Great London History Walk around Wanstead Park (4K)

[@HIGHFLYINGDRONESHOTS]

Hats off to John for putting this together, chuffed we was asked to capture some aerial footage for this video, the subject matter was perfect as this is such a beautiful part of East London. Hope to collaboratate more in the future John. Well done mate 👍👍

[@oliverlysaght]

Great shots there - nice to see from these angles

[@annecarson341]

I can confirm 100% that Robert Mitchum did film a sequence from the Big Sleep. I have photos’s. I had the privilege to meet him with my mum as we lived in the Keeper’s Lodge in Wanstead Park. Have loved watching this video. Thank you

[@robj8201]

I’ve played in and walked this magical place many, many times. I was with you every step of the way. Yet another great show John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Rob

[@bully130london]

Me too mate,I grew up grew up in Alderbrook

[@seanwilkinson876]

I have just read an interesting book about Wanstead Park, 'The Angel and the Cad' by Geraldine Roberts, which goes into great detail about the marriage between Catherine Tylney Long and William Wellesley Pole. Apparently, William used the Grotto as an assignation for his many lovers. This book is definitely worth reading and really gave me a sense of the period and Wanstead House.

[@menogeek09]

I could have been found in that white tower block, January to April 1982 when it was an overspill met police training centre. I have vivid memories of twice weekly cross country runs round Bush Wood and Wanstead Park in similarly cold weather! I met the lady who was to become my wife in the British Queen up in Wanstead to find that she lived within 100 yds of the training centre!! Nearly 40 years later we have moved all the way to South Woodford and regularly still take on the mud in Wanstead Park. Love your videos, I know virtually all the walks you have done in this part of East London / Essex, but invariably you still turn up stuff that I hadn't a clue about. Thank you for entertaining and informing us

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks so much for sharing that JGL - always great to hear of the stories attached to the buildings we pass in our daily lives

[@alfredfrome9455]

It's hard to imagine that Wanstead Park with all those ponds was part of the estaate it was absolutely huge. BTW that white tower block was indeed used by the Metropolitan Police, back in the 80's when Hendon Training College was at full capacity recruits spent their last few weeks of traing thhere. Thanks for the interesting video.

[@lofty92]

Absolutely fantastic narration,spent my whole youth over this park in the 1970s with my gang,what a magical area this is,always felt there was a lot more to it when i was i kid,we played in the grotto on a daily basis back then,also had baked potatoes in foil we took with us,and put them in the hugh fires left when the tree surgeons were doing the works in the seventies,stayed til the early hours,was around 11/12 years old then,the lakes froze nearly every winter,skaters and us were all over the place,fantastic memory's thanks for sharing,the drone footage added another dimension.thank you sir.....superb :)

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for sharing those great memories

[@PVAPPE]

That’s my next 54 minutes accounted for! 😀

[@julieblackstock8650]

and me. I was just starting to worry John had to stay home due to the snow

[@lloydevans1552]

@@julieblackstock8650 I would willingly come and clear a path had that been the case⛏🧹

[@toboldygo5823]

Chinese drivers are not disrespectful. For some reason they just slow on the uptake🥴 🤷🏻‍♂️❤️✨👍🏻. Chinese drivers are very good decent people though😎🙏🏻✨👍🏻

[@PVAPPE]

@@toboldygo5823 : Wrong channel for your comment!

[@bw_digitalphotography]

i love some of the aerial views in this video! places look magnificent from the air aswell as from the ground

[@tinatndc]

Thank you Mr Rogers, I was sent this video by a fan of yours and thought it might be a commentry on how much better things used to be, so I was thrilled at how upbeat and positive you were. It is a real privilege to have this on our doorsteps and to have you bring it to life at every turn. I proposed to my husband on the bench opposite The Grotto in 2006 (he said yes) and we go back to the same spot every year and still feel the same way.

[@EricOconnell-j5r]

John...love your walks and history videos...was born in London Islington Highbury great days ..

