The Streets South of the River in 1952

Looking on an old 1952 map of Southwark and Bermondsey, the intimate nature of the streets next to the river is very apparent.  If we think of streets running parallel to the river Thames with walkways overhead we think maybe of Shad Thames, which still retains some of its original character.  It is easy to forget that most of the streets by the river were once like this.  There are overhead walkways in Clink Street, even around the corner from Southwark Cathedral at New Hibernia Wharf.  Bankside is the same, as is Bermondsey Wall.  It is also interesting to note the amount of 'ruins' - evidently bomb sites.  This part of London was heavily bombed because of all its important industries and factories.

Piper's Wharf, Greenwich

Scruffy streets

I love the fabulous cluttering and scruffiness of streets abroad.  Turkey and North Africa have given me so many opportunities for sketching, which I have not yet fully exploited - and I hope to try oils as well as acrylics.  I want to travel to India too - I would love to do an Indian inspired sketchbook!  And Egypt and Cambodia, and maybe Central America too!

Lambeth, Shoreditch, Bermondsey, Southwark, Greenwich, City of London, Soho

I am hoping to produce small books of walks/strolls through different parts of London. I was thinking of starting with the Southwark book that I did ages ago and moving on to my City of London walk afterwards. Names include...

• Secrets of the Square Mile (hidden City of London)
• Doing the Lambeth Walk (is that too cheesy? hidden Lambeth)
• Stars, Sails and Seadogs (hidden Greenwich)

My original Southwark book was called Dancing Monkeys, Dirty Bishops and Debt Collectors: A Walk Through Southwark - too long a title?

Istanbul

In a week's time, Wesley and I will be embarking on an adventure to Turkey. I am hoping to get some good photographs of street traders and people going about their daily lives in the bazaars and souks. Istanbul (originally the Byzantine capital Constantinople) has always been a treasure trove of cultures and religions. We are lucky enough to be visiting the city with the South Midlands Museums Federation, and will be exploring the city's museums and sites with like-minded people. It will give us a fascinating insight into the lives of people from the archaeological past to the present day and their culture, art, architecture, food and beliefs etc.

I am really looking forward to sampling the traditional food of Turkey - my only experience is at a lovely Turkish restaurant in Brick Lane and one in Marylebone. I am hoping to stock up on Turkish Delight - I seem to be the only one who likes it - all the more for me!

Following the Tide

Wesley and I walked in the footsteps of thrifty Victorian mudlarkers as we explored the North Thames shoreline just to the right of London Bridge, parallel to Lower Thames Street. Here for a few hours, the small, modest beach (if it can be called that) provided a wealth of interest. Perhaps the thing we noticed the most was the sheer amount of oysters - presumably from the days when they were commonplace. That, and clay pipe stems; I was excited by my first one, but I was soon chucking them away in hope of finding something more.

The next day we returned to the foreshore just off Wapping High Street - we had planned to follow the tide as it went out, but we were a bit late so had less time to search for objects. Other places we have explored include the 'beaches' of North Greenwich and further into the centre of town by the Tate Modern. However the places where we found most 'stuff' (I refuse to call it rubbish!) was on the northern banks of the river.

Items from Wapping and the City include an old 'angry face' from a Bellamine witch bottle (16th/17th century?) and many clay pipes. The earliest clay pipes seem to have a small bowl and have little decoration. Our later (19th century?) pipes had beautiful leaves decorating the bowl and small initials (of the maker?) on them.

The intimate views of the city from the Thames shoreline in the crisp January weather were stunning. Being at the same level as the water made me wonder who would have been upon the shores of the Thames in the past, and what might they have seen? It was far more magical than viewing the river from a bridge or embankment, or even a boat. The metal barges docked in the river rattled together and made great booming sounds, their chains and ropes collecting a treasure trove of bits of pipe, china, glazed ware and shingle. I ended up extremely muddy. Wesley managed to avoid the mess I was making - as he somehow always does!

New Scribblings

I have only a couple of weeks before embarking on my journey to Istanbul with Wesley - so I have been looking back through past pictures of Marrakesh and Tunis to give me some inspiration for any paintings and drawings that I can do. I have been experimenting colouring in on Photoshop which is a lot less messy! I have been using textures kindly given to me by Wes. I'm going to see if I can post them on this blog, but I have a feeling it might be too technical for me...