We did not go by boat, theoretically we could of done, we just walked instead. Nearly 60 people started from Mile End station, including a young girl who seemed to dance the whole 5.5 miles, and soon climbed steps onto a bridge. Magically we were in a small park and general open space. We followed a path north and joined the towpath of the Regents Canal where the Mile End Lock was to our left but we continued right until we eventually turned onto the Hertford Union Canal.
Hertford Union Canal to River Lea
This was originally call Duckett's Canal and dug to link the R. Lea to the Regents Canal - although apparently not a very successful enterprise. Much of the way we walked beside Victoria Park and also passed three locks. On reaching the R. Lea we saw the Olympic Site site rising to our right.
River Lea to Limehouse Cut
Although we began to pass the Olympic site we were too low down to see it except where the River Lea flowed back into the Lea Navigation. However we went up onto the Greenway for a short while and there we saw the site in its field of cranes. After we rejoined the Lea we continued to Three Mills which is a fascinating place in that the mill there was a tidal one. The tea rooms were not open but there was a TESCO's (with toilets) nearby. We stopped for a break. We set off with a huge bridge in front of us which spanned the Three Mill Wall River, our path and the River Lea. On the far side of the bridge was Bow Lock. Here the River Lea officially passed through a lock gate and was joined by the Three Mill Wall River before it flowed a short distance to the Thames but the Lea actually now flowed around the corner directly into the Limehouse Cut.
Limehouse Cut to Limehouse Basin
Limehouse Cut is not in the most attractive area because quite a lot of industrial sites are right up to the water's edge but, nevertheless, it still has the charm of the water itself. At the west end it becomes more attractive finishing for us in a small delightful park before we turned right to cross a footbridge to get to the north side of Limehouse Basin. From the footbridge if you look back you can see the church of Saint Anne, Limehouse, on the right hand side of the canal.
Limehouse Basin to Mile End
Limehouse Basin has got a beautiful feel to it with all the boats in the marina- someone remarked that it was more like being on the Riviera. Turning right there was the Commercial Road Lock, the last for the Regents Canal before it enters the basin, and there was also Commercial Road Bridge with its double arches which I understand is unusual. There were then only two more locks before we arrived back at the Mile End Park or, for the purists, you could continue along the canal to Mile End Lock and make a complete waterways circuit. How everyone else went to lunch I don't know but a few of us ended up at the Half Moon Wetherspoons Pub (a 1980's failed Half Moon Theatre) near Stepney Green!
London's Non-Traffic
This walk was virtually road traffic free. The only road walking was to and from the station and where we crossed the (quite dangerous) High Street at Bow Flyover. The footpath "tunnelled" its way under numerous bridges so you almost forgot they were there and we passed nine locks - the steps in the waterways. And, of course, there was the occasional narrow boat. Hence it was a proper escape from London's conventional busy traffic.
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The camera position was generally from the square to the nearest position on the path, and direction of shot was about ±40 degrees of the arrow.
works for me in XP when the photo is displayed:
to press F11 for full screen;
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Do next photo.
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F11, Ctrl W, next photo & use F11 on last photo only.
Mills have been recorded here since the Domesday Book. Around the 12th/13th centuries the area became known as Three Mills but during the 16th century the number of mills was reduced to two. The current mills date from 1753 (Clock Mill) and 1776 (House Mill) and both of these were driven first by the in-coming tides and then, after the water had been collected, as the waters were allowed to ebb back to the River Thames. Production output was increased threefold during Spring Tides. Historically they were built to grind corn for flour, but later the House Mill was used to grind grain for distillation to gin and during World War 1, corn and chestnuts were ground to produce a gunpowder ingredient. The House Mill operated until 1941 and the Clock Mill until 1951, but note, the House Mill is considering generating electricity from the tide.
The House Mill has been restored and guided tours (by admission charge) are given on Sundays from early April to late October, 1 pm to 4 pm. The Millers House, next door, operates a cafe, Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 3 pm. Next to the Millers House is a former Customs house but this has since been a residential house and is now offices.
This Anglican church was seen on the right hand side of the canal when we looked back from the footbridge at Limehouse, close to the towpath we had walked. I'm not sure how you get to it from the towpath, probably from after the railway line before the footbridge.
The church was built by Sir Christopher Wren's most talented pupil - Nicholas Hawksmore. The Hawksmore churches sometimes known as the Queen Anne's churches were built to provide more churches in London by an act of parliament made in 1711, although the number required was never attained. It was reputed to have the second highest clock tower in London, St Stevens tower (erroneous called Big Ben) being higher, but it has a clock face higher than Big Ben's. It was designed to be seen by sailors on the Thames. It also had a sight link to Greenwich so the clock could be set accurately. It was first built in 1730 but has been rebuilt since and the Grey and Davison pipe organ that won the organ prize at the great exhibition of 1851 is still much prized by musicians.
ADDENDUM
OLYMPIC SITE - APRIL 2010
FROM THE SHED or VIEW TUBE
This time the Green Olympic Shed, made from Shipping Containers and which stands on the Greenway path outside the Olympic Site, was up and running making it possible to see more clearly the progress of the developing area. Interestingly a Greenfinch appears to have taken residence locally.
There is a café at the Shed.
There are toilets at the Shed.
There is no charge to use the Shed.
NB If you take a train to Stratford and then the DLR to Pudding Mill Lane (one stop) it is only a two hundred yard walk to the Olympic Shed.
CLICK PHOTOS for larger views.
Photograph Top. A 160 degree Panorama produced from 4 joined photos (distortion exists at the joins).
Photographs Middle. 1) Main Stadium; 2) Middle Ground; 3) Aquatic Centre Roof; 4) Background: towards Stratford. Foreground: the City Mill River - becomes the Bow Back River (beyond railway) and joins the River Lea Navigation by Bow Flyover.
Photographs Bottom. 1) 57 West Essex Ramblers arriving at the Olympic Shed; 2) Shed viewed from the Greenway; 3) Shed viewed from Pudding Mill Lane Station; 4) GREENFINCH seen below the Shed.