[@marylapping8958]

Am glad to have been able to see this. My wife has always wanted to travel through the park but is wheelchair bound and it looks to rough terrain for her. At least she can at last see what it's like . Thank you.

[@christinetaylor6179]

Brilliant walk John thank you. As a child in the 50's my parents used to take me there on at weekends. After all these years it's great to learn so much about it.

[@raethia]

I just read that William Wellesley-Pole the husband of the poor Catherine Tylney-Pole had an immense party at Wanstead House in 1814 to celebrate the victory of his uncle the Duke of Wellington over Napoleon. The event was attended by the Prince Regent, other members of the Royal Family and OVER A THOUSAND dignitaries. We can only imagine the grandness of the house and its gardens to host thousands of guests!!! In the years following the French Revolution, the House was also occasionally let out to members of the Bourbon French Royal Family in exile. Incredible facts.

[@Segasocks]

I can't stop watching your videos so I thought I had better comment at least once! Your often on my television for hours at a time! Thank you for all the effort you go to in producing your content, it really is compelling stuff!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Segasocks, I love making these videos so great to hear that you’re enjoying them

[@Signals927]

Having lived in Wanstead in the 1950's your video brought back lot's of memories of my visit's to Wanstead Park, thanks john.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure Signals927

[@ut02tl]

Such memories of a youth spent in Wanstead Park and Flats, brought it all back from 55 year's ago.

[@robbojax2025]

Glad you are now posting Sundays as the videos are so relaxing before bedtime. Loved this one as most of my childhood and teen years were spent in Wanstead Park. I remember to 1963 big freeze when all the ponds were frozen for nearly three months and the Ornamental Lake had to be restocked with fish.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I'll certainly try to stick to Sunday uploads Robert

[@mungofitz]

You really are a treasure Mr Rogers. I roamed and loved this area seventy years ago and you have observed it beautifully. Lovelier and colder than Torquay in Victoria Australia.

[@maggielarkin8143]

Discovered your videos in quarantine last year John....they saved my sanity!!...going through the backlog now....wonderful...love the lost river vids coupled with the poignancy of your music choices...Huma Huma's Pachabelly should be your theme tune!...Wanstead Park reminds me of where I live here in Dublin...I live on lands that were owned by the Guinness family...their mansion was also demolished in 1968 ( although it had gone up in flames around 1948 after billeted army men set it on fire to cover up stealing supplies) and the gardens were lost ...they had a walled garden, Heracleum (?)temple, pet cemetery and numerous other follies...the loss of the "big house" is immeasurable today..just a grass mound is left...but it's still a nice park enjoyed by a heck of a lot of people...thanks a bunch for these fab videos....cheers.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for that Maggie - I do love that Pachbelly piece and try hard not to overuse it. That Guinness site sounds loaded with poignancy

[@sirtrevor10]

Fabulous film. I’m a member of the golf club for 33 years, I knew about the wine cellar, but was pleased to learn about the park’s history. Thanks so much.

[@adammichaelsilver]

another great watch, your videos have really inspired me throughout Lockdown to get out and start walking. Mine are far less scenic and much shorter but enjoyable none the less. Keep on with the great work and love to see another Loughton video soon.

[@ArtofaCat]

What a fantastic video! I absolutely loved seeing the passion and appreciation you have for the history of Wanstead park. What is really special, is that I practically grew up walking around this place as a kid. Me and my family would walk our labrador here all the time. I am a huge fan of the history of the park, especially the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin who use to ride through those very woods before they were developed. Hearing your mention of him and his uncle at the end put a smile on my face. It was also so wonderful to see all these locations, like pebble beach. My family used to call that small section pebble beach as well! Thank you for making such an enjoyable and educational video on the park and its history, it's such an enjoyable watch and a great trip down memory lane. I even learned some things I never knew.

[@springtime8029]

I do enjoy your very calming videos I used to live near denham in Buckinghamshire 40 years ago.im fascinated by your history talks plus the London walks.thankyou for your peaceful vlogs. I hope your back gets better.i had a severe stroke in 2021 which has disabled me up until now. I keep getting up every day and go out to battle against demoralisation and to keep going and to live. Watching your videos gets me out when I struggle to get out of my house.keepbupyour good walks ❤️❤️❤️👍😊X

[@JTTW1455]

Fascinating history, what a treasure Wanstead Park is.

