Welcome to New London - Whitechapel to River Lea

A walk from Whitechapel through Stepney Green along the Regents Canal to Canary Wharf then to the River Lea at Trinity Buoy Wharf and up to Canning Town via the City Island development.
I'm joined part of the way by Gerry King author of Smoke and Other Tales.
Here's the Docklands video from 2012 showing the area around the O2 before development kzbin.info/www/bejne/anmupqaaiahlpdU
Music: Silent Partner, MK2, Letter Box
Please subscribe for regular videos: bit.ly/1EJjIB8
My book: This Other London amzn.to/25u6aKn
My blog: thelostbyway.com/
Follow me on Twitter: fugueur
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Please watch: "Walk from St.Paul's through Islington to Highgate"
kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHSYe6KkhdOZrKc
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[@TheCinderellaman10]

I lived in 20 Aden house off duckett Street, back in the late 70's and into mid 80's. Absolutely loved Stepney green/whitechapel

[@dambrooks7578]

I concur completely, it is a strange area now, devoid of humanity in its purpose. However I have to thank you for providing me with a fabulous birthday gift for my lovely partner who grew up next to the River Lee, and will be unrapping a t-shirt of the Sacred River Lee, which I am certain she will love 😊💝

[@whitestone4805]

Glad you continued with this walk John especially after your friend bailed out. Canary Wharf was worth the effort if just to be reminded of the dead heart that lies festering within the featureless cadaver of corporate existence. Being stopped, questioned and no doubt encouraged to move on was a subtle act of social cleansing. Much respect for your gracious response.

[@georginadove2775]

The name of the store was Wickhams and when they built the store, the little jewlers store Spegalhalters in the middle would not sell out

[@bakerloobadboy]

Spiegelhalters store refused to sell out to Wickhams after they had already moved once to accommodate Wickhams expansion.

[@1Electricmoon]

Canary wharf. Really nice raised tropical gardens inside the “Big Easy” restaurant building, well worth a look! Ref: 8.50 mins in. Cheers Nigel

[@tomdearie2279]

I lived in Stepney Green on the mile end road around a year ago and on several occasions found my self ambling out to Canary Wharf, driven by some sadistic pleasure at being the outsider walking around the enclave. I find it both repelling and fascinating, you cant help but wonder what is going on beneath the surface i suppose, maybe i've read to much Ballard. Love your videos john, great inspiration for my artwork. I dread the day when i've rinsed your back catalogue.

[@StarWarsJay]

What a bonus. Not seen this ne before. It just came up on my suggested videos thingy. It's great to see your subscriber spike. Well deserved. Congrats mate.

[@JenniferSW3]

I lived in Chelsea for a few years and moved over to Blackwall and found the area was very international, sterile and not at all friendly. I instantly missed the eccentric characters of Chelsea, it felt like I had moved to a totally different city.

[@billburrell1177]

The statue is still in Whitechapel... Go behind the old hospital to the new part of the hospital and its relocated between Stepney Way & Newark Street.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Bill that's great to hear

[@Wayner71]

You are right about the peacefulness emanating from the River Lea. It was there in pre-historic times and is still there today. It pays no heed to the petty concerns of man.

[@Renfro1982]

Nice to see something about Whitechapel that isn't just a bunch of Jack the Ripper stuff.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+Renfro1982 Thanks - you know it never even crossed my mind

[@t00bed]

As a walker and explorer, I am loving your videos. Your commentary, the music, shot choice and edit really show more than just the locations. I can really feel a sense of place. Thank you for these glimpses into another place, which for me, is on the other side of the world.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks indeed - really appreciated

[@garymcguire8529]

In the entrance to Canning Town tube station, there is a plague up about about the ship building industrial history, and big slab of iron plate.

[@graceproby2662]

Funny how we true East Enders have all moved out. We were moved from our houses to new blocks of flats that most of us hated and we then moved out even further. We liked it how it was and most of East London was fine to live in and not dank and dismal as some people think. The smog wasn’t just designated to the east end, that was in all cities. Sadly there is no soul there now, just boring buildings, no matter how much they try new designs there is no character.

