Highlights
– Tower Bridge being raised for us to pass through; people waving at us as we made
our way; the Jubilee barge Glorianna; the splendour of the Greenwich Hospital
and Royal Observatory on the hill beyond; newly restored majestic Cutty Sark; old
riverside pubs; Canary Wharf, Thames barrier, and the QEII bridge Dartford.
How
much would my forebear have recognised? The Pool of London remains in part unchanged
with the Tower and Tower Bridge, but the Shard, City Hall and many other recent
buildings would be very different. Passing Shadwell where John Thorpe is known
to have moored, the riverside pubs would be familiar as would some of the wharves
and restored wharf buildings. At Greenwich, where many great British seafarers
passed through, the buildings and sights would have been very familiar.
However,
Canary Wharf and the swathes of modern housing developments would be
dramatically different from the bustling docks he would have known, as would the
modern river crossings of the Emirates Air Line (cable car across the Thames)
and QEII bridge. As to ways of blocking the river in the form of the Thames
Barrier and entertainment at the Millennium Dome. And alternative forms of
transport to the river – Ford manufacturer cars at Dagenham and planes flying
into and out of City airport.
Our
thanks to the crew of the Edith May for a memorable afternoon. A full set of photos will be made available on Flickr in due course.