[@johnjosephlonergan]

Just discovered this channel after having randomly discovered Aldersbrook today having lived in Wanstead to 20 years, I had never taken the necessary turn off the path. So I discovered your river video and now this one too. I have so much familiarity with many of the sites you visit having lived in London all my life, but not with your eyes and knowledge. Now, binge watching your videos John with my wife and son. Thanks so much.

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Wow! One of my favourite walks so far, such incredible cinematography, some of the imagery around the ponds and lakes will stick with me for a long time, as will a lot of your thoughts and research, so interesting and thought-provoking as always. I love these longer videos, really engrossing. The drone footage was a lovely bonus, wonderful to see the landscape laid out below like a living, moving map. thanks John!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks so much Lois - it's such a beautiful location to capture on camera

[@SisterGoodbass]

Absolutely wonderful, thanks John. I grew up nearby and know these paths and sights so well. Moved away some years ago but this brought memories flooding back, plus new-old stories I didn't know. As a kid spent many hours on cross country runs around Wanstead park, it was used by local schools, maybe still is. Lots of mud and stinging nettles, but a great way to get to know the landscape.

[@rangerover.1971]

My children are at Wanstead High School and they still use it for cross country runs - my son practiced only last Sunday.

[@lamiaitaly2549]

I used to live in Draycot Road and would hear the bell ringing in St Marys every hour or half hour. Wonderful church. Thanks for the video

[@bernardjakob8959]

Still does every hour, half hour and quarter hour... day and night. Those moving to the area moan about it for a while, but you soon become deaf to it. I moved into the road next to St Mary's 28 years ago and love the bells.

[@woohay]

You can tell you're a kind man. Keep sharing your knowledge in such an engaging and eloquent manner.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's very kind of you - thanks

[@nigelplant9798]

Thanks John. 30 years since i moved away, so nice to be reminded of the area I grew up in.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

glad I could take you back there Nigel

[@Rickyivesofficial]

Recently did a video “my most recent uploaded” of Wanstead park. I lived in Leytonstone all my life 34 years and you know what it was until I started watching your videos that I finally discovered the avenue such a beautiful walk and lead up to Wanstead park! I’m still in amateur mode of KZbin creator but am slowly developing my skills and and tour videos gimme the inspiration I need to do that! Thanks John! 🙏

[@cgj3888]

Another Magic Walk with the happy wonderer Treasured times Thanks SMILES 👍🇬🇧👌

[@mtaha6517]

Really enjoyed this walk with u. U explained all main places in the context of history.

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Great video.the editing is brill. Thanks John

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers Little Acorns

[@taniamenendez6786]

I will use your book on my next visit to London. Thank you very much for sharing the unknown part of the city. I love the way you explain all those stories.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks very much Tania

[@ravindersembi3955]

Thanks John so much history, I work from home, and do this walk daily to freshen up my mind

[@keithjones7810]

The police building used to be a police training college. in the late 70's and early 80's there was a big influx of recruits and the building was used as an overflow from Hendon Police College. I was there in 1981. Love your videos. very well done.

[@stuartshipton5612]

Awesome film. I think Wanstead is a place I would love to live again. My parents used to be the managers of what was the Eagle and Child pub (featured in another of your Wanstead films) but I was too young to remember my time there. Bravo for braving what has been Antarctic like temperatures to make this film!

