A nod at our neighbours: Abbey Mills pumping station. Stratford

Sunday 30 October 2016


Newham's first Heritage Week is over and early impressions were that it was a great success.  For Forest Gate locals the highlights would have included local historians (and significant contributors to this blog) - Peter Williams and Mark Gorman's packed-out (100 people plus)  presentation at The Gate on Gentrification in Forest Gate over the last 170 years. So popular was the talk that they will be re-running it at The Wanstead Tap (see footnote for details), in late November.

Another delight was a rare opportunity to visit Abbey Mills pumping station in Stratford.  This has variously been described as the Cathedral of Sewage, and earlier as the Mosque in the Marshes (to describe its original immediate setting and appearance). It was constructed on the former lands of Stratford's Langthorne Abbey - hence the name.


Woodcut of the original building,
 with minaret-like chimneys

The photos in this blog, gleaned from a number of sources (to whom we express our gratitude), illustrate why the visit was such a delight.  Details of how you may be able to gain access, in the future, are in the footnote.


"The Cathedral of Sewage" - today

For centuries London was drained by the various rivers, such as the Fleet, Tyburn and Hounds Ditch that ran into the Thames.  With the great growth of population in the nineteenth century and the development of rudimentary forms of toilets and running water, the Thames began to fill with raw sewerage, causing major public health problems.


Tour of the "Mosque in the
marshes", soon after its opening
 This culminated in what became known as "The Big Stink" in 1858, where the pungency was so great immediately outside Parliament, that the politicians moved out temporarily to Cornwall, to avoid it.

The Metropolitan Board of Works, one of the earlier manifestations of London-wide local government, commissioned its chief engineer Joseph Bazalgette to find a way of addressing the problem.


Joseph Bazalgette's, whose
 sewerage  system ended
 at Abbey Mills

His solution was gloriously simple, although it took a major civil engineering feat to implement.  It was to build a huge system of sewers which took the sewerage from central London to the far reaches of the Thames and deposit it there, where it was then pumped (untreated) into the Lower reaches of the Thames.




Stratford, Forest Gate and surrounding areas were seen at the time as being almost literally beyond the pale.  London moved all its smelly problems and potential health hazards to this land beyond the River Lea.  So "stinky industries" were driven to what more recently has become the Olympic Park area, sewerage to Abbey Mills and Beckton and cemeteries to Forest Gate and surrounds - where there are five.


Prestigious party gathers for the opening
 of a sewage works' pumping station
 - an unlikely sounding caption

Bazalgette's scheme most dramatically pushed the Thames back from its original shores in central London (The Strand) to its current limit - the Embankment - and a systems of sewers was constructed under the reclaimed land. These sewers continued until they reached the site of the pumping station in Stratford.




The engineering feat was remarkable, and conducted within seven years. But the significance of the achievement was buried under ground.  To celebrate its importance, the Abbey Mills pumping station was erected - at the end of the sewers - as a magnificent building, and testimony to the considerable engineering feat.




The rest of this blog concentrates on the architecture of the site, rather than the engineering, about which much has been written elsewhere.

The mills were constructed at a then cost of £200,000; a very considerable sum, considering the whole of the sewer system that ended its course there only cost £3million.




Bazalgette explained the need for pumping stations, rather than simply allowing the sewage to flow unassisted into the Thames:


The fall in the Thames isn't above three inches; for sewage we want a couple of feet (in order to ensure that the sewers are self cleaning), and that kept taking us down below the river and when we got to a certain depth we had to pump up again. It was certainly a very troublesome job
 We would sometimes spend weeks in drawing out plans and then suddenly come across a railway or canal that upset everything, and we had to begin all over again. It was tremendously hard work.


The station employed up to 300 workers in the late nineteenth century. Mechanisation, improved fuelling systems and modern technology mean that none is  currently employed on the station, on a full-time basis - although this "de-labouring" of the site is presently under review.




It was not until 1998 that the pumping station (much modified) was eventually replaced by the aluminium shed like structure, on the same site, that operates today.

The Bazalgette building is  Grade 2 listed. It has the lay-out of a Greek cross and the walls are faced with Suffolk brick. There are many arched windows on the faces and the roof has dormer windows and is constructed of slate. A lantern with a colonnade rises from the centre of the building.




