A 900-home development with a riverside path on Blackwall Yard, designed by Glenn Howells Architects, Panter Hudspith and White Artiketer, has been given the go-ahead by Tower Hamlets Council. This is a location well known to many completing the Lea Valley Walk. The end of the Lea Valley Walk (unless you choose to follow the […]

Tanya Landman’s latest novel has an appropriately ‘striking’ cover by Chaaya Prabhat which may encourage an instant purchase. Lightning Strike seeks to tell to younger readers the true story of the terrible working conditions which led to the Matchgirls Strike in 1888. This was a turning point in Bow and the development of trade unionism. […]

There is a new footbridge spanning the River Lea navigation at Tottenham Hale. The wood and ‘wood effect’ crossing, found between Stonebridge Lock and Tottenham Lock, links new housing on Hale Wharf on the left bank with Hale Village on the right. Hale Wharf Bridge spans the Lea, its towpath and parallel Pymmes Brook alongside […]

Just before midnight tonight, on New Year’s Eve, actress Sofia Helin, star of The Bridge, will read Tennyson’s poem Ring out, Wild Bells live to the Swedish TV audience. The tradition of reading the poem just before New Year predates the invention of television. The ‘wild bells’ are those of Waltham Abbey church which Alfred, […]

Meridian Water, a new village on the Lea, moves a step nearer with £170m Housing Infrastructure Fund cash from the government. The former Stonehill Business Park and bus garage will see 10,000 new homes and shops each side of the navigation linked by new bridges. The infrastructure grant will enable the construction of the bridges […]

Truman’s Brewery has just moved its main site up the Lea Valley from Fish Island opposite the Olympic Park to Walthamstow. This may not be as handy but it’s good news that the brewery is staying in the Lea Valley. Indeed, having left Fish Island, Truman’s has been brewing at Crate Brewery’s riverside Queen’s Yard […]

Today Wednesday 29 May 2020 is the centenary of Welwyn Garden City. Sadly all celebrations are cancelled. Ebenezer Howard launched Welwyn Garden City Limited on 29 April 1920 having successfully created nearby Letchworth Garden City. The Lea Valley Walk first meets the garden city at Stanborough Park where the River Lea feeds the lakes. Beyond […]

A new book mentions the extraordinary font canopy in Luton’s ancient parish church. Church Fonts is by Matthew Byrne who has spent nearly forty years exploring churches. Font canopies are rare and Matthew has found only five in England. Luton’s is even more dramatic than the one at Trunch in Norfolk which is shown in […]

On a damp winter Monday in Luton is was a pleasure to stop off at The Moat House for lunch. The moated and thatched Tudor building is near the start of the Lea Valley Walk and handy if you need the ‘eat as much as you like’ breakfast for £4.69 including fried bread (9-11.30am). Coffee […]

There is an opportunity to see Meridian Water in two decade’s time from the air. The £6bn development will be on both banks of the Lea just above Tottenham Marshes. The ambitious project, which already has a new railway station, is now occupied on the towpath side (east) by the demolished Stonehill Park Business Estate. […]