[@andrewcroft6855]

Your videos are always enchanting and informative John, this one was particularly wonderful and the drone footage just added to the glory of it all. Always a terrific and highly relaxing watch. Keep up the good work

[@101grandma]

Newspaper "The Morning Post", from 06 June 1822, tells of auctions of contents of Wanstead House. Apparently, they published three books full as catalogues for the auctioneering, and the sales were to take place over 32 days. Really interesting stuff, sorry I can't post. Great video as usual, John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks for that info

[@janiebarker2687]

Awesome John I have great memories living in Forestgate and coming here a magical place indeed ending up with an icecream from the tearoom on the warm sunshine days and hot tea with cake on the less warm days . A secret fairy path to the lake and basin I cannot reveal 😀💖

[@toboldygo5823]

Finally a walk-through London with somebody that knows English history😎👍🏻✨

[@ArthurStone]

Thank you John. Much appreciated. My Wanstead anecdote: Mid-Summer, midnight; in the long grass south of Alexandra Lake I could smell lion in the air and sensed I was in the Serengeti - my companions (rather unimaginatively) commented that it was from the circus, but I could feel the vibration of Africa beneath my feet.

[@BASHER601]

Hi Basher601 I used to live and work in Leytonstone, so I often used to cycle and walk the paths you have just walked. Thanks for uncovering the history of the Wanstead Park. Keep up the good work.

[@terrioestreich4007]

Such a wonderful episode! I love how you make it fun to learn about England's history, thank you! People like you make the world a better place

[@roberthayes9842]

Grew up there, many a happy day playing in the woods

[@bedorset579]

I miss a muddy walk. Now I live in California and everything is managed and paved over just like the song. Your wonderful videos save my sanity.

[@geofffisher3902]

I love it when you thank us for accompanying you. We should thank you so much more. Cheers.

[@EllySpace]

Great relaxing walk! Well filmed and explained! Loved watching and listening! ❤️❤️❤️

[@iainmacvicar5858]

Fascinating stuff. Like the drone footage, gives a real sense of place.

[@ivanrainbird2416]

thank you for all the information john great stuff

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Ivan

[@rrygor]

Gold again John. More areas covered today that have fond memories of my younger years. Walking the Avenue at the start, the Metropolitan Police used to train their horses nearby, my grandma would take my sister and I over to give the riders refreshments. Many times walking through Wanstead Park, the ponds, the grotto....great stuff. Catch you again soon Nick.

[@seanwilkinson876]

Great video. Nice to have a narrative when walking round an area. The wife must have been very naive to marry such a well known rake. I think I might even have seen her once when walking back through Bush Wood very late at night. She appeared as a white figure in the distance, but I didn't hang around to check it out too much. Later, I heard that this white lady was reputed to be the tragic wife of the owner of Wanstead House. I can't agree with you about Wanstead Park being the muddiest part of Epping Forest. Many areas are muddy but, for me, the muddiest place is the left hand side of Highams Park Lake. It's a mud-slip nightmare! Re Shoulder of Mutton Pond: when you were allowed to swim in it in my youth in the late 1970s, we found many Victorian pharmacy bottles and pop bottles on the muddy pond bed. It was a treasure trove!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That's a great story Sean - we can now add the ghost to its rich narrative

[@seanwilkinson876]

@@JohnRogersWalks I was surprised you hadn't mentioned the ghost of the white lady. It was a well known story when I lived in Wanstead in the 1990s.

[@briansmail7297]

Especially as Greater London Cemetery is just south of the Park itself. Spooky at night for sure..

[@DanCherishedsoul]

Great glad u done this video john look forward to sundays latest uploads top as always and I love it when you do the local area as is my area lived woodville rd from 1978 my family still live in e11

[@JohnRogersWalks]

glad you enjoyed it Daniel

[@DanCherishedsoul]

@@JohnRogersWalks everytime helping keeping us going in these times I learn something every video 👍👌

[@TheDutchman92000]

Great video John, thank you, fantastic venue.

[@jamesbain4351]

An historical epic John, thoroughly enjoyed that....many thanks (for all your enjoyable walks & talks)

[@melissaquinn1296]

An interesting subject. I am just happy it is not a third one in a row about rivers!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I made a big effort to avoid the hatrick

[@Curiousdriving]

Just fantastic, thanks for this wonderful adventure

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers Ian

[@bmcd9490]

Watched this video when it first came out in February. Using the information John provided I visited the site of Wanstead House today, a sunny day in April. This is one of his most enlightening videos.