The overall style owes something to that of an Orthodox church (it is not clear why this design was chosen).  What makes it exceptional is the lavish use of costly materials and ornamentation, such as decorative porches, sculpted masonry, encaustic wall tiles (where the coloured sections run as deep as the tile - rather like sticks of rock), patterned lead and gilded crests.

Most impressive is the internal ornamental ironwork



.
There were two huge chimneys (about 200 feet high) to clear the smoke from the original coal-fired boiler house that fuelled the pumps.  These were taken down in 1941, for fear that they would be bombed and the resulting damage disable the rest of the pumping station.


Stumps left of former chimneys
Other contemporaneous buildings include the Superintendent's house - currently being restored and a number of semi detached (and very desirable) former workers' houses, which fetch up to £900,000 on the property market today.


Superintendent's house, today

The architect was Charles Driver (1832 - 1900), who specialised in engineering based work, especially railways. For reasons that are not clear, he chose to incorporate six different styles of architecture into the buildings - in a way in which no other Victorian building does.

They are:

Italian Venetian - principally in the arched windows and Venetian corkscrew twist incorporated into the rainwater down drainpipes.


Magnificent arched windows


French Gothic - reflected in the internal iron pillars, and tops of the access towers to the beam engines.


Internal iron pillars


Flemish - the influence seen in the steeply pitched roofs.


Steeply pitched roofs


Byzantine/Moorish - shown in the venting chimneys (now gone - see above), which looked like minarets.

Russian orthodox - evident in the cupola, or lantern.


Looking upwards to the cupola
Celtic - seen in brass and copper florets on the east wing doorway.


Splendid doorways
From its origins until the 1930's the pumping station was steam drive, when electricity took over. The original pumping system was effective replaced in 1998 by the modern aluminium structure, but acts as an overflow, during heavy storms, or as a backup, when repairs and maintenance need to be undertaken on the new equipment.




Footnotes

1 Mark and Peter's  popular talk on the Gentrification of Forest Gate will be repeated at the Wanstead Tap on 30 November - see here for tickets (£3), which are in great demand. 




2 Abbey Mills pumping station is rarely open for public viewing, which seems a great pity. Newham Heritage Week organisers managed to get a weekend's viewing for Newham residents during the event.  It was oversubscribed.  The annual London Open House event features tours of the pumping station.  But this can be very heavily oversubscribed too.  For further details and booking, see here.


Difficult to gain a visit, but well worth it

3.One of Joseph Bazalgette's great-great-grandsons is Sir Peter Bazalgette, currently chair of ITV.  In his time he has also been chair of the Arts Council and prior to that was the man that brought Big Brother to British television. 
Sir Peter Bazalgette -
descendant of Joseph

The standing joke at the time was a version of what goes around comes around. Joseph Bazalgette pumped the shit out of London, while his great-great grandson pumped it in. Ho, ho, ho!

Newham Heritage Week (24 Oct - 30 Oct) and Rabbits Road library launch (22 Oct)

Wednesday 12 October 2016


Newham Heritage Week is being jointly staged by Newham Council and the Museum for Newham group. This post is dedicated to it, and to the opening of a new library at the Rabbits Road Institute (former Manor Park library, in the period 22 - 30 October.

To show our parochialism, we highlight all Forest Gate heritage week activities in bold type.

Pre-heritage week activities


In the run up to the week, there are some other events being organised by the council for both adults and youngsters.

Thurs 20 October. 10 – 11am. East Ham Library. Heritage-themed coffee morning. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of The Newham Story and special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to the area. All welcome.

Fri 21 October. 5.30 - 6.30pm. East Ham Library. Great War craft activity. Children are invited to this craft session dedicated to Newham's Great War exhibition being shown. Children will create ration cards and war time posters and learn what it was like to be living in Newham at the time of the Great War.  Ages 7-11.

Fri 21 October. 6.30 - 7.30pm. East Ham Library. Great War drama workshop. As part of Newham's Great War Exhibition children are invited to participate in a workshop to recreate the sounds and drama. Ages 7-11.

Fri 21 October. 7.30 - 10pm. North Woolwich Learning Zone. Pearlies, Pies and Pints, Pie & Mash, a Cockney sing-a-long and a tea dance. All welcome.


