Walking Wapping Waterfront | Thames Path East End Walk (4K)
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- 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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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.
'Mudlarking With Johnnie Vaughan' sounds like an Alan Partridge idea.
😂😀😎
Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank.
ua-cam.com/video/ERCpvgr_dZo/v-deo.html
Mud wrestling with Chris Whitty
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.
I'm sure it's also in The Long Good Friday with a scene that involves a car blowing up
@@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,
@@davesnelling3812 that scene is in the official trailer. It can be seen here.
ua-cam.com/video/B90zNzyFk-w/v-deo.html
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
just what I needed for making feel a bit better John sitting here all day feeling rubbish. Stay safe
Glad you're feeling a bit better Matt - brighter days ahead
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.
@@angusmeigh5141 i hope you are well
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 🌊❤
wheelchair bound so love watching your walks while i do my crafting hobbies, i have learnt so much from them without having to leave the house. thank you.
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.
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.
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.
When I do my own London walks I find this Wapping area palpably full of historic atmosphere. The past and present mix freely .
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.
thanks for sharing those memories Mark - that's a great slice of social history there
11pm, double malt whiskey, bag o crisps and a walk with you. Nothing better. Excellent presentation John. thank you
Where ever that may be.
Thanks John.
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.
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)
That's called a 'backronym' - inventing a series of words to supposedly explain a pre-existing word.
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
Went to the prospect of whitby few months before lockdown, wonderful pub inside.
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.
Can’t believe I never visited those amazing pubs when I lived in London. Note to self: day trip from the fens, post COVID!
Love this. I followed your journey on Google Earth on my ipad as I was watching this video on my phone. Fascinating stuff 👍
Really enjoyed rewatching this video. I am amazed at how much character the waterfront has retained. What a delightful walk!
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.
my Dad was a thames waterman and lighterman, spent his life on the thames and worked on the barrier, loved the vlog ,thank you
Did youre family do it through generations mike.
Hi Mr, as I work all around this area for the last 28 yrs, its interesting all the history you've enlightened me with, I will now look into these locations with a totally new interest, and yes no matter what time of year I walk around wrapping you do still get that feel that the history is still there, thanks again.
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!
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.
we did the walk recently from tower bridge along the Thames path to Greenwich. We then took the Greenwich pipe to the south side and walked back. I was around 15 miles in total , but what extends the walk is the constant navigation around buildings to then get back to the Thames walk. It was lovely, had a beer in each of the pubs along the way , made a day of it :-)
Sounds like a great day
Magnificent John. Was reading about the steps in The Way to the Sea. Love London and Estuary. Thank you for brightening the days up.
Thank you. One of your best. Happy Christmas!
Yes Brunel's Tunnel ,extensively refurbished, has been utilised for the East London Overground Line from Highbury & Islington to New Cross and Clapham junction
I used to work in Wapping and loved walking around during lunch.
Another lovely video! Tides are no joke! People get cut off by the tides here in San Francisco all the time. But here, they get stranded on one of several rocks off the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Guard has to rescue them. They don't dare try to swim back because the ocean is so cold and the undertow is way too strong!
Fantastic as usual John. I always like the opening shot of "Frenzy" which pans along the Thames.
Thanks John for a marvellous walk of wapping. Merry Christmas John and I will see you on the next one where ever that maybe.
top stuff as per usual John 😁
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
It was well worth the wapping walkabout! What a walk. Waiting for the wherever that may be!
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!
Rowing 4 Km in the basement is not only a solitary pursuit but also incredibly boring during lockdown. Unless of course, you can follow one of your fascinating walks. Having worked 30 years in Barking and lived 20 of them in Wapping it’s great to return to these old haunts from my retirement hideaway in SouthWest France. The marvels of modern technology. It’s important to recognise these very personal benefits when they occur. Many thanks and keep them coming.
Thanks!
Many thanks indeed
Great film thanks John I love the historical info
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.
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
John, I’m bingeing your videos today as it’s soooo cold here, it’s the next best thing to getting out myself.
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👍
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.
Interesting.... the landfill site is at the Rainham marshes, a mountain of buried rubbish, the concrete barges are close by.
Cheers Nigel 🍻
thanks Steve
I'm starting to get behind on my own creative endeavours because I cannot stop watching your videos 😂. Great stuff again.
Fascinating video - I love anything to do with, well I suppose "old" London, or parts of London as they were years ago. Thanks for this one its great!
Love all your videos. Whenever I feel homesick since moving from forest gate to Switzerland. I watch your videos and makes me feel much better.
That’s wonderful to hear- thanks Abdul
A quick search for "Nicola White mudlark" will turn up just about the best mudlark UA-cam channel I know. She not only shows what she finds but also researches the history behind them. Highly recommended!