[@sallypassmore8748]

Superbly stunning. Thank you so much for a beautiful winter walk.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure Sally, thanks for watching

[@neilhayes2013]

By far your best episode. It’s so appropriate for me today as I have just come back from St Patrick’s Roman Catholic cemetery as it’s my dads birthday 10 years after he moved on. We had his wake in Wanstead golf club and today We wanted to go to the golf club so mum could remind herself of his great send off but we couldn’t find it, but lo and behold I watched this and there it was. We will now retrace your route and end up at the clubhouse. Thank you so Much👍

[@drhowslounge]

52:33 "It's so cold today...it's minus something!" Love that comment John. And really enjoyed this video after years of trying to find the info and the shots all in one place!! Awesome and thank you.

[@tom_edge]

Only discovered wanstead park a year or so ago, but has quickly become my favourite London park, and the favourite park of my dog!

[@Prometheus833]

Great walk John. I watched it on TV while following along using google maps on my iPad for an overhead view. I was able to pick out the footprint of many of the garden features, parts of the palace and other structures in the growth patterns of the lawns. Cheers 🍻

[@athoshadjiantoni6403]

You always like walking around Redbridge and Epping Forest Borough. Great walk John Rogers. 👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I do indeed Athos

[@Mick_Holland]

Thoroughly enjoyable, John. Ta!

[@diannereeks1150]

Thx for this. Stunning drone footage and helpful maps. Loved all the stories. I’ve been here many times and just knew it as ornamental lakes

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure Dianne - glad I could show you more of the Park

[@rickwills4281]

Thanks John, another FAB walk....loved the drone footage btw and the Hendrix anecdote!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

glad you enjoyed it Rick

[@SELondonUSA]

I enjoy your videos immensely. Beautifully photographed and passionately narrated. I have lived overseas for 44 years (I grew up in S.E. London) and your walks and talks make me tremendously homesick. This tour is one of the very best.

[@grahamroberts5361]

This video brought back memories for me. The white tower block at the beginning of this film was as you stated police accommodation. In fact it was an extension of Hendon Police College back in the 70’s and 80’s. One hundred raw recruits passed through there every twenty weeks, I was there in 1987. The last course was in 1988. On Mondays, Wednesday’s and Friday’s we were up early and had to run around Wanstead Flats before breakfast and the start of classes at 9.00am. One story that happened during my time there is that on a sunny afternoon a guy decided to expose himself in the woods. With that there were one hundred fit young police recruits unleashed on to Wanstead Flats all eager to make their first arrest but the flasher had made good his escape. Happy days. Thanks for all of your videos, I love watching them when having dinner each night.

[@limjamrace]

Lived in South east Essex and knew Wanstead quite well but this has been an education to me..Thanks Mr John.

[@thfccfht]

Marvelous stuff, really enjoyed it I have been entertained and educated....

[@jeffreyspangler]

Greetings from a Jeff/Patreon in San Diego, California, USA. I enjoy watching your videos during my morning coffee while slowly waking up.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Hi Jeff - that’s wonderful to hear, and thanks so much for your support

[@Hammertime054]

Nice one john, spent a lot of my youth time over that beautiful park, cheers👍👍👍

[@johnpett8241]

Fascinating! My Sister lives on the edge of Wanstead Flats. Thanks John nearly always interesting stuff on your channel 😊

[@allears48]

What a wonderful video, I’ve never heard of the place but I was completely riveted. Thanks for braving the cold (complete with fingerless gloves) for this . The drone footage was so great to help us visualise .

[@syedahmed1387]

Wonderful video. Just watching it after a Sunday stroll in Wanstead Park.

[@sabuzacwalker3822]

So great walk talk. Walking trips are great! I loved the wonderful and informative scenes :) Keep cheering!🙇‍♂️👍👏🌹♥️

[@judithsmith9274]

Absolutely fascinating. I'm a northerner and find your vlogs really interesting. Thank you for letting me explore your local area.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks for watching Judith

[@johnmiller5630]

Really interesting and superbly therapeutic. Thank you so much for sharing your immense knowledge.