Pearlie king and queens - join in the fun

Sat 22 October. 2 -3pm. Theatre Square (Stratford). Shakespeare in the Square. Experience historic Theatre Square Stratford like never before, with Signed by-Shakespeare in this deaf-led production celebrating Shakespeare. The event features outdoor performances of his sonnets, scenes and soliloquies. It is part of the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death and will reinterpret his works in a contemporary setting and format for Newham Heritage Week. Sign language, mime and dance will be merged into physical theatre to make the performance particularly accessible and enjoyable for people with hearing impairments and small children. 
Delivered by The New Black Film Collective in partnership with Definitely Theatre, Artistic Directors of the Future, Dandy Theatre Associates and The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company with support from Theatre Royal, Stratford East and Newham Council. For all ages.

Sat 22 October. 3- 4pm. The Gate Library. Heritage-themed Lego club. Have a go at recreating heritage landmarks with Lego. Ages 5-11.

Sat 22 October. 4 - 6pm. The Gate Library. Children's drawing workshop. Artist Eleanor Pearce will lead children through this fun and engaging heritage-themed workshop, where children will learn to draw heritage buildings and objects using a variety of materials such as pastels, charcoal and drawing pens.  Ages 7-11.


Rabbits Road Institute - new library opening day - Sat 22 October 


The new library at The Rabbits Road Institute (former Manor Park library, 835 Romford Road) is a collection of books nominated by collaborators, friends and participants of projects in Manor Park, over the last 18 months, by the Alternative School of Economics.

The books are wide-ranging in genre and will be available to visitors to the Institute.

An afternoon programme of activities marks the launch of the library, including a screening of a new documentary. 


Rabbits Road Institute - 100 years ago,
 when it was Manor Park library!

For more information on the event, and to book a free place, contact here

Programme


12.30pm The Safe House: The Decline of Ideas. Screening of the new documentary, with a q&a with one of its co-directors, Greta Bellamacina.

2pm Spirit of '66 in 2016: Public libraries and emancipatory services. Talk with Ali Corble and Jo Norup and the Alternative School of Economics.

2pm - 4.30pm Artist Marcus Vater will be creating a series of new drawings to record the event.

4.30pm - 6.00pm Drinks reception and readings from the library. Short readings from selected nominated books. Refreshments from Company Drinks.

e.mail: info@rabbitsroad institute.org. Twitter: @RabbitsRd. Facebook: RabbitsRoadInstitute


Newham Heritage Week - 24 - 30 October 


Most events in Heritage Week are free, some have a small charge. Some have to be pre-booked. Here are the details:


All week


Mon  24 - Sun 30 October. All Newham libraries (see venues for opening times). Community neighbourhoods' historical postcards. Each Newham library will be distributing three unique postcards, depicting their local area in archived images.  Available on request while stocks last.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. All Newham libraries, (see venue opening times). Postcard collectors prize draw. Collect all thirty heritage postcards (three from each of Newham’s ten libraries) and be entered into a prize draw for a yearly English Heritage family membership (for two adults and up to 12 children) plus a wealth of heritage themed goodies.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. The Gate Library (see opening times). Eric Dawson: The Originals. Opportunity to see an exhibition of artist Eric Dawson's original water colours, painted locally in Newham. The first 50 visitors to the exhibition who show a copy of the Newham Mag (issue 351) will receive a free copy of the book Looking Back by Eric Dawson, a fascinating memoir of growing up in West Ham, packed full of beautiful water colours depicting what life was like back in the early 20th century.


Eric Dawson's Upton Lane, on a Saturday Night


Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. The Gate Library (see venue opening times). Forest Gate Faces. Revealing exhibition detailing the story of Forest Gate residents from the 1890's onwards.

Mon 24 - Sun 30  October. The Gate Library (see venue opening times). The Changing Face of Forest Gate. Informative exhibition about the changing face of Forest Gate, from the nineteenth century onwards.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. Beckton Globe Library (see venue for opening times). Keir Hardie exhibition: about the life and times of legendary Newham politician.


Kier Hardie, founder of the Labour
 Party and one-time West Ham MP

Mon  24 - Sun 30 October. Beckton Globe Library (see venue for opening times).  Newham's poets and writers. Exhibition about Newham's poets and writers.

Mon 24 – Sun 30 October. Canning Town Library (see venue opening times). Black Saturday. Find out about what happened to Newham during the Blitz on Black Saturday. The first 50 visitors to the exhibition who show issue 351 of the Newham Mag will receive a free copy of The Newham Story.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. Stratford Library (see venue opening times). Newham Sporting Life. Revealing exhibition about Newham's sporting heroes. The first 50 visitors to the exhibition who show issue 351 of the Newham Mag will receive a free copy of The Newham Story.


