Planning Ahead for Open House Day
Benedict has mentioned something that has escalated an idea that's been smouldering at the back of my mind since September.
Benedict writes:
As I look out of my studio and wonder what the time is (my watch stopped 5 years ago) I gaze up to see the reliable Greenwich Clock Tower and see its time to stop my doodling and banging. Then I get to thinking wouldn't it be great to go up it! It seems to have some sort of glazed viewing gallery or room at the top. Have you ever been or know anyone that has been up there, I bet the views are spectacular! It could be a great attraction to rival the imminent new Wheel, they could light it up at night and have a restaurant at the top. I love having this handy kitchen clock and its minimal/deco/post-modern design out the back door but can't find out anything about it.
When we talked about this last year, no one had ever been up what was very clearly an observation tower. And it occurs to me that it would be the perfect candidate for Open House Day - a magnificent example of that civic-deco style of building of the 1930s - and surely not that hard to open. If we started now, maybe we could draw the attentions of the organisers to its charms.
But it doesn't just stop there. There are at least two more buildings in the heart of Greenwich that I'd utterly love to see open for the day (well actually I wouldn't be terribly upset if they opened a couple of them for more than a day...)
The first is the Power Station. Contrary to popular belief, it's not abandoned - it's still working. And I've wanted to see inside it ever since I met a security guard having a quiet fag outside. Must be amazing in there - but at the moment it has the grubby allure of a parallel-universe Wonka Chocolate Factory.
The second is the roof of Greenwich Observatory. It's flat - people can go up there - and just think of those views.
Benedict writes:
As I look out of my studio and wonder what the time is (my watch stopped 5 years ago) I gaze up to see the reliable Greenwich Clock Tower and see its time to stop my doodling and banging. Then I get to thinking wouldn't it be great to go up it! It seems to have some sort of glazed viewing gallery or room at the top. Have you ever been or know anyone that has been up there, I bet the views are spectacular! It could be a great attraction to rival the imminent new Wheel, they could light it up at night and have a restaurant at the top. I love having this handy kitchen clock and its minimal/deco/post-modern design out the back door but can't find out anything about it.
When we talked about this last year, no one had ever been up what was very clearly an observation tower. And it occurs to me that it would be the perfect candidate for Open House Day - a magnificent example of that civic-deco style of building of the 1930s - and surely not that hard to open. If we started now, maybe we could draw the attentions of the organisers to its charms.
But it doesn't just stop there. There are at least two more buildings in the heart of Greenwich that I'd utterly love to see open for the day (well actually I wouldn't be terribly upset if they opened a couple of them for more than a day...)
The first is the Power Station. Contrary to popular belief, it's not abandoned - it's still working. And I've wanted to see inside it ever since I met a security guard having a quiet fag outside. Must be amazing in there - but at the moment it has the grubby allure of a parallel-universe Wonka Chocolate Factory.
The second is the roof of Greenwich Observatory. It's flat - people can go up there - and just think of those views.
Each of these buildings have great architectural beauty in their own ways. The Observatory has true historic value but the power station - well - I can't even begin to think what industrial treasures lie inside there.
I can't find any specific information on how to suggest buildings on the Open House website but I'm sure an email to them will give us some ideas. It may require lobbying...
I can't find any specific information on how to suggest buildings on the Open House website but I'm sure an email to them will give us some ideas. It may require lobbying...
Anyone got any other pet buildings they'd like to nose around (sorry - appreciate the architectural merit of...)
Labels: Events, Places of Interest, Secret Greenwich
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:30
25 Comments:
Your house????????????????????????
Tee hee. Trouble is I think one of the criteria is 'architectural excellence....'
My Dad is one of the Open House guides. Locally, so far he's had the pleasure of showing people around Blackheath Golf Club and the Goldsmiths building with the "ribbon" on the roof.
I'm sure that such incredible influence will ensure that both of the suggested buildings will be on the list this year.... Otherwise I'll suggest that he channels his enthusiasm elsewhere: Milton Keynes would be far more convenient for him.
I'm also hugely intrigued by this latter-day Crow's Nest. It's a folly and a phoney all at once, conjuring up a picture of a time and a place whence Grinnich folk might watch the comings and goings of their sea-faring folk, except that G'wich was never a harbour or a port. It's designation as 'maritime' is really only founded on the detail of it having been the location for the synchronisation of ships' clocks.
But tish, let's disperse with my cycnicism and contemplate the marvellous panorama that must be available from this vantage point.
I can see the scene in the movie when someone makes enough of a fuss and bullies a local councillor to gain access to this eerie. Yes, as the camera follows 'Phantom's' feet going up the stairs of the tower behind the shuffling, grumbling brown-coated jobsworth janitor. At the final step he totters and painfully works his way through a vast ring of keys finally locating the rustiest which he then inserts into the stiff lock. 'Ain't no one been up this way for years. Last was a right fruitcake as I recall. Yerr, just like yourself! Anyway, 'ere goes'. Shield your eye's a mo - it'll be blinding a moment once I shift the door open!!'
The Golden Compass has nothing on what this screenplay can provide!
'Blackheathen'
Vanbrugh Castle? Always fancied a poke round there, although the flats may be quite ordinary inside for all I know. Must have some good views though.
