Walking Wapping Waterfront | Thames Path East End Walk (4K)

Walking Wapping Waterfront - Thames Path East End Walk at Wapping Old Stairs.
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A walk along Wapping High Street exploring the Thames foreshore and the history of the old London docks along Wapping which stretches far back into the history of the city. We walk down Wapping Old Stairs, one of the ancient rights of way for Thames Watermen where they could access their boats to row people across the Thames.
We look at the Town of Ramsgate and Prospect of Whitby pubs - both dating from the 1500's, walk down the Pelican Stairs and New Crane stairs to walk along the banks of the River Thames. Our walk ends at Shadwell Basin.
Books mentioned:
London Walks by Tom Pock (1974)
The Lure and Lore of London's River by A.G Linney (1932)
Wonderful London (1926)
Links:
Secrets of the City with Iain Sinclair - walking through Wapping and Limehouse • Secrets of the City wi...
Wapping Old Stairs on the lost byway - Old Stairs of the Thames at Wapping and Shadwell thelostbyway.co...
London Overground documentary • London Overground - Ia...
Music:
Cylinder One by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (creativecommon...)
Source: chriszabriskie....
Artist: chriszabriskie....
Fortress Europe by Dan Bodan
Amber by VYEN
Orbit by Corbyn Kites
State Drive by VYEN
Fresh Fallen Snow by Chris Haugen
Nevada City by Huma-Huma
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[@jackpayne4658]

I remember an unforgettable walk around Wapping circa 1975. The docks were closed, but the redevelopment had yet to begin. The streets were almost empty, with the wooden doors of warehouses flapping in the wind. It was like nowhere else I had ever seen - with an uncanny, dreamlike atmosphere.

[@benjamindenton]

'Mudlarking With Johnnie Vaughan' sounds like an Alan Partridge idea.

[@MeTheRob]

😂😀😎

[@williamgannaway8183]

Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank.

[@lankriverfront8360]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4Omoamdp8SXkNE

[@keynshamkeynsham1]

Mud wrestling with Chris Whitty

[@MikeJF355]

John, you deserve an awful lot more views than are shown. This was a really well put together and informative feature with great music and excellent commentary. I will be watching your other listings as well. Many thanks and a Happy New Year to you and your viewers.

[@MarkNisbetMusic]

Thank you for another Really enjoyable video, they always bring back a pile of memories. I went on several explorations of this area in the early 80s when I lived in a hard to let council flat on West Ferry road. My favourite walk on a Sunday afternoon was down West Ferry road to the foot tunnel, across to Greenwich, through the park and up to Shooters Hill, used to feel like escaping to the countryside even though I was still fully surrounded by urban London. The other walk I used to do was on weekdays up the Grand Union canal to Mile End road as I was studying at Queen Mary College. There were no trains this side of Mile end in those days, the Island Line was being constructed as I moved away. After leaving college I spent a year living in Pixley Street in Limehouse and was involved with a music Co-op based around the Swimming Baths at Poplar. We put on a week of music at the Half Moon Theatre in Stepney Green. I eventually had to move back to the south (where my parents lived) searching for employment in Thatcher’s Britain, ended up working for Friends of the Earth in Portsmouth. London was a return to my roots, my Dad was born in Ilford, my Mum in Barking and my Grandparents on my mum’s side were from Bethnal Green and Spitalfields. Before getting married my Grandmother was a nippy, working in one of the Lyon’s Tea Shops.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for sharing those memories Mark - that's a great slice of social history there

[@friendlier]

I watch Nicola White's mudlarking videos, and have been up and down Wapping High Street in Street View, and down to the foreshore between those two. So watching this, I felt like you were in my old stomping grounds. Funny thing is, I live in Oregon and have never actually been there.

[@benjamindenton]

If you want to see Wapping High Street in 1980, it's in The Elephant Man where Anthony Hopkins can be seen walking along it on his way to see John Merrick.

