Derelict London 2021 Update Page
The Builders Arms, High Street, Stratford, E15
Welcome to the Derelict London 2021 page.
Join the mailing list HERE to find out about Derelict London, London's Lost Music Venues and London's Lost Rivers guided walks as soon as tickets are released plus news on my latest books and website updates. My walks resumed from mid-April although most are already booked up months in advance. Paul Talling's walks have been awarded the 'We're Good to Go' Industry Standard to reassure customers that the tours adhere to Government and public health guidance.
Join the mailing list HERE to find out about Derelict London, London's Lost Music Venues and London's Lost Rivers guided walks as soon as tickets are released plus news on my latest books and website updates. My walks resumed from mid-April although most are already booked up months in advance. Paul Talling's walks have been awarded the 'We're Good to Go' Industry Standard to reassure customers that the tours adhere to Government and public health guidance.
Limehouse Cut. Bromley-by-Bow, E3 (Paul Talling 2021)
Finsbury Memorial Sports Centre - Barnet Gate, EN5
Finsbury Memorial Sports Centre - Barnet Gate, EN5 (Paul Talling 2021)
Situated in the London Borough of Barnet almost on the border with Hertfordshire this sports facility started out as the post-war Stirling Corner Sports Ground. By 1955 it was known as the Finsbury Memorial Sports Centre and a pavilion had been built (officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh) and maps from around this period show tennis courts, football pitches, a running track, a bowling green and a caretaker's bungalow. The site was owned by the Metropolitan Police, but the facilities were open to the public. However, it closed in the 1980s and the 32 acre site is now heavily overgrown and barely recognisable with only the large abandoned pavilion standing out in all its derelict glory and a magnate for graffiti artists, urban explorers and party goers. A local paper in 2014 reported that more than 500 ravers attended a late night gathering at the site with a nearby resident complaining that "the whole thing was as loud as a Robbie Williams concert at Wembley."
Finsbury Memorial Sports Centre - Barnet Gate, EN5 (Paul Talling 2021)
The site acts as a green wedge between Borehamwood and Barnet and is within an area set aside by the borough for the Watling Chase Community Forest environmental initiative which is an obstacle for any development in the future. A private company now own the site but have not made it known of their plans for it. When Barnet FC when looking to move from Underhill looked at the possibility of developing this land for a new stadium, the owners were unwilling to consider selling.
One of the sport pitches was used for the filming of a Monty Python sketch in 1971 staring Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and John Cleese. The pavilion can be seen in the background of the sketch which was called "The 127th Upper-Class Twit of the Year" for And Now for Something Completely Different collection of some of the best sketches from the first two series of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, re-filmed for the cinema screen.
One of the sport pitches was used for the filming of a Monty Python sketch in 1971 staring Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and John Cleese. The pavilion can be seen in the background of the sketch which was called "The 127th Upper-Class Twit of the Year" for And Now for Something Completely Different collection of some of the best sketches from the first two series of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, re-filmed for the cinema screen.
Finsbury Memorial Sports Centre Caretaker's Bungalow - Barnet Gate, EN5
Finsbury Memorial Sports Centre Caretaker's Bungalow - Barnet Gate, EN5 (Paul Talling 2021)
The burnt out wreck of the caretaker's bungalow of the former Finsbury Memorial Sports Centre is barely accessible due to being surrounded by trees and brambles.
Abney Park Cemetery - Stoke Newington, London N16
RAF 2nd Lieutenant Charles William Janes - Abney Park Cemetery - Stoke Newington, London N16 (Paul Talling 2021)
Many of you will already have visited Abney Park Cemetery or at least aware of on this website it due to the derelict chapel also featured in the Derelict London book (2008) and subsequently restored as seen in the Derelict London All New Edition (2019) or remember it from the Amy Winehouse Back to Black Video. Despite much restoration of the cemetery, parts of it are still quite overgrown. Despite visiting it for over 20 years I still manage to discover interesting new graves in the wilderness off the paths like this unusual grave with a mosaic propeller from the No.2 (auxiliary) School of Aerial Gunnery, Turnberry.
Abney Park has 377 service personnel interned from both WWI and WWII. Due to the grave sinking to a slight angle the only name still visible on this grave are for William C Janes who died aged 77 in 1946 though after research the original grave is actually for his son RAF 2nd Lieutenant Charles William Janes who died aged 23 in 1918. Before the formation of the R.A.F, he served in Egypt and Gallipoli. He was from Stoke Newington and was killed in an accident while flying a Sopwith Camel. The aeroplane went out of control at 200ft after firing at a target and then crashed into the sea, hitting submerged rocks near Turnberry lighthouse.
The subterranean Hackney Brook which runs from Holloway to Hackney Wick runs around the edge of the cemetery, and we shall visit on my Hackney Brook all day walking tours scheduled for the summer of 2022.
Abney Park has 377 service personnel interned from both WWI and WWII. Due to the grave sinking to a slight angle the only name still visible on this grave are for William C Janes who died aged 77 in 1946 though after research the original grave is actually for his son RAF 2nd Lieutenant Charles William Janes who died aged 23 in 1918. Before the formation of the R.A.F, he served in Egypt and Gallipoli. He was from Stoke Newington and was killed in an accident while flying a Sopwith Camel. The aeroplane went out of control at 200ft after firing at a target and then crashed into the sea, hitting submerged rocks near Turnberry lighthouse.
The subterranean Hackney Brook which runs from Holloway to Hackney Wick runs around the edge of the cemetery, and we shall visit on my Hackney Brook all day walking tours scheduled for the summer of 2022.