[@hpengwyn]

Just watching this one now, before we started watching. You look younger now!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks. I’m getting more sleep these days

[@morriganwitch]

We ended up there once and it was eerie , and I felt I was in a foreign territory xxx

[@deanmatthewclegg28]

first one of the older vids I've watched, John - quite a sombre, melancholic piece. Enjoyed it though! Cheers.

[@lesliegprice6652]

Stepney Green My My how that has changed since the fifties and sixties, was very dark, dismal and Dickensian, full of tenement blocks, small businesses and industry......characterfull I think you would say, don't forget the pea, green , soupers...... Great video....thanks

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Leslie - indeed East London is a place of great change once again

[@jenniferlevine5406]

Wonderful video. Lovely snapshot of a moment, which is what you are so good at!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Jennifer

[@zerolubin]

...a nice sorbet. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse - London Island.

[@bakerloobadboy]

Durham Row used to be called Church Row because it was right next door to St Dunstans Church. I don't know when its name changed however due to historical importance the current buildings are subject to a preservation order.

[@andrewashdown3541]

The dept store was Wickhams, held apart by Spiegelhalter’s jewellers - famously, John

[@astrid4532]

The building's name is Wickham House at Cleveland Way, the Harrods of East London, John. I started my solicitor's practice there many years ago. Happy memories. It videos r just superb!

[@mosmith2286]

Hi John I stumbled across your video blogs and have found them very enjoyable. Born in Whitechapel in 1963 and having grown up in the East End, watching your videos brings back many happy memoriues. Fishing on the Roding and the Lea, also in Wanstead park on the Ornamentals and the other big lake the name which has passed me by !! Swimming in the canal below Ben Jonson Road bridge where the gasworks once stood and frequenting many of the old pubs in the area, some of which are infamous.....Thank you. Maybe a video blog of the East End pubs ?? Gavin

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+Molissa Smith Thanks for watching Gavin and sharing those memories. Doing something on the East End pubs is a great idea. Have a look at Eddie Johnson's book Tales from the Two Puddings - great stories from a legendary pub in Stratford

[@briancox144]

Fascinating walk John Rogers and Gerry love Limehouse Basin I could spend hours there taking photographs which I have done before along the river great place as all ways great video yes John I agree the buildings are horrible .

[@highoctanecars2149]

Always a pleasure sir.. The River Lea does the same for me..have spent many years walking and cycling its length. Thanks for the vids John! Rob

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Bob - the Lea Valley is a very special landscape

[@george474747]

This one is a particularly brilliant piece.

[@JagBetty]

That was a good one, some rum thoughts and comments there. Thanks.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks - it was an interesting walk, planning on going back to that general area soon, lot happening around that way

[@friendlier]

Still compelling in 2020. Thanks, John.

[@barbalet]

It really is. Just watching it 2 hours after you!

[@kyran333]

Watching now, 2023 🎉

[@MeTheRob]

Do you ever end up somewhere and think - how on earth am I going to get home ?

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+MeTheRob frequently - sometimes I 'finish' a walk, realise I'm outside London then have to walk another 2-3 miles to find transport

[@MeTheRob]

+John Rogers This is what I suspected. I used to cover that territory on a bike when I lived in London - the rivers, the canals, the docks .... At the end of this one, I couldn't help but wonder about public transport links etc..... At least I could always pedal home. You have great stamina and patience Mr. Rogers.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+MeTheRob thanks Rob

[@graceproby2662]

The department store in Mile End Road was not called speigalhalters. It was called wickhams. Speigalhalter was a small jewellery shop below. The tenament block in Stepney Green used to be known as the Jewish flats, as most families living there were Jewish and the Jewish hospital was next door but I think they hospital was demolished. I lived opposite in King John Street where Stepping Stones Farm is now situation. Durham Row had some lovely little shops. Sadly it all changed in he 70s. That part of east London was a lovely place to live in the 50s and 60s. We lived in a lovely house and sadly were pushed out in 1970 to make way for a city farm.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for those notes Grace

[@jonnymarvel111]

Thanks for that, you and your friends are an inspiration.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+Jonny Marvel and thank you for watching and commenting Jonny

[@ralphwinter6421]

Love your films John,the same thing happened to me ,at Turnpike Lane Bus Garage,N8-filming Chemtrails-geezer came up to me asking what I was doing-so i told him," filming chemtrails" ! he said," that's alright ,i thought you were filming inside the bus garage". LOL !!!! WHICH ISN'T ALLOWED !