[@bakerloobadboy]

I'm sure it's also in The Long Good Friday with a scene that involves a car blowing up

[@davesnelling3812]

@@bakerloobadboy In the film they blew up a fictional pub called the Unicorn I believe ? the site is long gone but it was on Wapping High street directly opposite a rd called Scandrett street, in the movie it shows them pulling up in Scandrett st and looking at the pub dead opposite,

[@bakerloobadboy]

@@davesnelling3812 that scene is in the official trailer. It can be seen here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGqTq4GwrqueY9k

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for that Dave - I think we briefly see Scandrett Street on the other side of St. John's Churchyard, didn't know about the scene from Long Good Friday

[@gazriley624]

Thanks John, Merry Xmas. Look up a video of Bob Hoskins and Barry Norman from 1982 walking around the same area (i think) only watched it yesterday

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I love that video Gaz

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Really fantastic walk, so exciting to see the shorelines and hear about the history, so many great panoramas. Now where did I put my paintbrushes? ;-) Thanks so much and Season's Greetings to you and your family

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Lois - and thanks so much for your wonderful painting

[@ashleysgaze]

Hugely enjoyable, John. Many thanks for revealing many aspects of this deep topography. Merry Christmas!

[@markahomer]

Wonderful video.Thank you. Aware of the changes afoot, around 1981, I photographed Wapping one lunchtime. This has triggered memories of that day! Very relevant that estate agents' offices randomly appear in the background during this film.

[@johnplynch4866]

Fantastic as usual John. I always like the opening shot of "Frenzy" which pans along the Thames.

[@mattruff4408]

I forgot to say was walking the path Richmond to Teddington lock 2 weeks ago to see a seal bobbing it's head out of the water and my son found mitten crabs along the muddy river bank

[@mattydsmith]

A wonderful bit of the world. Will never forget I was walking near the Captain Kidd when I overheard an old guy telling a mate that wharf stood for warehouse along river front, previously I’d assumed it was a word with its own meaning. Lovely video, as always.

[@Mathemagical55]

Don't take etymological advice from old men in pubs.... wharf: Middle English (noun); Old English hwearf embankment; cognate with Middle Low German warf; akin to German Werf (pier)

[@jackpayne4658]

That's called a 'backronym' - inventing a series of words to supposedly explain a pre-existing word.

[@yarrik8580]

Love this video, living at the Isle of Dogs I was always fascinated with the local history. In fact I was walking around Wapping today, such a fascinating place.

[@alltheteam69]

Magnificent John. Was reading about the steps in The Way to the Sea. Love London and Estuary. Thank you for brightening the days up.

[@tracik1277]

Merry Christmas, John, 2020 has been helped along by vicarious enjoyment of being outside for a walk. Many thanks!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Glad the walks could bring some light this year Traci

[@mattruff4408]

just what I needed for making feel a bit better John sitting here all day feeling rubbish. Stay safe

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Glad you're feeling a bit better Matt - brighter days ahead

[@angusmeigh5141]

London docks have moved 18 miles east to Tilbury now. You should do a video about the working Tilbury docks which are really huge. By the way there used to be docks as far west as Brentford for smaller boats. Chelsea harbour used to be a commercial dock as well for small working boats.

[@aleksk4151]

@@angusmeigh5141 i hope you are well

[@minijames2777]

Thanks John for a marvellous walk of wapping. Merry Christmas John and I will see you on the next one where ever that maybe.

[@susiewickham9990]

Another fine video. Used to attend playgroups with my young children before fleeing London for an easier school life. Walked all of these docklands routes many times over. Love them all. Thank you and merry Xmas.

[@stevenspraggs4953]

simply brilliant right up my street that one john my favourite one you have done please go back and show us the inside of the pubs bet a few are haunted keep up the great work you do with these pity no one gets you to do a few episodes for the tv you could do it along side ian sinclare would make great viewing looking forward to more east end ones in 2021 have a great christmas and a peaceful 2021 steve karen and the boy's

[@ickledotco]

Thank you. One of your best. Happy Christmas!