Walter Tull, one of
Newham's sporting heroes

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. East Ham Library (see venue opening times). Newham's Great War. Fascinating insight into the part played by Newham and its soldiers during WW1. The first fifty visitors to the exhibition who show Newham Mag 351 will receive a free copy of The Newham Story.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. Manor Park Library (see venue opening times). I belong to Newham. Famous faces from Newham come to life in this informative and inspiring exhibition.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. Green Street Library (see venue opening times). Eric Dawson: the West Ham exhibition. Captivating exhibition about local artist Eric Dawson and his images of the West Ham area.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. North Woolwich Library (see venue opening times). Women and Protest. Exhibition about women and their part in protest movements which have affected Newham.


Prominent suffragette and one-time
 Newham resident, Annie Kenney

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. Stratford Library (see venue opening times). Bengali East End Heritage Society Exhibition. Art exhibition by local artist and curator Saif Osmani and the Bengali East End Heritage Society. The art exhibition looks at contested boundaries, community tension and spaces deemed under threat due to an ever increasing amount of building and development in East London.

Mon 24 - Sun 30 October. East Ham Library (see venue opening times). Faith in Newham Exhibition. History and impact of the churches, synagogues, mosques and temples of Newham.


West Ham Synagogue, Earlham Grove -
 part of the Faith in Newham exhibition

Mon 24 - Sat 29 October. 9.30am - 8pm. Stratford Library. Amrar Zaga (Our Place) - Art Exhibition, by local artist and curator Saif Osmani and the Bangali East End Heritage Society. The art exhibition looks at contested boundaries, community tension and spaces deemed under threat, due to an ever increasing amount of building and development in East London. 

Mon 24 -  Fri 28th October. 10am - 1pm. Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6pm - 8pm. River Christian Centre, Vincent Street, Canning Town. Exhibitions on Canning Town from WW1 to the 1980s. Chance to see Grade II listed chapel with stained glass windows and architectural features. 

Mon 24 - Fri 28 October. 2 - 4pm. House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow. Daily guided tour of two floors of the Grade I listed House Mill. Tours at 2pm and 3pm. Lasting approx 30 mins. Please bring proof of LBN residency to enjoy free of charge. The cafe in the Miller's House will be open, serving tea and cake.


Monday

Mon 24 October. 11am - 1pm. Little Ilford Learning Zone. Museum on Wheels. Celebrate and enjoy Newham's heritage through Eastside Heritage's unique museum on wheels.

Mon 24 October. 1.30 - 4.30pm. North Woolwich Library. Heritage games. Come along and play heritage games from the early 20th century. All welcome. 

Mon 24 October. 3.15 - 5.15pm. Meet: DLR ticket office/machines London City Airport DLR station. The ASTA trail, Silvertown: trains, planes and graffiti walls. An audio trail of Silvertown, created by young people at the ASTA Centre and composer Jo Thomas, featuring original music and interviews with local residents - a unique insight in to the history of Silvertown. Email Dr Toby Butler t.butler@uel.ac.uk. Limited places - booking essential. Led by Dr Toby Butler and students of UEL. Audio equipment provided. Distance of 3.5km. 


London City Airport, a feature
 of this Silvertown tour

Mon October. 24 from 5 - 7pm. The Gate Library,. The launch event is called Indulge with the rich heritage of Newham. It opens with a rare opportunity to see Eric Dawson’s original artworks of Newham, see local exhibitions, meet heritage professionals and enthusiasts and pick up a free copy of The Newham Story, while stocks last. 


Tuesday


Tues 25 October. 10am - 3.30pm. Stratford Library. West Ham Oral Histories (Children) . If you are a young West Ham fan then this is for you. In this one day workshop you will learn the unique skill of recording oral histories and take part in an inter-generational workshop, to record memories from the Boleyn and beyond. Booking essential. Please contact Stratford Library. Ages 9-11.


West Ham legend, Bobby Moore -
opportunities for you to share your
recollections of him, and other
 West Ham greats, over the years

Tues 25 October. 10am – 3.30pm. Stratford Library. West Ham Oral Histories (Adults). Do you have a long list of memories and experiences from your time as a Hammers fan? If so come along to this inter-generational workshop and share your most treasured moments. These memories will be recorded for future generations and become part of West Ham United's archives. Please bring along a treasured piece of your West Ham memorabilia to show and tell. Booking essential. Please contact Stratford Library. Ages 30+ years.

