the top London venues on the London punk scene and beyond – as punks from all over the country would descend on The Vortex, to see popular punk bands such as:- The Buzzcocks – The Fall – Siouxie & The Banshees – Generation X – Sham 69 – The Police – Tubeway Army & The Jam.

In fact the 5^th single to be released by The Jam in August 1978, was entitled “ ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street”, which Paul Weller wrote about the total chaos and violence that always seemed to occur at The Vortex when the punk bands played there.

The Vortex was licensed to hold 650, but the punk gigs regularly attracted over 1,000 punks from all over the country – and that overcrowded atmosphere only helped to create the ‘vibe’ that The Vortex was famous for.

However – after just 1 year of staging punk gigs The Vortex club had gained too much of a bad reputation and at the end of 1978 it had to close down – but in that short period of time The Vortex had done enough to go down in history as one of London’s top memorable punk music venues.

Following its closure The Vortex was converted into a trendy nightclub and bar called “Dirty Harry’s”.

Personally, I have only happy memories of The Vortex when it was ‘Crackers’ – and am so pleased that I was around at a moment in time when all this was happening in London.

It is also pleasing to see that the venue appears to have gone back to its roots, as today the advertising placards indicate that it is now a ‘Simmons Bar’ – a franchise that specialises in creating a ‘disco’ club vibe – although the place was completely abandoned and boarded up when I was there, and sadly, because of the impact of the Covid19 virus, it may be the case that, as with a number of the west-end’s once busy nightclub haunts – it may never re-open.

So – having re-visited what was my old working manor for 4yrs, to seek out the old Crackers venue that became The Vortex club – I took a short stroll over to Neal Street in the Seven Dials district of London, very close to Soho.

Seven Dials was once the filthiest, poorest, dangerous and notorious slums in London – but today (well, pre-Covid) it is one of the west-end’s trendy places where people from all over the world want to visit.

In the early 1970’s no. 41/43 Neal Street was a building that was a run-down fruit & veg warehouse.

In 1976 the building was bought by the now legendary music & nightclub owner and promoter Andy Czezowski – who transformed the building into the infamous “The Roxy” club.

By the end of 1976 Czezowski had staged 3 gigs in the basement of his new ‘The Roxy’ club – where Generation X (with Billy Idol* as lead vocalist) – Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers (Johnny Thunders-the ex-guitarist of the excellent New York Dolls) & Siouxsie & the Banshees – were the headliners.

*there is an extremely tenuous link between me and Billy Idol – because when I worked at Barclays Bank Minories branch in the late 1970’s, (Minories being the branch I was transferred to after Wardour Street branch) – I was involved in the opening of a business account for the band ‘Generation X’ and had to witness the signatures of the 4 band members, one of which was a ‘William Broad’ who’s stage name was ‘Billy Idol’. I told you it was tenuous!!!

Anyway – back to The Roxy – having laid on these 3 gigs at the end of 1976 – on the 1^st Jan 1977 the club formally opened with “The Clash” headlining.

Throughout the following year, most of the top ‘punk’ or ‘new wave’ bands of the day, played The Roxy, and it soon became one of London’s top ‘live’ punk-music venues, that punks from all over the country would travel to, to be a part of that movement – to watch bands such as The Jam – The Buzzcocks – Generation X – The Damned – Sham 69 – The Police – The Stranglers – XTC plus many more play ‘live’.

By the end of 1977 a ‘live’ album of bands that had played The Roxy, was released – and it made the Top 20 of the UK Album Charts – which just goes to show how popular and influential the venue was.

However – similar to the nearby Vortex club, the life of The Roxy club was short-lived, probably because of all the trouble that tended to flare-up at the gigs – and by the end of 1978, The Roxy was no more.

In 2017 a commemorative plaque was put on display on the exterior of the building, to commemorate the fact that it was once the famous Roxy Club.

Up until recently, the old Roxy club venue had been the flagship store for Speedo Swimwear – a massive difference to its previous lives.

The day I visited the site, it was evident that the old club was undergoing another massive renovation – as the building was completely scaffolded up – but I don’t know whether it was a result of the local council regulations, but the exterior of the building was completely wrapped in a picturesque covering depicting a street scene – presumably to prevent the building works damaging the touristy ‘vibe’ of Neal Street – a very nice little touch I thought.

