LONDON WALK 9 GROUP 3 LITTLE VENICE & CAMDEN LOCK MARKET ORGANISED BY PAM & BRIAN PRICE Thursday 16 th July 2009 Fourteen of us met up at Tonbridge Station for yet another brilliant walk organised by Pam & Brian. We boarded the 10.04 U3A Express to Charing Cross! Forty five U3A members were on this train, as 31 members of the Exploring London Group 1 were also on it. Pity the independent travellers expecting a quiet journey as there was plenty of chatter between the two groups. Reaching Charing Cross, Brian made a quick change of plan when some of the group suggested a coffee break before we started our walk. Crossing over to the National Gallery, we were soon fed and watered. (I promised Isabel I wouldn t say anything about her dropping a cake on the floor so I won t!) It was also an opportunity to see a member of the public perched on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square Childline reading out text messages. The tube train took us to Warwick Avenue and we were thankful to come out into great weather for a walk. Our route took us down to the Pool of Little Venice (named by Robert Browning), over Westbourne Terrace Road Bridge, passing the Old Toll House, and back over the canal using the footbridge. Strange wire sculptures were displayed in the gardens by the Old Toll House.
We followed the canal passing the pretty residential moorings of Blomfield Road, one of the most prestigious canal mooring sites in London. Turning off the towpath, as the canal disappeared into the Maida Hill Tunnel we walked past the captivating Cafe Laville and crossed over Edgware Road into Aberdeen Place. This too was an interesting road. A blue plaque to Guy Gibson caused some hilarity as the decorators scaffolding made it difficult to photograph they obligingly allowed us to enter the property to get a better view. Further on, we passed Crocker s Folly public house. A Grade II listed building Frank Crocker built the Crown Hotel in anticipation of a new railway terminal which was eventually built further South at Marylebone. Broke and broken, so the tale goes, he threw himself from an upstairs window. The Crown became Crocker's Folly. Like most good yarns that's all it is. Crocker was a successful entrepreneur and the Crown a magnificent example of the use of marble inside.
Back down onto the towpath at Lisson Grove, we continued to pass extraordinary gardens attached to the canal boats. On the other side of the canal were examples of how the other half live. Originally Nash intended to have the Regent's Canal running through the middle of the park although he was persuaded that the bad language of the Navvies would offend the refined residents of the area so altered his plans. Nash had plans to build 56 villas in Regent's Park, however only eight were completed. The beautiful white villas on the right were built to Nash's original designs during the late 1980s and early 1990s and drew inspiration from the architecture of ancient Greece, Rome and the Renaissancee period. The site marker of the old Lords Cricket Ground and also in the distance the London Central Mosque were in view on the opposite bank. We passed under two bridges an aqueduct carrying the forgotten River Tyburn over the canal.
The second the notorious Macclesfield Bridge or 'Blow up Bridge'. Here, in 1874, a barge carrying gunpowder exploded and destroyed the bridge. Brian pointed out a tree supposed to have been damaged in the explosion, and we were also able to see the salvaged pillar which had been replaced the other way round, showing the rope marks from the horse drawn barges.
Moving off the towpath again, we entered Regent s Park, and ambled up to The Hub for lunch. Some had brought sandwiches, and others ate in the restaurant which seemed to be somewhat overcome with so many visitors at once. This was also a welcome comfort break. This modern Multi Sport Community Hub is a major venue for a host of community and sporting activities. Having admired the views across the park and out to London Zoo, we returned back to the canal, passing en route a group of people working on the grounds. One of the participants took our request for a photo a little bit too far for Brian! He explained that they were volunteers removing the thistles etc. from the grounds. They looked a very happy bunch of people. It had been difficult to get the group together for a photo in restricted canal space, but using Primrose Hill Bridge, we commandeered the Bridge briefly before moving back the way we had come, to the canal.
Coming to the Cumberland Basin and admiring the Feng Shang Chinese floating restaurant, we were also amused by a couple of girls trying to canoe. Here the canal turns sharp left, the ongoing area having been filled in with bomb rubble in the Second World War. We then came to the famous Snowdon aviary of London Zoo. Opened in 1965, the aviary was pioneering in engineering terms. Peacocks and nesting ibis kept our cameras clicking.
Then we discovered the Historic Stables Market. The Stables Market is the largest section of Camden Lock Market, built in the former Midland Railway stables and horse hospital which served the horses pulling barges along the canal. Many of the stalls and shops are set into huge arches in railway viaducts and there are the most amazing horse statues and plaques. Walking on for about 10 minutes, we left the canal walk, passing the Pirate Castle and barge and entered Camden Lock Market. What an amazing place. Initially appearing to be just another market, we came across alley after alley of food stalls, and the smell of Chinese cooking and the chatter of the stall holders gave you the impression of being in a foreign market.
Apart from a great range of clothing and jewellery stalls, there were people smoking hooker pipes, and stalls selling an incredible range of ethnic and cult goods. The colours of the goods on the stalls drew us in and some of us shopped! Meeting up for the journey home (and feeling a little weary) we passed the Lock Gates, with barges coming up and down. A sign to Liverpool amused us. Walking out onto Camden High Street we found ourselves in the land of the Piercing and Tattoo! No one was brave enough to enter any of the establishments. Catching the tube from Camden Town we arrived at Charing Cross in time to get a train home before the rush hour. Hilary took the opportunity to mug shot those of our group members she had not done before and took a shine to Ian!!! Thank you Pam and Brian for another fantastic walk. The calendar is now full for 2009. Roll on 2010 I am sure we will all do our best to makes Pam s job as organiser as easy as possible. We didn t do the circular walk!