Tues 25 October. 11am - 1pm. Plaistow Library. Children's heritage themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham's history. Ages 5-11.

Tues 25 October. 11am -12.30pm. Custom House Library. Heritage-themed coffee morning. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of The Newham Story and special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to the local area. All welcome.

Tue 25 October. 11am Heritage Walking Tour: Olympic Park. A 1.5 hour (approx) walk using oral histories. Meet at Mocha East Vue Tube. Free, but pre-booking essential: email Eastside Heritage: office@ech.org.uk.. 

Tues 25 October. 2pm. London Personally Heritage Walk - how E15 became E20. Meeting point outside Stratford Station by the Robert Engine. Finish point Pudding Lane DLR Station.. No part of London has gone through more changes than Stratford the shopping and transport hub of Newham. On the ancient road from London to Colchester the area takes its name from the ancient abbey on the River Lea. With the coming of the railways in the 1840’s industry grew up around the old town and by the end of the 19th century Stratford had become an important trading shopping and political centre with some of Newham’s best Victorian and Edwardian buildings.  Its history and struggles and the effects of bringing the Olympics to the area with stunning new architecture and the Queen Elizabeth Park will all be taken in on this walk. Stan Harris - info@londonpersonally.co.uk. £10 per head. To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-e15-became-e20-tickets-28141163979.

Tues 25 October. 4 - 5pm. House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow. From Gin and Vice to Tea and Temperance. A talk by Eleanor Bloom, a senior volunteer at House Mill, a registered City Guide and member of London Historians. Eleanor will talk and present the story of this important episode in London's social history, during which there will be tea and biscuits; but not gin and vice! 


Wednesday


Weds 26 October.11am - 12.30pm. The Gate Library. Heritage- themed coffee morning. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of The Newham Story and special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to the area. All welcome. 

Weds 26 October. 1 - 3.30pm. Meet: King George V DLR station. The North Woolwich Trail: Deep Water. An audio trail featuring the sound and voices of the River Thames and Newham Docklands as you follow a route through the three former Royal Docks. Email Dr Toby Butler t.butler@uel.ac.uk. Limited places - booking essential. Audio equipment provided. Distance of 3.5km. Guided by Dr Toby Butler and students of UEL.

Weds 26 October. 1.45 - 6pm. Green Street Festival  (taking place in Queen's Market). Children's heritage-themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham's history. Ages 5-11. 

Weds 26 October. 2 - 4pm. Beckton Globe. Museum on Wheels. Celebrate and enjoy Newham's heritage through Eastside Heritage's unique museum on wheels. Free entry. 

Weds 26 October. 3 - 4pm. House Mill Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow. Sharing Stories. House Mill resident storyteller Shamim Azad, a Bangladeshi born British bilingual poet, storyteller and writer will be with us for this unique event. Shamim is part of the East End storytelling group, which invites local residents to join in sharing some the stories brought together by the East End's rich, diverse history of immigration. We invite Newham's older residents (50+) to hear Shamim's stories and to tell your own.


Three Mill Island - by the Bow flyover

Weds 26 October. 4pm. Forest Gate Learning Zone, Woodgrange Road. West Ham United Football Club Reminiscence Session. Come along and share memories of The Irons. Free.

Weds 26 October. 6.30 - 7.30pm. East Ham Library. Faith in Newham. Dr Colin Marchant presents a lecture about historic the faith buildings of Newham. All welcome.

Weds 26 October. 6.45pm. The Gate Library. Lecture - Forest Gate: Growth of a Victorian Suburb. Illustrated talk by local historians Peter Williams and Mark Gorman. Gentrification is a big word in Forest Gate now, with the coming of CrossRail, but research shows that there have been waves of gentrification and de-gentrification over the last 140 years, often influenced by among other things, the railway companies, their advertising and fare pricing structure, and their links to housing developers. How exactly did Forest Gate develop? Who were the equivalents of Barretts and Wimpey's? Come along, and find out. Entry by free ticket - only available from The Gate beforehand. Refreshments on sale.
Forest Gate station at the turn of 20th
 century, catalyst for so much local
 gentrification, over the decades

Thursday


Thurs 27 October. 10.45am - 12noon. Canning Town Library. Heritage- themed coffee morning. Chat about the past and learn about the fascinating history of the area over a nice hot brew and some scrumptious nibbles. You can also pick up free copies of The Newham Story and special Heritage Week postcards, bespoke to the area. All welcome.