Teddy Bear Walk - Mill Hill, NW7
Teddy Bear Walk - Mill Hill, NW7 (Paul Talling 2021)
I stumbled upon this footpath full of cuddly toys. I haven't seen anything like it in London since the Croydon Toy Tree a few years ago.
During summer 2020, this public footpath was turned into the 'Teddy bear walk' as something that young children could participate to brighten up COVID-19 times, both giving soft toys and enjoying the walk. As a result, there well over 100 toys spread along the path. Some became quite bedraggled by Autumn and local volunteers removed many for winter hibernation and took them home to wash and store and recently returned them to line the footpath.
During summer 2020, this public footpath was turned into the 'Teddy bear walk' as something that young children could participate to brighten up COVID-19 times, both giving soft toys and enjoying the walk. As a result, there well over 100 toys spread along the path. Some became quite bedraggled by Autumn and local volunteers removed many for winter hibernation and took them home to wash and store and recently returned them to line the footpath.
Meanwhile, down in South London you can spot these cuddly creatures up a tree in Southwark Park:
Tigers in the Trees of Southwark Park, Rotherhithe, SE16 (Paul Talling 2021)
Dulwich Community Hospital - Dulwich, SE22
Dulwich Community Hospital - Dulwich, SE22 (Paul Talling 2021)
Opened as the St Saviour's Union Infirmary in 1887 with 723 beds, renamed the Southwark Union Infirmary in 1902, and it then served as the Southwark Military Hospital during the First World War. It was the first London infirmary to be evacuated to accommodate war casualties. In 1915, the infirmary was passed to the Royal Army Medical Corps. 12,500 troops were treated, including American, Australian, South African, and Canadian soldiers and only 119 died.
The name was changed to Southwark Hospital in 1921 and was renamed Dulwich Hospital in 1930 before joining the NHS in 1948. During the 1980s St Francis Hospital (closed 1991, subsequently demolished and is now the housing estate next to Dulwich Hamlet FC) became the north wing of Dulwich Hospital and a tunnel under the railway line connected the two sites. (its still there - see elsewhere on this website)
In 2005 most health services ceased, although the NHS continued to offer limited community services until 2020. The Tessa Jowell Health Centre was built on one end of the site and opened in 2020. The Charter School was built on the other end and to the rear of the site. Now more hospital blocks are being demolished as part of a scheme to extend the school. The old hospital administration block (The Chateau) will be retained and used by the school.
The name was changed to Southwark Hospital in 1921 and was renamed Dulwich Hospital in 1930 before joining the NHS in 1948. During the 1980s St Francis Hospital (closed 1991, subsequently demolished and is now the housing estate next to Dulwich Hamlet FC) became the north wing of Dulwich Hospital and a tunnel under the railway line connected the two sites. (its still there - see elsewhere on this website)
In 2005 most health services ceased, although the NHS continued to offer limited community services until 2020. The Tessa Jowell Health Centre was built on one end of the site and opened in 2020. The Charter School was built on the other end and to the rear of the site. Now more hospital blocks are being demolished as part of a scheme to extend the school. The old hospital administration block (The Chateau) will be retained and used by the school.
Dulwich Community Hospital - Dulwich, SE22 (Paul Talling 2021)
Hertford Union Canal - Bow, E3
Hertford Union Canal - Bow, E3 (Paul Talling 2021)
The Hertford Union Canal aka Duckett's Cut, opened in 1830, is just over 1 mile long and connects the Regent's Canal to the Lee Navigation. The canal was promoted by Sir George Duckett who succeeded in obtaining an Act of Parliament that gained its Royal Assent. The Act authorised Duckett to borrow up to £50,000 to fund construction, and to charge tolls for using the canal, initially one shilling per ton of goods carried. For some years known as Duckett's Canal or Duckett's Cut. It was not a commercial success and around the 1850s it was unnavigable, as a dam was built across it to prevent the Regent's Canal losing water to it. It was acquired by the Regent's Canal Company and became a branch of that canal in 1857.
As of early 2021, the water has been drained to repair the walls of the canal. As with similar work on the regents Canal a few years ago plenty of interesting objects have been found in the mud.
As of early 2021, the water has been drained to repair the walls of the canal. As with similar work on the regents Canal a few years ago plenty of interesting objects have been found in the mud.
Abandoned warehouse in Bromley-by-Bow, E3 (Paul Talling 2021)
Beckton Sewage Treatment Works - Barking, IG11
Beckton Sewage Treatment Works - Barking, IG11 (Nathan Hume 2008)
Beckton Sewage Treatment Works (actually situated just a few yards over the border in Barking) was formerly known as the Barking Sewage Works when built from 1864 onwards as part of Joseph Bazalgette's scheme to remove sewage from London by creating two large sewers from the capital, one on each side of the Thames and known as the Southern and Northern Outfall Sewers. It treats the waste water from the Northern Outfall Sewer serving North and East London. The plant has been extended and upgraded several times. The last of the Victorian buildings pictured here were demolished as part of an upgrade in 2011. Beckton remains an operational Thames Water site and according to the Tideway website (the company delivering a new 'super sewer') it is the largest sewage treatment works in Europe.
These rare shots were taken by Nathan Hume for Derelict London when he went to spray the Japanese knotweed in and around the site. Nathan sent these to me back in 2008, and they are many of the treasures sitting on my hard drive which I am gradually working my way through. I guess we shall never get to find out the story about the flipped car abandoned in the pit...
These rare shots were taken by Nathan Hume for Derelict London when he went to spray the Japanese knotweed in and around the site. Nathan sent these to me back in 2008, and they are many of the treasures sitting on my hard drive which I am gradually working my way through. I guess we shall never get to find out the story about the flipped car abandoned in the pit...