So – having wandered around my old work manor in Soho – before setting off back home – I popped down to the famous Soho Square, to rest me ‘plates’ for a few minutes in the lovely gardens situated bang in the middle of the Square.

Records show that the existence of Soho Square dates as far back as 1681.

In 1895 the Victorians built a very small mock Tudor building in the middle of the Gardens.

Throughout WW2 temporary air-raid shelters were erected in Soho Square Gardens to help protect all the Soho’ites from the Blitz.

Today – the eye-catching mock Tudor building is still the focal point of the Square – and it is now used to store garden tools. However, the story goes that there are believe to be a number of ‘secret’ underground tunnels that lead out from beneath the building, to secret locations throughout Soho.

The reason I chose Soho Square to rest me plates, was for the specific purpose of locating and photographing a memorial bench that commemorates the life of the late great singer/songwriter ‘Kirsty MacColl’ (1959-2000).

Kirsty MacColl was a prominent well respected singer/songwriter & performer throughout the 1980’s -knocking out hits such as:- Ray Davies’s ‘Days’ / ‘There’s a guy works down the chip shop swears he’s Elvis’ / ‘Don’t play the Cowboy with me Sonny Jim’ / ‘Walking Down Madison’ / ‘Free World ‘ / Billy Bragg’s ‘New England’ – Kirsty also provided backing vocals on records by top 80’s artists such as:- The Smiths / Simple Minds / Talking Heads / Alison Moyet / Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant / Tracey Ullman.

However – it’s her brilliant shared vocal with Shane MacGowan on his band ‘The Pogues’ monumental 1987 Xmas hit – the legendary “Fairytale of New York” – that Kirsty MacColl is, and will probably be best known for – even though she has her own fine body of acclaimed solo work, left as a legacy.

Sadly – in 2000, whilst holidaying in Mexico with her 2 young sons, Kirsty MacColl was killed instantly whilst swimming in a bay, when she was hit by a speedboat, whilst trying to shield her sons from the on-coming vessel that was being illegally used in speedboat restricted waters.

In 2001 Kirsty MacColl’s family & friends obtained agreement from the authorities to dedicate a memorial bench to her memory, in Soho Square Garden.

Displayed on the memorial bench is a commemorative plaque which quotes a couple of lines of the lyric from her song “Soho Square”:-

“One day I’ll be waiting there – No empty bench in Soho Square” – A very touching tribute to a very talented and under-rated British artist.

So – having grabbed a quick 5mins rest on Kirsty’s bench in Soho Square, it was time to head off home via a deserted Oxford Street and an even more deserted Tottenham Court Road tube station…….and this was BEFORE the commencement of the 2^nd lockdown restrictions……where the hell is this all going.

Hope the muso fans reading this enjoyed reminiscing about the old Vortex and Roxy venues

______________________________________

See below the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this blog

Wardour Street – in the heart of London’s Soho district – a place which witnessed the ‘Punk’ explosion in the mid to late 1970’s (when I actually worked in Wardour Street)

Wardour Street’s legendary ‘Crackers’ disco/nightclub – just a couple of doors down from the Barclays Bank where I worked from 1974 to 1978, at the cusp of the ‘Punk’ music explosion – and a Club that me, and my work-mates, used to frequent on a Friday night after work.

When Punk music hit London, the ‘Crackers’ club in Wardour Street became the legendary ‘Vortex’ Club – one of London’s most infamous punk venues

A punk rocker at the Vortex – Wardour St

The Jam – at the beginning of their long and influential career – on stage at the ‘Vortex’ venue in Wardour Street. In fact Paul Weller’s “A Bomb-in-Wardour Street” was all about the rowdy and rough nights witnessed when the band played the Vortex

An example of the sort of ‘flyers’ seen all over London in the late 70’s – advertising punk music events at the Vortex in Soho’s Wardour Street.

When the punk movement finally faded out, the old ‘Crackers’ come ‘Vortex’ Club became ‘Dirty Harry’s’ a trendy west-end bar

Wardour Street’s old ‘Crackers’ / ‘Vortex’ Club venue, as it is today

Me – outside the entrance to what was the old ‘Vortex’ punk venue – and previous to that the ‘Crackers’ Club, which I and my Barclays Bank Wardour Street branch colleagues used to frequent on a Friday night after work during the mid to late 1970’s.