Thurs 27 October. 11am. Brick Lane Music Hall 443 North Woolwich Road, North Woolwich.  Open morning - a chance to see the Brick Lane Music Hall - a Grade II listed building and learn about the history of music hall in East London, from Vincent Hayes the founder and director of Brick Lane Music Hall (500m from Pontoon Dock DLR station). Booking essential. Email kjenservices@hotmail.com. Refreshments provided.

Thurs 27 October. 11am Talk: A Brief History of Theatre Royal.(lasts approx 30 mins + short Q&A).  Stratford. Theatre Royal Stratford East (auditorium stalls).  Built in 1884, renovated by Frank Matcham in 1902, and home to Joan Littlewood's world-famous Theatre Workshop Company, Theatre Royal has been entertaining audiences for 131 years. Murray Melvin, Theatre Royal Stratford East's honorary archivist and member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, gives a special talk on the history of this much loved Grade II listed building in the heart of Gerry Raffles Square. Free. Booking advised via box office on 020 8534 0310 (some places available on the day on a first come, first served basis).


The recently unveiled sculpture of Joan
 Littlewood, outside the Theatre Royal, Stratford


Thurs 27 October. 11am - 5.30pm. Beckton Globe. Building Beckton’s industrial heritage. Participants will review archival images and present day photographs of the Beckton Sewage Works, The Chimney and Cyprus Estates. In response they will recreate the buildings, using papier mache, card, and paper  to create a display mini exhibition. Ages 8-11 years with parents welcome. 

Thurs 27 October. 1 - 2pm. Theatre Royal Stratford East (Murray Melvin Meeting Room). Open archive - a chance to see some of Theatre Royal's Archive Collection, with Murray Melvin, Theatre Royal Stratford East's honorary archivist and member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. openarchive@stratfordeast.com.  Note:. free, but places limited to 10 on a first come, first served basis. Booking: openarchive@stratfordeast.com or 020 8279 1131.

Thurs 27 October. 1 - 3pm.  Canning Town Library. Children's Heritage-themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham's history. Ages 5-11.

Thurs 27 October. 1.30pm. London Personally Heritage Walk - Monks, Sewage and Iron. Start point Bromley-by-Bow Station, finishing point Star Lane Station (DLR). Stan Harris  will be leading this walk, broadly along the River Lea and West Ham. It explores how Newham developed from  rural countryside to East London’s industrial heartland. Next to the gritty industrial history, stories of ancient monasteries and London’s finest example of Victorian engineering you will also be able to enjoy much of the Art Trail on this part of the Lea and have a rest and refreshments at a riverside community cafĂ© at Cody Dock at around 3.30pm. Stan Harris - info@londonpersonally.co.uk. £10 per head. To Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/monks-sewage-and-iron-tickets-28140981433 

Thurs 27 October. 2 - 4pm. The West Silvertown Trail: gun powder, flour and flood. Meet: Main entrance Excel Centre (Custom House DLR station). An exciting audio trail includes the beauty of Barrier Park, the horror of the biggest explosion ever to rock London and first-hand accounts of working lives in the riverside factories and flour mills. Email Dr Toby Butler t.butler@uel.ac.uk Limited places - booking essential. Audio equipment provided. Distance 2km walk guided by Dr Toby Butler and students of UEL. 


Aftermath of the 1917
Silvertown explosion
As we approach the centenary of the Silvertown Explosion (19 January 1917), the London Docks group is putting together an archive of Forgotten Stories about the Explosion.

Do you have handed down family recollections or anecdotes about London's biggest ever civilian explosion you would like to share with them?

There is an archive where you can add some thoughts/family memories. There are already some amazing stories there, so visit the site, even if you aren't able to contribute.

The Explosion took place at the Brunner Mond munitions work, manufacturing explosives for WW1. It was located just south of what is now the North Woolwich Road. Approximately 50 tons of TNT exploded, resulting in 73 deaths, and almost 500 injuries. Over 900 homes were totally destroyed and many thousands more damaged by the blast.

The memories collected on the Forgotten Stories site will be collated and published to mark the centenary of the Explosion, next year.

Thurs 27 October. 6pm Shipman Youth Centre. Share your memories of Silvertown and North Woolwich. Organised by Eastside Heritage: office@ech.org.uk. Free.