BTW ... around the time of the Millennium (or as they called these things in Dublin's fair city, the 'Aluminum'!) journalist Charles Jenning wrote an excellent volume on G'wich subtitled 'The Place Where Days Begin and End'. Not that he was cashing in or anything, er much, anyway I digress. Here he offers the following on the tower:
'Opened in 1939 (165ft high) ... the room at the top of the towner is a small architectural marvel in its own right, having a cantilever construction so that its three glass walls are completely uninterrupted by intrusive supporting masonry'.
He goes on to point out '... the three clock dials that originally adorned the sides of the tower were one 'illuinated with blue fluorescent tubes'.
Oh really?? Well let's see about getting that reinstated. Greenwich after all deserves a prominent luminary riposte to the light show going on across the way with those dreadful arriviste at Canary Wharf.
Blackheathen.
When I was a kid my best mate at school knew some lads who lived in Vanbrugh Castle. I remember going into the basement - a very spooky network of tunnels, like a mini-sewer. We crawled around on our elbows and knees.
Perhaps not an open day experience but would be great to see how accurate my recollection is.
Cor. That sounds amazing. Bet no one's allowed down there now. But it's all very Enid Blyton isn't it. I can see it now - Five Go To Vanbrugh Castle:
Legend has it that Vanbrugh Castle has a series of tunnels underneath it that lead directly to those under Greenwich Park itself. The tunnels are of course, haunted, but there is local talk of the lost Vanbrugh Fortune hidden somewhere under One Tree Hill.
The Famous Five have been sent there to stay with their eccentric Uncle Tarquin who gets mysteriously called away, leaving them alone in the castle with just the creepy caretaker and his mate the all-purpose-generic-foreign-stranger and the homely old housekeeper (who is conveniently deaf, keeps to her room after 8.00pm and plays the radio very loudly indeed...) They start hearing noises at night, so go down to the cellar to check them out...
That's enough Blyton. Ed...
A friend of mine has been to the top of the clock tower - he said it was quite recently refurbished up there (fitted carpet, furniture the lot) and there was a lot of electrical equipment as it was being used for wireless testing. Apparently there's no lift and you have to take the stairs.
Actually all this talk today of the Dome reminds me - I wouldn't mind seeing round the back there...
Vanbrugh Castle's flats are quite nice (well I say flats, I've only been inside one!) but the garden is really lovely!
Alexander - does your firend know who owns the tower? Is it still in the posession of the Council or is it part of that buisness school?
Privately owned - not the council or business school apparently. No toilet up there either!
Alexander is quite right I think there is allot of electrical equipment up there, and it is owned by a private company. I understood that there was a large router for internet connection in the top of the clock tower providing internet access
for all the council residents of Greenwich. I will try and find out more and get back to you about the name of the company.
Throwing weight behind the Power Station campaign...wasn't it completed in 1908? There's a large "1908" at the top of its metal guttering to support this otherwise unfounded theory. Doesn't a centenary visit sound grand? I think the Greenwich Industrial Society arranged a tour for its member a few years ago...not sure if they've been back since (or even if they ever made it out of the eerily green-glowing building (queue mad organ music here)). They might know who best to contact at the Station.
Just to make you jealous, I managed to wangle an invite to the opening of the new planetarium and the VIPs (and me) were taken up to the roof of the observatory. Yes, the view is great from up there and there is an amazing round boardroom that opens onto the viewing platform. It seems relatively safe and I suppose except for the sheer number of visitors it would be part of the public area. Perhaps there could be a locals only tour?
Yes - there could be a fiendish Local Knowledge Test before you were allowed up - a sort of Greenwich Citizenship thing...
My E Greenwich neighbour, in her 80s, went to the viewing room at the top of the clock tower to see the lights come on at the end of the war. She said there was a lift but couldn't remember stairs.
Vanbrugh Castle...I how I remember that place after attending boarding school there from 1967 to 1972....and the tales of hidden tunnels. Not to mention the well that had been hidden for years until it was rediscovered by the cooks son as he fell through the covering early one morning as he raised the RAF ensign! I would love to see what the old place looks like now
Blimey. How far did he fall?
As I recall he luckily managed to hang onto the rope which stopped him disappearing down the hole. The cellar of the castle was a marvellous place honeycombed with rooms and passages including one that had been painted out as a cubs meeting room.. Occasionally we were allowed to go into the 'Dell' a wonderful wooded area which was adjacent to the tennis court and games room. There used to be a small tunnel in the Dell all barred off leading in the direction of Knowles ? Wing which was the headmasters house.
Boys being boys, all manner of things notes and messages etc used to be secreted in all manner of places, I wonder if they were ever found during the modernisation.
36 years later I am now back down in London working for 6 mths. I don't suppose you know if it would be possible to have a look around the place.
For some reason I could only post under anonymous....apologies!
Erapobie
Sadly almost certainly not. It's private residences now - and as you can see from this post, thre are a LOT of people who would like to have a look round - myself included. Short of meeting someone who lives there, I can't think of a way. Sorry! But your stories of tunnels is wonderful...
For a tongue-in-cheek account of the tunnel in the Dell behind, try:http://www.thegreenwichphantom.co.uk/labels/Underground%20Greenwich.html
BTW if you want to not be anonymous, click the second button - the Name/URL - use the name you would like and leave the URL blank...
Well I never, so there's hsitory to the tunnel after all!
I can vouch for the tunnel story as I was at the school when they were re-discovered in the mid seventies. They run acrood to Greenwich Park and down towards the river. They are fairly small, about 4' high and 3' wide from memory.
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