My walk from Stratford to Old Ford was not planned but rather on the spur of the moment, realising that I had several hours to fill between photographing BEIS refuse International Rescue help at lunchtime in Westminster and going on to my next event outside the Daily Mail, and that the weather was fine, with sun and a clear blue sky. I set of knowing which way I would start but with no particular destination in mind.
I’ve been interested in the Lower Lea Valley since I first walked there in around 1980, that led to my web site ‘The River Lea’ and later the book ‘Before the Olympics’ which I think first came out in 2011 and is still available.
At first I was very much attracted by its mixture of industry and post-industrial wilderness, particularly around the Bow Back Rivers between Stratford and Hackney, the very area that later became the Olympic site, and much of which is now a huge park. On earlier walks I’ve found this empty and alienating, but on this walk I was exploring one of the wilder areas, which was a welcome relief after walking through the urban hell of Westfield.
Coming out from these wetlands you still have to cross the arid desert that occupies much of the new park, before crossing the Lea Navigation into Hackney Wick, which is a far more lively place.
Tidied up for the Olympics, with much of the more vibrant graffiti removed, Hackney Wick is now in a rather curious balance between artistic ferment, peak hipster and gentrification.
As you can see from the full set of pictures and text on My London Diary, I wandered rather, and found myself having to rush to get to my next event.
You can see more pictures and text at Olympic Park walk.
______________________________________________________
There are no adverts on this site and it receives no sponsorship, and I like to keep it that way. But it does take a considerable amount of my time and thought, and if you enjoy reading it, a small donation – perhaps the cost of a beer – would be appreciated.
My London Diary : London Photos : Hull : River Lea/Lee Valley : London’s Industrial Heritage
All photographs on this and my other sites, unless otherwise stated, are taken by and copyright of Peter Marshall, and are available for reproduction or can be bought as prints.
To order prints or reproduce images
________________________________________________________