Thanks for another great video mate! Glad you saw that drop off!
Yes she’s great Les
@@JohnRogersWalks I just have to thank you, John, for your back catalogue of videos. I lost my feet to sepsis nearly a decade ago and whilst I'm semi-mobile on prosthetics I really haven't got either the comfort or endurance to enjoy a walk anymore.
So I've just spent a few days binge watching all of your videos!
I used to be a white van man, mostly inside the M25, too so all those places that I'd've loved to have had the time to abandon the Sprinter on a red route and go explore have been vicariously sated!
Now I'll have to join the gang awaiting your Sunday uploads.
Keep safe mate! Les 💜☮️😎
This is such a nice and informative video
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
thanks Lois - and thanks so much for your wonderful painting
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.."
Wonderful video. Fascinating stuff, and I have to say I do love those old steps down to the river.
It must be said that at the beginning of the video, there was a total treat what with that chap descending the stairs whilst wearing the most amazing pair of trousers.
Thank you for this video i did same walk last month Wapping Station itself is very interesting a Brunel structure i think
Very nice.
Fantastic video, thanks so much 🙂
Hugely enjoyable, John. Many thanks for revealing many aspects of this deep topography. Merry Christmas!
You should come up to Whitby - I'm sure you'd love a meander through the historic streets
John, you are a living London's encyclopedia 😉
Nice to see a part of the East End riverside that has retained its character and historical soul. Great video.
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...
So lovely and evocative. I can feel the vibrations of the river god all the way from Puerto Escondido
Merry Christmas to you and your's, John.
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
I love that video Gaz
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.
Love these vids. Even tho the history of London is not ancient like the Egyptians, its so relatable having lived there and to try imagine what people's lives were like 100, 200, 300, years ago.
I've been down here a few times a week for the last year or so since I discovered it - this is a bloody great video - I love Wapping Beaches
thanks Sam
A rewatch, got to be a top 3 John walk for me. I hope to do it someday remembering to take care on the stairs.
All the best to you and your family, for the coming weeks in the tier 4 London and Essex.
Even having lived in London for 17 years, there is always something to explore in the big smoke!
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.
Wonderful stuff Jerry - fantastic to hear from an actual skipper working on the Thames, must be a great job
Thanks John. Very interesting video. You have been a bright spot every week in this awful year. Stay safe.
Thanks Paul - 2021 is not far away now
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.
Merry Christmas, John, 2020 has been helped along by vicarious enjoyment of being outside for a walk. Many thanks!
Glad the walks could bring some light this year Traci
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.
Thanks John woke a few memories there. Prospect of Whitby first pint that cost me £2.50 sadly I dropped the glass into the Thames from the veranda. 1983
that's definitely something you'd remember £2.50 for a pint in 1983!
You inspired me to go down to Cubitt Town beach at 6.30 am this morning. Tide lowest. Strange before it's light/dawn.
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! 😄
I really enjoyed this video and the history of this part of the Thames. Thank you.
Brilliant walk - adding this to my list next time I'm in London. Thank you for these walkabout videos.
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
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
Fantastic John, always one of my favourite parts of London.
That was great John,full of knowledge and mystery.I loved the way you spread your arms at the water’s edge.
Thanks Kerry - I had to give thanks to Mother Thames as Ben Aaronovitch calls the goddess of the tidal part of the river
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
Many thanks Raj and a very merry Christmas to you
Fascinating and evocative thank you
These walks are great and much-appreciated. Not been out much since March (like a lot of folks) so these lift the spirits and inspire me for next year. Keep well and stay safe.
Brilliant thank you,really fantastic.
Always excellent! I was a push bike messenger for a few years in London...I used to rip through this area on the way to Canary Wharf....such a beautiful area...so many stories.Cheers John!
I enjoyed this very much. Thank you, John.
Absolutely cracking video John!!
Nice one John. I was only reading this week, the apprenticeship was 7 years long.You could be a Lighterman or a Waterman.
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.
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.
Thanks john I have very much enjoyed our many walks around the rivers and streets this year. It has been great seeing the back streets of such an historic city. We wish you and all you hold dear the very best. Cheers
Merry Christmas to you too John, Stay safe out walking.
❤️ this dockside walk. I love the idea of history embedded in the wharves themselves. well done! cheers.
Merry Christmas John and the family. Stay safe and well under the new Tier 4 :-)
Thanks again John. Another great video. Merry Christmas to you from Brum.
Thanks Rob - have a good one
Thank you John we could almost taste the sea! Sea-sons greetings from chingford 🎉
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.
I enjoyed that walk. Very interesting. Happy New Year 👍🥂