LEG Blackheath

Blackheath is a relatively new (newer than Highgate) and affluent community. Many Georgian and Victorian homes, including the prestigious Paragon Crescent (now flats), were built on the (John) Cator Estate overlooking Blackheath Park.

Because of its proximity to the Royal Observatory in Greenwhich, a number of astronomers lived in Blackheath: Sir Edmond Halley, John Pond, and Nathaniel Bliss are all buried in St. Margaret's church yard. This photograph of Halley's gravestone was taken from IanVisits blog.

All Saints Parish Church was built in 1857.

St Michael and All Angels Church was built in 1830 and the spire is nicknamed the "Needle of Kent."

One of the stranger homes in Blackheath is The Pagoda House built in 1760 for the Earl of Cardigan.

Morden College was founded in 1695 by Sir John Morden as a house for merchants who became destitute through no fault of their own (e.g., their ship did NOT come in). Now women and married couples may also reside in Morden College.

Thames: Goring & Streatley to Wallingford

Goring-on-Thames (pop. 3500) is in South Oxfordshire and Streatley-on-Thames (pop. 600) is in West Berkshire, but they are separated only by a bridge across the Goring Gap and share a railway station (in Goring). In 1086, the Domesday Book valued Goring at £15 and Streatley at £24.

The Swan Inn and St. Mary's church looked quaint and interesting, but I could not find any historical information. Several of the buildings in Streatley had old Chilterns flint mixed in with brick facades and lead windows.

We saw many old World War II bunkers along the Thames. Apparently, they were built in 1940-1941 at about 1/3 mile intervals to protect London and the Midlands (the Thames itself acted as an anti-tank barrier). Because the war was fought in the air, these bunkers were never used. One bunker was incorporated into a home landscape.

King Lear at Shakespeare Globe Theatre & Urban Photography at Tate Modern

The play was long and the seats were hard - but everyone must see King Lear at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre on the South Bank of the Thames once in their lifetime. This performance got rave reviews by the critics but I was still confused in the end by who killed Cordelia and how. Some people are just not meant for high culture.
Someday I will take the "behind-the-scenes" tour. A kind neighbor who took pity on me by letting me use his seat cushion said he learned on the tour that we were high up in the prostitutes section. Quirky factoids do interest me.

Just over the roof of the Globe Theatre is the tower for the Tate Modern. I started my day there at the Urban Photography exhibit. Below is "A Lawyer and his Laundry" from the exhibit.

All was not lost. My Art Fund card made the exhibit more affordable and Teresa and I had a pleasant lunch in the restaurant with spectacular view of St Paul's.

Thames: Pangbourne to Goring

The Thames path between Pangbourne and Goring is idyllic - tree canopies, fishing markers, unusual dining platform, pastoral manor home, picturesque village and church.

Tolls are still being collected to cross the bridge between Pangbourne and Whitchurch-on-Thames. An information board with historical tolls was attached to the side of the toll booth. Every "foot" counted so a local resident told us farmers used to drive their animals to a low point in the river where they could cross without paying a toll.

As we were dining at The Elephant, we glanced through the door to spot a steam driven asphalt paver.

London Athenians Summer Party

Another sumptious banquet for London Athenians!

Kew National Archives Update

“Who do You Think You Are? This is the theme of the recently refurbished National Archives and where thousands of family historians and other researchers study. You are welcome to walk up to the first and second floors to join hundreds of people staring at computer screens and pouring over large maps and documents. Their tones are hushed and the lighting slightly dimmed.

On the ground floor, the mood is more boisterous in the café, cybercafé (free internet) and bookshop.

The museum centerpiece is a Domesday Book original, which recorded all of William the Conqueror’s English holdings in 1086. But I enjoyed getting the scoop on British spies using personnel files kept secret until the 2000 Freedom of Information Act forced them into public domain.

As you first enter the museum, you are faced with the story of Pearl Cornioley, who parachuted into Nazi-occupied France and eventully rose to command 3,000 underground fighters. When recommended for a military MBE, she instead was offered the civil version because she was a woman. Pearl declined, citing she had done nothing remotely "civil."

This photo (from the website) of the Archives, shows no exterior changes since the facilities were built in 1977.

Thames Path: Staines to Pangbourne

From May 26th to July 19th, we walked from Staines to Pangbourne. Public transportation will soon be tough but we have less than 100 miles to go. Some sights along the way:

Datchet: Picturesque Bridge and Elegant Hats for Hire

Longboats and Pets

Windsor Castle

Maidenhead: Brunel Brick Bridge and Almshouse

Cookham-on-Thames: Holy Trinity Church

Marlow: Churches

Henley-on-Thames: Site of the Royal Regatta


Lower Shiplake: Miniature Railway & Station