[@lesliegprice6652]

Yes Brunel's Tunnel ,extensively refurbished, has been utilised for the East London Overground Line from Highbury & Islington to New Cross and Clapham junction

[@w.g.hunter1300]

Wonder what those trench-coated figures (two with cases!) were doing heading down to the river foreshore @ 11:11?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Good question - I think they do re-enactments, I saw some people dressed just like that at the anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street

[@derekpyne]

Hi John Another brilliant video special to me as its around my area in the late 50s to late 60s before moving to Bow. The bridge beside Shadwell basin I used to watch the ships coming in and as you look at the dock behind you is Shadwell park where used to play quite a lot. Went back there a couple of years ago changed so much. Back then the warehouses were being used and very busy streets and the area very seedy 😀. Just one more thing you talked about building sandcastles, my mum used to take me to tower beach right in front of the Tower of London and good view of the bridge from down beside the river. Think I was about 4 or 5. They closed it after that due to the river being dirty. Thanks again for this video. Have a peaceful Christmas👍

[@tomgirldouble3249]

Fabulous walk John, don't think I've ever seen the Thames at low tide. Doubt I will anytime soon either 😃 is the tier 4 going to affect your walks? By the way, Martin Frobisher was a great X uncle of mine on my mother's side 😋have a happy holiday and stay safe both you and your family. 😃💕All the very best.

[@pjc.544]

I never been across the pond yet. I'd love to go visit jolly ol....I then go take in a football match....WEST HAM

[@cheekyllamacreations]

Love this. I followed your journey on Google Earth on my ipad as I was watching this video on my phone. Fascinating stuff 👍

[@robbojax2025]

John. if you have not read it may I suggest Underworld in the Victorian Period by Henry Mayhew. it is a contemporary account of interviews with London's underclass. I was reminded of it by your reference to mudlarks. They used to scratch a meagre living out of it. The book truly reflects what poverty really was in Victorian London. Another excellent walk and talk. Merry Christmas.

[@chucky2316]

Generations of my family were lightermen I did my family tree and you are lucky if you have them because they were trades that were family affairs, my grandfather was born in wapping. Its funny as im still near the water but just in Devon. I've always had a pull within me for rivers and sea. Rip grandad passed away in his 85th year in 1991. Proud of my heritage

[@acidthunder1]

Some great London Mudlark youtubers John, check them out

[@adrianw609]

Thank you for this video i did same walk last month Wapping Station itself is very interesting a Brunel structure i think

[@robertbarling5601]

Thank you once again John for a thoroughly interesting video. It was particularly interesting for me as both my grandfather and uncle spent their lives working at the east india docks. And yes I remember that around Christmas time a delivery of goods accidentally fell from a crane and suddenly there was a glut of stuff like shoes and alcohol. Strange that! 😄

[@angelagay7829]

Another great walk taking me back to my London days the three year journeying from the Angel Islington to the Metropolitan Warp - we were little@ printshop there before Murdock & co

[@philburdett]

Great stuff, sir! I'm currently writing & recording an album of songs about the 'Essex diaspora' from the East of London down to the estuary mouth & this video is now added to many others I'm using to set the mood & inspire. The docks have always held a fascination for me & (whilst no mudlark) I've pottered about that area many times hunting down stories & fables...thanks for retracing it for me so engagingly...

[@johnhonnry1149]

Watched this completely by chance and thoroughly enjoyed the walk. I live in Wrexham in North Wales which happens to be the birthplace of the 'hanging judge' Judge Jeffreys. Interesting to see where he got his comeuppance. Will be watching some of your other walks. Thank you.

[@rambling_rob7035]

Merry Christmas to you and your's, John.

[@magicknight8412]

Went to the prospect of whitby few months before lockdown, wonderful pub inside.

[@LADmob]

John, you are a living London's encyclopedia 😉

[@LisaStuart-u5h]

I absolutely loved this trip along that area of the Thames. My grandfather was a river policeman (1935-1964 … yes, through the blitz 😱) and my father ( b. 1937) grew up playing “on the beaches” of the Thames. The draw of the water is strong for me 🌊❤

[@karlx19]

You should come up to Whitby - I'm sure you'd love a meander through the historic streets

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

11pm, double malt whiskey, bag o crisps and a walk with you. Nothing better. Excellent presentation John. thank you

[@CaratacusAD]

The barges with the big yellow crates at 23:35 carry rubbish from the city down to a landfill near Dagenham, I believe. I see them go past my window at Silvertown/Gallions Lock every day. A much-reduced cargo since covid. Awesome channel John :) If you ever reshoot around Royal docks and Silvertown, I'd be happy to be a guide.