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Ralph - you've made me want to go to Turnpike Lane Bus Garage now

[@topbanana4013]

once upon a time you could see Xmas lights from stepney green station all the way to aldgate. not anymore

[@tonythompson5841]

Hi your videos are fantastic filled with info of the areas you’ve walked,do you have any videos of silver town/city airport

[@drhowslounge]

Hey John, you ever thoiught about doing a short vid out in Barkingside, covering the Dr Barnardos Homes for Girls. If you do let me know and we will join you!

[@Chris-uh7cw]

It's ironic that you showed the Spiegelhalter building as it's history involves resistance to development, hence that small white facade almost in the middle of it

[@johnleach7358]

John .. you better get some footage of Fish Island. Went there today for a mooch. Buildings being vaporised and soon maybe Millionaire row. I accept change And change is the cycle of life . But transforming from a old working class landscape, good and bad to millionaire living quarters .. it's just not right

[@JohnRogersWalks]

+John Leach thanks for the heads up John - I wrote about it for my new book but haven't been that way for a few months

[@wyvernmodelrailway]

I guess with all the development in London along the Thames that with global warming in an effort to protect them from rising waters, we in Essex will have to be "sacrificingly" flooded instead.

[@organizedcrockery]

if your not careful they will build something over a tepid bowl of stagnating soup while you put the camera down for a rest

[@drhowslounge]

8:50 more like The Big UnEasy!!!

[@cliffordwells2793]

Hi John, still very much liking the vids, as an ex photographer I to have came across the you can't film/ photograph here self made rule. The first time was at the Lloyds building,(but I still took a sneaky one anyway) then in the middle of Nottingham, (jobs worth coppers nark grassed me up!!)some (Muppets) just don't like or get street photography? Next time keep a copy of the photographer rights in a public place, let them read it. Then I bet you here them say...(you still can't film etc here)deep joy from the brain washed or uneducated? P.S.. I also nearly got arrested in Brighton railway station....same thing, but camera control called the cops, lucky I was with ilfords staff photographer on a street photography course, and we all flashed our pro I.D. that shut them up!! Sorry to say now my knee is getting worse, both now have fluid retention, and doctors are now talking double replacement soon. Looking like my street photography days are numbered.. Take care and keep the film's coming.cliff. P.P.S. . Being made redundant last week don't help as well, lots of time, but no legs to carry me...

[@oildrum101]

you missed the fact that its a nail house and its called wickams en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holdout_(real_estate)#/media/File:Wickham%27s_Department_Store_Mile_End_Road.jpg

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for the info John

[@oildrum101]

John Rogers it's so odd because the Small shop wouldn't sell up That just built around it it looks like a chipped tooth

[@drhowslounge]

8:08 Or Toronto

[@michaeldillon3113]

4 per cent should be the going rate in property .

[@grahamcass7420]

The past stands still,evocatively linggering in the present,nostagically vanishing into a future deprived of human empathy,shaped by our technology into an invisablily of nothingness.

[@davidhumphrey1558]

I think the style of architecture in the docks is the same as in Berlin, The quarter circle building, The intimidation style blank cement facade. It is fascist bank architecture.

[@oildrum101]

and i work in a toy solder factory at trinity boy wharf you dont half get a round on you travels

[@JohnRogersWalks]

How did I miss a Toy Soldier factory - that's great. I do like to get around John, plenty more excursions planned

[@oildrum101]

Small would just mention you in passing to my dad and he's the John Matheson same name that put you on to the Hobbs cross roman road walk

[@oildrum101]

its not moved your just in the wrong spot

[@JohnRogersWalks]

I realised afterwards that it was the market that had moved during the building so it was hidden behind the market stalls

[@oildrum101]

i just behind that launderette i do my laundry there

[@oildrum101]

i think there tamil tigers but im to chicken to ask

[@JohnRogersWalks]

yeah, I don't blame you but a nice bit of backstory

[@dodgyg3697]

I fully concur, this new London is not for me.

[@trevorbarre5616]

No, I don't like it either, John. It's not good.