[@sami-zc1nl]

finally a whole video on wanstead park ,nice one john you kept your promise

[@darrensmith3261]

Keep up the great walks and the history within your walks I love them john I finally met you the outher day driving past in my car I stopped to say hi

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Darren - great to meet you the other day

[@Underthevolcanobooks]

Magnificent, man. Layers and layers.

[@QuinctiliusVarus]

John…you are the greatest presenter ever. Love from the Sandwich islands (Hawaii)

[@patsie1888]

That was wonderful!

[@jonasranson7677]

Hi John, Bit late to the party but just to say I found your Wanstead Park Walk last night. Another gem... thoroughly enjoyed this. Only rediscovered the park again about 5 years ago, having spent visits there as a child. My parents best friends lived on Catherine Road in Forest Gate and we often went there for days out. They were actually keen cine film enthusiasts and we used to shoot silly little films there. I must have been about 9 or 10 at the time. My memories of the boat house folly was that it was huge, much bigger than I later discovered on my more recent visit. But still a stunning site. Took lots of B/W photos there on a really misty November day once. Anyway thankyou... as always.

[@scotthadley8049]

XThis has become my favorite walk of yours John there is something relaxing in person about it or minus being home more than most of the parts of being on that I say it gets colder there for me as a hard for you to understand I’m sure thank you again for such a wonderful story telling

[@trilobiteninmortalis]

Dear Mr. Roger, thank you very much for this wonderful walk through London´s history. I enjoyed it very much and I understood everything you said. Maybe I will be able to visit your beautiful country someday. Greetings from Mexico!

[@toboldygo5823]

John what a beautiful and informative walk thank you sir☺️🙏🏻✨

[@jamiejosh96]

Great video as always John, thanks for the weekly videos!!

[@caroledrury1411]

This was truly wonderful! Can’t wait for the next one is

[@private1490]

Came across this by accident but I was hooked immediately. I've subscribed as you are very interesting to listen to.

[@richardsuperfine826]

0°C? Beautiful! It's 0°F here in Minneapolis. That's when you really have to worry about frostbite John! Great video as always.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Wow that is cold. I went to Iowa in February once and that was pretty chilly

[@tomgirldouble3249]

Another great walk thanks John 😊

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure tomgirl double

[@BrianSeaman]

Very enjoyable trip down memory lane. I lived in the area of Ilford (the other side of Wanstead Park) until 1982, but have been away since then. I was a volunteer with the Wren Conservation Group for some 20 years, and spent as much time as possible in Wanstead Park and the surrounding open spaces. Being out of doors did much to engage me with nature, the seasons and the weather.

[@lycan36]

Another Great walk John, I so enjoy your videos and the way you tell the history! Thanks

[@mariaherbert1469]

Stunning views from the drone. Hope to see more it gives your walks much more clarity as to exactly where you meander. Lovely video. Keep up the good work. Dont envy you out in the freezing weather. But worth it

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Maria - yes great work by High Flying Drone Shots - I was very lucky to have that footage

[@2H80vids]

I think the majority of people in the 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 consider London to be a historic city. One of the fascinating things about these videos is that they 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 feature the Buckingham Palaces and Westminster Abbeys but concentrate on less well-known places and things. Combining the history with these beautiful walks means that you don't always realise just how educational these films are. I'm sure Wanstead Park, along with the other, lesser-known, rural locations in London, is beautiful in the summer, when the grass is lush green and the water has a bluer, more summery colour to it, but walking around the park, amid all the black and white scenery is stuff that the tourists will seldom see. Thanks for taking us along John.👍👌😁 Cheers for now, Dougie.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks so much for that thoughtful comment Dougie

[@lesliegprice6652]

Beautiful Oak Tree, so amazing to have that all on the doorstep, I wish I'd spent more time in Wanstead when I lived in Stoke Newington, I had aunties that lived in the area ......great video, cheers John, stay safe !!!!