[@1Electricmoon]

Interesting.... the landfill site is at the Rainham marshes, a mountain of buried rubbish, the concrete barges are close by. Cheers Nigel 🍻

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Steve

[@jerrymccarthy2744]

Great video. I work in wapping, and actually skipper of the fuel barge you see running past, to where we moor at hermitage wharf. Turners old star I s a lovely pub for a pint after work, and it's also where they filmed the fight scene in tom hardy's film about The Krays called legend. Thanks again for another intresting walk.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Wonderful stuff Jerry - fantastic to hear from an actual skipper working on the Thames, must be a great job

[@martinlawrence8427]

Can’t believe I never visited those amazing pubs when I lived in London. Note to self: day trip from the fens, post COVID!

[@Mouxbar]

Merry Christmas John and the family. Stay safe and well under the new Tier 4 :-)

[@stevejones3635]

The Captain Kidd pub is a relatively new pub, established in the late 80s. Quite a contrast to the Town of Ramsgate and Prospect of Whitby. Locally it was recognised that the Prospect was the oldest riverside inn and the Ramsgate was the oldest riverside pub.

[@RajSinghKhalsa]

Another magical trip John, wonderful video, I remember visiting those steps down on the Thames foreshore on a primary school trip many moons ago, thanks for nudging my memories John and have a safe and happy xmas

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Raj and a very merry Christmas to you

[@barrytcook1]

I sent you some photos of st saviours docks from the 70's that I thought might interest you to the fuguer address ... is that ok?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks for that Barry - I’ll reply later this evening

[@nickcooper1260]

Another interesting video, John. The Thames Marine Police motto ' Primus Omnium ' means 'First of All', reflecting their position in the police force-They were founded in 1798, 30 years before the Metropolitan Police were formed. Captain Kidd was regarded as a pirate at the time (Hence his execution), however some modern researchers dispute this. The last hanging at Execution Dock took place in 1830, which doe'nt seem that long ago, historically.

[@Heinz57ish]

Nice one John. I was only reading this week, the apprenticeship was 7 years long.You could be a Lighterman or a Waterman.

[@chucky2316]

I'm indeed descended from one of those lightermen family's, my grandfather was born in wapping. Very proud of my family. Apparently not only 7 year apprentiship but also family affair father to son, and great well known characters.

[@stevejones3635]

If you want to see the inside of Turners Old Star watch the pub fight scene in Legend, the Tom Hardy movie on the Kray Twins.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Ah thanks - that's a classic scene, watched it a few times

[@jackmcmenamin3360]

Thank you John for another memorable walk. Back in the early eighties I brought my young children to watch Tower bridge open for a ship to pass. We watched from British and Foreign wharf, a working drinks warehouse, where my Father in Law worked for his entire life. I well remember him pointing to a jetty where 'part of The Long Good Friday' with Bob Hoskins was filmed. That's done it..the iconic Francis Monkman score won't leave my brain now..See you on the next one.."wherever that may be.."

[@chrismccartney8668]

By wapping pier did you notice the crane built onto the wall ?

[@stevegee7593]

All the best to you and your family, for the coming weeks in the tier 4 London and Essex.

[@LarryBees]

top stuff as per usual John 😁

[@jackysmith1763]

Thank you John. A fascinating walk especially on the foreshore. Happy Christmas to you and your family.

[@TomTomLo1]

No mention of the French resistance making an appearance at 11:07?

[@samsungw200]

Great film thanks John I love the historical info

[@christinetaylor6179]

Another great walk John. I love looking at the old architecture, so atmospheric. I hope you can do another in 2020 as I hear that London is now tier 4. Happy Christmas.

[@RobTaverner]

Thanks again John. Another great video. Merry Christmas to you from Brum.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Rob - have a good one

[@Sue-rh4qj]

Thank you John we could almost taste the sea! Sea-sons greetings from chingford 🎉

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Where ever that may be. Thanks John.