It was good to see the old ‘Crackers’ & then ‘Vortex’ venue in Wardour Street, still keeping up the ‘music entertainment’ tradition – it’s known today as the ‘Simmons-Disco-Bar’ – although it was prior to the arrival of the Covid19 virus. Whether it still will be in the ‘new normal’ world, remains to be seen.

The old ‘Crackers’ / ‘Vortex’ Club venue in Soho’s Wardour Street’s – as it looks in today’s world.

Me – outside the old Barclays Bank Wardour Street branch (now a closed down restaurant) where I used to work between the years 1974 to 1978 – the bank building was just 4 doors down from what was then the ‘Crackers’ club, which me and my work colleagues used to frequent on a Friday nights after a busty working week. ‘Crackers’ became the infamous punk venue, the ‘Vortex’ during my matter years working in Wardour Street.

A deserted Wardour Street-Soho – the day before the 2nd Covid19 lockdown. In ‘normal’ times this road and its pavements would be mobbed with people and gridlocked traffic. However, on this ‘new normal’ occasion I was able to stand in the middle of the road to take this photo, without any fear of being hit by a vehicle :-((

Having re-visited the old Vortex club in Wardour Street – I made my way east to ‘Seven Dials’ on the outskirts of the Soho district – to track down another of London’s infamous ‘Punk’ venues – ‘The Roxy’ in Neal Street.

Normally Neal Street in the Seven Dials district would be rammed with people at any time & day of the week – however, this is what it looked like the day before the 2nd Covid19 lockdown

An old photo of ‘The Roxy’ punk venue in Neal Street-Seven Dials – as it was in the late 1970’s.

At its height of popular4ity in the late 1970’s – posters and flyers for The Roxy would be seen all over London

In 2017 a commemorative plaque was displayed on the exterior wall of the building in Neal Street which was once the infamous punk venue The Roxy

At its height of Punk popularity in the late 1970’s – posters and flyers for The Roxy would be seen all over London

Poly Styrene & X-Ray Specs – on stage at The Roxy club – late 1970’s.

At the height of Punk popularity in the late 1970’s – posters and flyers for The Roxy would be seen all over London

Siouxie & The Banshees on stage at The Roxy in Neal Street in the late 1970’s

When The Roxy club eventually closed down – the property became one of the flagship stores for Speedo swimwear

Today – the old Roxy club in Neal Street is undergoing further renovations to accommodate another new business venture

The old ‘Roxy’ club in Neal Street, as is it looks today – undergoing yet another round of serious renovations

Me – alongside the building in Neal Street that, in the late 1970’s was once the legendary ‘The Roxy’ club

Me – at one of the entrances to the tranquil ‘Soho Square’ – just a couple of minutes walk from ‘Tottenham Court Road’ tube station

Inside a tranquil ‘Soho Square’ Gardens – the day before the 2nd Covid19 lockdown in Oct 20

Inside the lovely ‘Soho Square’ gardens – the day before the 2nd Covid19 lockdown in Oct 20 – There days its magnificent ‘hut’ houses gardening and street cleaning equipment – but it is said that in olden days it used to conceal the entrance to a number of secret tunnels that networked out to various destinations in Soho.

Me – alongside the beautifully preserved & historic ‘hut’ situated in the middle of Soho Square gardens.

In 2001 Kirsty MacColl’s family & friends obtained agreement from the authorities to dedicate a memorial bench to her memory, in Soho Square Garden.

Displayed on the memorial bench is a commemorative plaque which quotes part of a lyric from Kirsty MacColl’s “Soho Square”:- “One day I’ll be waiting there – No empty bench in Soho Square” – A very touching tribute to a very talented and under-rated British artist.

The late Kirsty MacColl

Kirsty MacColl & Shane MacGowan in a still from the legendary promo music video for the all time Xmas classic ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ .

Me – taking the weight ‘off me plates’ on the “Kirsty MacColl” commemorative bench located in Soho Square gardens-London W1.

A deserted Tottenham Court Road tube station concourse – the day before the 2nd covid19 lockdown – normally one of the busiest tube stations in London

Me – doing a ‘Jam’ (eg “Down in the tube station at Midnight” – but at 2pm) at Tottenham Court Road tube station – on the day prior to the 2nd Covid19 lockdown :-((