Sign Of The Times

A short break from what's started to turn into 'archaeology week' today (more tomorrow, 'fraid...) to focus on something that's soon to be history.

A few days ago I learned that there is a planning application for the demolition of the Old Friends (10/0331/D1, if you're interested - more details from alex.smith@greenwich.gov.uk.) I understand it was a bit of a surprise as it was generally assumed that planning permission wasn't necessary, but hey - there it is.

The poor old place is in a right state, ever since the scaffolding went up, demolition began then suddenly stopped for no perceivable reason. I can't see that it can be saved now - even if there was a beery knight on a white charger ready to pour cash into a pub that may or may not get custom if the 'New Heart for East Greenwich' ever gets built. It would be nice to think that Woolwich Road could pull its socks up but I'm not holding my spectral breath.

Todya's story is a bit different, though.

I'm not entirely sure what Janet, living at Gravelbourg in Saskatchewan, Canada, was doing reading this blog last week, but, suddenly realising that the Old Friends we were discussing was the same Old Friends where her great grandfather was licenced victualler between 1881 and 1891 and, indeed, the same Old Friends where her grandfather and his five brothers and sisters were born, hurriedly got on the blower to the property management company dealing with the demolition plans.

She's just told me the company is going to save the sign for for her, and it will be crossing the Atlantic Canada-wards. I was particularly interested as only the day before Janet's email arrived I'd wandered past and wondered what would be happening to the sign; I'm glad at least that will be saved, even if it is going abroad. I mean - it's hardly the Madonna of the Pinks...

Janet's been told it's in pretty poor shape, but it doesn't look that bad to me. I've asked her to send us a pic when she puts it up in Gravelbourg.

Archaeology (2) How It COULD Be Done

It's an ill wind that blows no one any good, isn't it. Or in this case, ill rain. While the rest of us were cursing that bloomin' awful weather last August, over in a secret location in Greenwich Park, Rosie was getting rather excited.

The soil is so thin up on the hills there, that given a bit of footfall - or, in this case, rainfall, stuff starts to appear. Greenwich has been occupied at least since Roman times, probably before that, and you just never know when - or where - curiosities will turn up. In this case, it was a double line of what looks like medieval bricks.

Rosie started photographing them when she realised that these weren't just random - that they, along with hundreds of shards of broken tiles, formed a sort of zig-zag pattern and extended for about 50 feet. She's kindly sent me a few pictures - it's worth clicking on a couple of them to see a bit more closely.)

Now. At this point I confess I would have just assumed that it was already recorded and that "someone" had done proper excavations and all the history stuff. Happily, Rosie wasn't as complacent as I would have been (a lesson for us all.) She asked around, and realised that no experts she knew had any idea about it. She read whatever she could but found nothing mentioned. No map records anything at all there, and since the earliest plan is from 1676, it looks as though whatever was built there must be earlier (or too unimportant to be recorded, of course.)

Last week, a friend of hers suggested she ask an independent brick expert about the probable age of the shards. He said that in his judgement they are "in all probability Tudor." BTW I read the other day that Tudor bricks are so small because they used to be sold per brick, as opposed to per square yard. The smaller the bricks, the more you had to buy.

"It's been suggested that they might have come from the Tudor palace by the river after it was demolished," says Rosie, "but this didn't happen till after 1676 so is unlikely. It's odds on that we are looking at the remains of a Tudor structure of some kind, in which case it will be the only one in the Park - apart from some underground conduits."

If this is the case, it's extremely exciting stuff. I don't know where exactly the remains are - the site's already in a very fragile state and Rosie's keen not to have too much human (or equine) trampling with all the terrible weather we've been having. "Bits of tile are already getting kicked around so it needs some protection urgently," she says.

But if nothing's ever been found there before it just goes to show how historically fecund the park is - anything could turn up anywhere at any time.

So - what's going to happen to it? Well - you can probably imagine that there's nothing in the way of any cash to actually excavate the site, though English Heritage would like to see a community volunteer project supervised by a professional archaeologist to examine the site more closely, record it and then either cover it over or perhaps leave it fenced. It would then be available for proper excavation if/when the money became available.

That sounds like a plan to me - I'm pretty sure there are Phantomites out there who'd be interested in joining a project like that (especially if it was weekend-based, rather than weekday when so many people are at work...)

The Park is owned and managed by Royal Parks which are a sub-set of the DCMS but, perhaps surprisingly for such a very historic site, they have no-one specifically responsible for the archaeology as far as Rosie knows. English Heritage have no jurisdiction over it, their role is purely advisory. So - it seems that it's up to the new Greenwich Park Manager, Graham Dear, to use his discretion over what to do about this new site. Let's hope he does the right thing during his watch.

The obvious question is whether it's in immediate danger from the Olympic plans. "It's not on the route of the cross country as currently published," says Rosie, "so shouldn't be affected by the grass enhancement measures they plan to begin on as soon as they've got planning permission. There might be an issue over whether it should be surrounded by a spectator exclusion zone like the one promised for the Saxon barrows but that can wait until it's been decided how best to protect the site."

There's more, apparently, to be read about the find in next Sunday's Independent. What's really important to remember though, is that this isn't just a random event. Greenwich Park teems with history and we have no idea what's lying just under the surface. It's up to us, now, to make sure that there's something left for future generations to discover...

Comments

Guys - a quick apology - I just went to log on to do today's post and found hundreds of comments 'awaiting moderation.' I'd forgotten that in my perpetual war against spam I turned on the comments moderation for posts over two months old.