[@LifeistooshortCK]

I enjoyed that walk. Very interesting. Happy New Year 👍🥂

[@StarWarsJay]

Nice video John. As kids, wed go down there just before they started redeveloping. I’m glad I got to see it before it was gone. I always remember going into a massive derelict warehouse that smelled strongly of pepper. Maybe someone here remembers that place.

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Brilliant walk - adding this to my list next time I'm in London. Thank you for these walkabout videos.

[@paularnold4440]

Thanks John. Very interesting video. You have been a bright spot every week in this awful year. Stay safe.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Paul - 2021 is not far away now

[@travellingeverard4326]

Great video John, really interesting. Merry Christmas to you and your family

[@JennyTools]

All my ancestors were lighterman or watermen from Shadwell and one (John Sheppard 1841) used to row a barmaid in The Town of Ramsgate pub across the river every day (Ann Crouch) They later married and had six children.

[@MeTheRob]

Very familiar territory for me, but I must have missed some of those narrow alleyways, and never did descend some of those stairs. The one that ended in a choice between a sheer drop and a ladder would have been an utter no no for me.

[@oldskool731]

should of gone in King Edward Memorial Park were the stairs to rotherithe tunnel are theres a board at the river saying about some historic journey that set off from there

[@srfurley]

The Rotherhithe Tunnel air shaft No. 2 in Rotherhithe can be across the river, just to the left of the old gasometer frame. The one in the King Edward VII Memorial Park near Shadwell Basin is No.3. Both were used at one time for pedestrian access to the tunnel and contain an ornate iron spiral staircase. Unfortunately it’s not possible to see any of it from the outside, but the bottom few stems can be seen, and climbed, by walking through the tunnel. The fumes from the traffic are pretty bad however. Shafts 1 and 4 are a short distance in from the tunnel portals and the surface buildings were plainer than those on the river banks. No. 1 still exists with an ugly addition on top of it for ventilation plant, but No. 4 was demolished and replaced by a modern square building for a road improvement scheme in, I think, the 1960s.

[@kernowpete339]

Fantastic video, thanks so much 🙂

[@humble4533]

Thank you John for another wonderful video. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a happy healthy and prosperous New year

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much Humble and the same to you

[@humble4533]

@@JohnRogersWalks Thank you John

[@neilgilbert3587]

This is such a nice and informative video

[@trendtraderx]

one of the best ways to see london and landmarks is by boat from Hampton down to the Flood barrier.

[@donlefrigo4027]

Thank you John, really interesting. Have a happy Christmas.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Merry Christmas Don

[@JohnDoe-px4ko]

A happy Christmas to you and your family, John. 🎄🎁🍾

[@onemorespinforluck9782]

Great video again! Si-finds and nicola white mudlark are both great mudlarking channels. Be great to see you join one of them for a mudlark and then a walk together where you could physically match locations to finds and bring history to life.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I’d love that - I often watch Nicola White

[@anarcho-pingu]

this video is a wapping 30 mins long

[@metwhik]

Merry Christmas to you too John, Stay safe out walking.

[@pumpkinprincess1031]

Strangely quiet. Happy Holidays, John. Wishing you and your family peace.

[@BradReilly-sk1kk]

Like this vidio John went all along there had pint in town ramsgate that's were my mum was brought up in 19 40s all the best looking forward more of walks

[@GarethHowell]

In the Easter 1973 vac, when I was at NELP in Barking, a mate and I started a project to photo-document the riverbank from Westminster Bridge down to Rotherhithe before it changed too much in the regeneration that was just starting. That Easter we took about 20 reels of 35mm B&W photos: he photographing from the North Bank and me from the South. We got as far as Tower Bridge. The intention was to continue during the Long Vac, but it never happened. I subsequently lost touch with Pete, and I now have only one set of negs that cover the old OXO buildings and Southwark riverside.

[@KidCurry666]

Merry Christmas John, to you and your family. Thanks for posting some entertaining and informative videos in 2020, here's to 2021 👍👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Steve and a Merry Christmas to you and yours

[@michaeldillon3113]

When I do my own London walks I find this Wapping area palpably full of historic atmosphere. The past and present mix freely .

[@josephinebennington7247]

wonderful, I used to explore Shad Thames in the 1980s and 1990s. Suggest the film The Long Memory for views of this area, and the Gravesend Marshes when Gravesend was far scruffier than it is now. . It’s a film here on YT. The baddy has offices right in Shad Thames, Hay’s Wharf.