Thurs 27 October. 6.30 - 8pm. House Mill Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow. Guided Tours of House Mill with Gin Tasting. Join us at House Mill to tour this spectacular Grade I listed building, to learn about its role in the C18th "Gin Craze" and to sample a range of London Gins. To reserve a place please email: info@housemill.org.uk. There is a token charge of £5 per person. Owing to space restrictions within the heritage building, this event has only a number limited of spaces.

Thurs 27 October.  7pm: University of East London, University Square, 1 Salway Road, Stratford. Film Screening and Discussion - Foreign Pickers by Kathrin Bohm (My Villages) for Company Drinks, in collaboration with Sue Giovanni. This screening will be accompanied by a talk by Kathrin Bohm and Dr Toby Butler, University of East London, discussing the history and heritage of hop picking and Kathrin's ongoing project, Company, Movements, Deals and Drinks. Two new Company Drinks beverages which resulted in East London pickers going to Kent in 2016 will be also available: a Thinning Soda and a Gleaned Cider. Further details: t.butler@uel.ac.uk. Free, no need to book.

Thurs 27 October. 7pm. Shipman Youth Centre  Talk by historian Graham Hill on the Silvertown Explosion. Organised by Eastside Heritage: office@ech.org.uk. Free.


Friday


Fri 28 October. 11am. Heritage Walking Tour: Olympic Park. A 1.5 hour (approx) walk using oral histories. Meet at Mocha East Vue Tube. Free, but pre-booking essential: email Eastside Heritage: office@ech.org.uk.

Fri 28 October. 11am - 1pm. Manor Park Library. Children's heritage-themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham's history. Ages 5-11.

Fri 28th October. 6.30-7.45pm. East Ham Library. Morris Dancing Performances. Traditional Morris dancing performances for all to enjoy. All ages welcome.


Saturday


Sat 29 October. 1 - 3pm. The Gate Library. Children's heritage-themed drawing workshop. Artist Eleanor Pearce will lead children through this fun and engaging  heritage themed workshop, where they will learn to draw heritage buildings and objects, using a variety of materials such as pastels, charcoal and drawing pens. Ages 4-6.

Sat 29 October. 12noon - 4pm. East Ham Library. Children's heritage-themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham's history. Ages 5-11.

Sat 29 October. 12noon - 4pm. East Ham Library. Newham Heritage Awareness Day. End of week, borough-wide heritage awareness day. The day will have something for all ages and interests including information stalls, exhibitions, pop up museum and a chance to give your views on a future Museum for Newham. Kevin Jenkins: kjenservices@hotmail.com. Free entry.

Sat 29 October. 3 - 4pm. The Gate Library. Heritage-themed Lego club. Have a go at recreating Heritage landmarks with Lego. Ages 5-11.

Sat 29 and Sun 30 October. Abbey Mills Pumping Station, Abbey Lane (Tours on: Saturday 29th October at 11am, Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm Sunday 30th October at 11am, Noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Pre-booking only before 5pm on Monday 24 October. Built between 1865 and 1866, it is often described as the Cathedral of Sewage. A rare opportunity of a guided tour of this magnificent building. To book email Kevin at kjenservices@hotmail.com stating preferred date, time and number of spaces required.


Abbey Mills pumping station -
 "The Cathedral of Sewage"

Sunday


Sun 30 October. 2 - 4pm. Stratford Library. Children's heritage themed greeting card workshop. Children will create their own greeting cards adorned with places and faces from Newham's history. Ages 5-11.

Sun 30 October. 11am - 4pm.  House Mill, Three Mill Island, Bromley by Bow: Guided tours of the Grade I listed House Mill. Visit four of the floors of House Mill with one of our trained volunteer guides. You will learn of House Mill's history and the Trust's plans for its future which will restore the heritage machinery to working order, develop hydro-electricity using the wheels, broaden activities to include a vibrant activity hub for Newham. These plans already include an art gallery, event space, wedding ceremony and reception venue, so come and share them with us!. Please bring proof of LBN residency to enjoy free of charge. The cafe in the Miller's House will be open throughout, serving a range of fresh foods and drinks.

Thanks to all participants and organisations for arranging Newham Heritage Week - the first of which we hope will be a regular event.

In particular, we are thankful to Colin Grainger (www.colin-grainger.co.uk) for putting together this very accessible guide to the multiplicity of events.

We are also grateful to the Rabbits Road Institute for details of their launch, and wish them well.