[@rupertferguson9673]

Hi John, in reponse to this week's video, and in answer to your question about Captain Kidd, he was indeed a pirate, although some believe the accusations against him were unjust. More here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kidd More important though, the Thames Watermen didn't just used to row people across the River, they also used to row them up river, as far as the Royal Palace of Richmond, and beyond. This pub in Richmond, which claims to be one of the town's oldest, is named in honour these celebrated Watermen: www.watermansrichmond.co.uk/ourstory.php I think I am correct in thinking that The oldest pub in the town of that name on record used to stand at the bottom of what is now called Old Palace Lane, close to the walled boundary of what is now the Palace and the boundary of a long vanished nearby monastery. This is where the Watermen used to drop off their passengers before rowing back downstream. There used to be a brief typed notice about this long demolished pub in the Local History Collections on the top floor of the new Town Hall building back in the nineteen nineties, but I can't tell you whether it is still there or whether it has been archived off somewhere else. However, I might have an old photocopy of this entry kicking about in my research archive somewhere. I think the pub may have dated to either the sixteenth or seventeenth century in that particular incarnation, but I'd have to find the document before I could tell you. The play and later film 'A Man for All Seasons' about the life and times of Sir Thomas Moore features just such a Waterman as one of the minor characters if I am not mistaken, and I think there are references to Moore being rowed up the Thames to Richmond at one point to see King Henry VIII before the latter got his Hampton Court. According to the Wikipedia page for the movie this character was played by Thomas Heathcote, who is only referred to as a 'Boatman' in the cast list: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_for_All_Seasons_(1966_film) As this is your last video before Christmas, and I have got us round to Hampton Court, here is a jolly jape by way of the Carry On team's 1972 vintage spoof madrigal, 'The Day Good King Harry Got His Hampton Court', or, as is more likely in this particular instance, his Hampton caught! There is a reference to Richmond here, but no sign of a Jolly Boatman sadly! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHrUonWJfriseKM

[@trailingarm63]

When you were speaking of great journeys which began and ended on the Thames near Wapping you could have added those of one of my writing heroes, Joseph Conrad. He frequented the place for 20 years as a merchant seaman before becoming a full-time writer. He mentioned the area frequently (Heart of Darkness et al). One of his observations read: "The ships in the centre of the city looked like a flock of swans kept in the flooded backyard of grim tenement houses." I came down to London from North Wales in 1979: I might as well have relocated to the Moon. I bumped into an old teacher of mine and he took me on a drinking tour of the Wapping & Limehouse pubs. They were so atmospheric I started to feel like some kind of ancient mariner and still do when I go down there. Another great walk and narration John. Cheers!

[@henraysmythe3265]

Sir Ian mckellan is the lanlord of the prospect of whitby

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Ah thanks for that essential info Henray - nobody is going to disagree with Gandalf

[@1Electricmoon]

I think you’ll find he’s the co owner of “The Grapes” much further down in narrow street. 🤔 Cheers Nigel 🍺

[@mozdickson]

Thanks John. Did you arrange that group of people from the 1950s to arrive at 11:06 ? 3 Tips viewers - wear sturdy boots on the Thames foreshore, not shoes - there is loads of rusty scrap and broken glass AND sewage; don't use Wet-Wipes, or at least don't flush them - there are hundreds of tons of them forming reefs in the Thames; if you smoke, don't chuck your butts on the ground - they end up in the water systems, and are toxic. Thanks!

[@StephenGrew]

When I lived in St.Annes by the Ribble, I had a small boat. And one day at low tide out in the estuary, some 250 miles from the Thames in Lancashire, I spotted a Thames barge, grounded....I went to investigate and the barge was owned by Bells Whiskey company. It was a fascinating sight and I rowed out to the ship and the crew invited me on board!

[@seandavis11961]

I enjoyed that very much. You make such relaxing videos. I don't know if you often go south of the Thames, but if you do you might enjoy a stage of a walk I developed. Stone Crossing Station to Dartford Station (6.75 miles). You can read my research on all the places it passes and get a map at www.greenbeltrelay.org.uk/Green%20Belt%20Way/gbw_15.htm I believe you will enjoy it and I'd love to see a video of you walking it.

[@sallyhuggett9915]

Omg !!! You are bringing back so many memories of me and my 2 younger brothers running around there My mum had jobs there a barmaid when she wasnt on duty as a bus conductress We had a couple of uncles 🤣who came in and worked at the docks Stayed overnight ..then went ..we got to name them ..limpy ron and drunk dave What days ..thanks again for bringing these memories bacj ..thoroughly loving this Dont stop.. you are a true historian xxxsal

[@borderlands6606]

Wapping Old Stairs was the location of the Thames torso mystery of 1966. Not to be confused with the Victorian Thames torso murders.

[@garylancaster8612]

Nobody is certain where execution dock actually was. It was on the foreshore at the bottom of one of the stairs but it's disputed which one. The most likely candidate (according to the method of matching old maps against modern ones) is King Henry's Stairs, the one in this video where the steps are gone and there's just a ladder. Wapping Old Stairs is a less likely candidate. The pubs are fantastic.

[@mrjoneseastend]

I grew up in Wapping in the 1960s and 70s and can assure you that there were no monkeys in St John's churchyard. As a boy I was told that the name Wapping came from the hung executed bodies that after being washed over by three tides became bloated or 'whopping', unfortunately not true but a good tale never the less. The Captain Kidd pub is what I call false heritage, looks like it's been around for 400 years but it's only been there for about 30 years. The outdoor space tho offers a great view of the Thames with a pint in hand.

[@richardofoz2167]

Don't overlook the lightermen. The Company of Watermen and Lightermen was established in 1514 to regulate the carriage of passengers (by the watermen) and freight (by the lightermen). This required considerable knowledge of the river's tides and currents to move their boats, which had no other source of power. This knowledge was acquired during a 7 year apprenticeship to a master, who often was their father or uncle, and so the trade passed down through successive generations,. In the early days, before the docks were developed, ships anchored in the river, and goods were unloaded onto the lighters, or barges, for delivery to facilities along the river banks. Without a source of power, the lightermen had to use their knowledge of the river to guide their lighters using only a long oar, known as a sweep. Lightermen in their first year of freedom were eligible to compete for the Doggetts Coat and Badge, the oldest rowing race in the world, held annually since 1715. It continues to this day. It is a very prestigious race and is fiercely contested.

[@richardsmith8325]

Great video John, do you remember in the opening credits of 'til death do us part' it shows the Thames and old docks and all the cranes in the early seventies before all the building works.

[@peckinpahlady]

Nice to see a part of the East End riverside that has retained its character and historical soul. Great video.

[@ruthweinberg4283]

I really enjoyed this film around Wapping. I worked at The Prospect of Whitby in 1968. I lived in Fairlop Road and used to get the tube from Leytonstone. It was a bit scary walking back to the tube station late at night after work as not resedential then and few people about.

[@sw_909]

Thanks so much for these videos, John. As someone who lives overseas, this was a great walk down memory lane and made me yearn for home. I used to drink in The Town Of Ramsgate when I was very young, just out of school really, because I used to play football across the road from there.

[@johnentwhistlesurelysamsun1840]

John there is a wonderful book entitled London's lost riverscape published in i think 1981, in 1937 a camararaman took a boat from i think westminster pier to Greenwich, photograthing all of the warehouses on the northside heading east downthe thames, then on the return journey heading west, photograthed the southside, when all the docklands activity was at its height, and he took these beguiling photos just in time before the outbreak of ww2 where so much was destroyed, i came across this book in stains library and kept borrowing it since, and then eventually tried to purchase it, it was a fascinating book with beautuful photo's and on of the photo's that struck me, was one when he reached millwall and you could see the spire of St Lukes millwall church, c 1878 which was damaged by a bombing raid in ww2, i sorely miss that church and am positive it could have been restored as i love some of those victorian churches scattered around various locatiobs in London and its environens, i hope tgat someday you will be able to locate this book and believe me you wont be dissapointed, and thankyou again for you tour of wapping it was great to see, keep those wonderful videos coming!