I'm about a quarter of the way through them - and they're fascinating, because they're often 'extras' added by people who are interested or actually involved with events, causes, historical moments or know strange stuff, who've been googling and ended up at The Phantom.

It's taking me a while to do this; I'll post properly later.

Archaeology (1) How It SHOULD Be Done

I'm excited today, folks. I've just heard that the University of Greenwich is to begin a proper archaeological excavation of the Stockwell Street site. After so much heartache last year with the death of the village market, at last something good is happening - something that has been hotly anticipated ever since John Stone called for a dig in his seminal 1914 lecture to the Greenwich Antiquarian Society.

The university is currently waiting for the bizarrely-monikered Heneghan Peng architects to come up with a plan for the new building - which, if it isn't truly innovative, exciting and architecturally meritorious, will not only be an embarrassment to Greenwich but a really bad advert for the Architectural School, so I'm holding out great hope.

But before they do anything that means getting out the buckets and spades, they're going to be doing some pretty exhaustive surveys -geological, ecological, and the one that interests me, archaeological.

Obviously, the current buildings will have to go. Though to lose some of 'scruffy Greenwich' tugs at my heart strings - for me over-smartening the area will lose its character - we really can't save everything. Besides, I'm desperate to know what's underneath...

So bye-bye to those grungily-fab warehouses, seedily secretive stores and the uber-groovy Bee Gee garage. I didn't know that was its name - I just thought it was an Esso job - but there it is in the 1976 pic below, courtesy, as above (from 1937) of Greenwich Heritage Centre. I'm not entirely sure what the little arrows are for.) Can't you just see Barry tossing his layered, golden curls around the collar of his grease-spotted designer overalls before offering you a fill-up, whilst Maurice gives your big end a quick polish and Robin sells you a Magic Tree? Oooh-er, Missus. Sorry. Saturday Morning Fever seems to have struck at Phantom Towers...

They're not sure if the old petrol tanks are still underneath the forecourt of the seventies supergroup's day job, but if necessary, an expert team will carry out the clean up.

I'm told that "in order to preserve the streetscape for as long as possible, two large blocks on the frontage of Stockwell Street, John Humphries House and the disused storage unit at number 18-19, will remain standing for the time being." Now, I have to say that John Humphries House has never really been part of the streetscape that I've ever thought worth preserving. If it was up to me, I'd rather look at hoardings than that ghastly, merit-free structure. I mean - it's not as if we're not used to hoardings round here at the moment.

Before they can start the fun bit of digging holes comes the boring stuff, like rubbish-clearing buildings surveys, sorting out services such as water, gas and electricity and detailed studies of the area (take one guess as to why the Phantom didn't become an archaeologist...) They've already done much of the really tedious stuff, apparently, and are very nearly ready to start the exciting test pits to look at the archaeology of the site, which has been in use since at least the medieval period. They tell me

"Initial research indicates that building work over the centuries, and war-time bombs, have destroyed evidence from early periods, but the university will pay special attention to what remains of the 19th century maltings, which once supplied ale to the Spread Eagle Tavern."

Coo-er. I've been promised a copy of the initial appraisal of the project, which will include some idea of what they think they might find, with some records of previous digs and some historical maps (they asked if I "might be interested?" Derrr!) They're also going to be keeping us updated of anything they find - so watch this space.

Dull Demolition

Bad news to anyone expecting a Greenwich Hospital Tower-style big-bang with the concrete Syrol towers on the peninsula. They're now going to use a tedious method
with no explosives at all but some 'long reach unit' which literally nibbles the concrete structures from the top down.

To say this will be duller than watching paint dry wouldn't be true because you can at least watch paint dry.

Because they're not blowing it all up, there is no reason to delay the closure of the riverside path for TWELVE WEEKS from Monday 15th March while they creep-down the silos in secret. Much of it's already been closed down for so long already that it's a complete yawn for anyone who enjoys the Thames Path, but 12 weeks is one long time. Bad luck to anyone who's planning on doing the whole of the Path from Thames Head to the Barrier - well, they'll get so far and then have to start all over again at a later date...

Crime Figures

Here's an interesting little chart showing official crime figures in the borough. Either, generally, people have stopped reporting or figures really have gone down - which is a plus.

Over the months we've talked about drink-related crime (most of which seems to happen in St Alfege Passage) but although there's no figures that show which offences are alcohol-fuelled, in general 'violence against the person' is actually down a little from last year, as are nearly nearly all other kinds of offence. Burglaries, especially, of all kinds seem to be fewer (though still plenty enough to be getting on with.)

Having said that, there was one more homicide than last year, 'gun enabled' crime is up and sexual assaults other than rape have gone up considerably (I wonder if some reclassification's gone on there so they can say rape is down? God, I'm cynical. Soz...)

There's a place on the map where you can click to get individual ward figures. They're a bit random-feeling as they're done slightly differently as number of crimes per 1000 of population, so it's hard to work out exactly how much actually went on.

The Big Bang

Dang!

I've been waiting for months for the controlled explosion of the silos at the old Syrol site - I knew they were coming (though not exactly when) but I've had so much on my plate recently I clean forgot.

I didn't even remember when Lucy asked yesterday if anyone had heard an explosion. It was just when finally getting to peruse some local blogs that I discovered this on the greenwich.co.uk site.

Sounds like there are still two to go - so maybe I won't miss them...

The Body In The Garden

Robert at Number 16 had a bit of a shock this morning, when he tried to put Black & White the cat out. He's used to combatting drunken oafs in his garden, but rarely slumped bodies. This one, despite last night's perishing cold, wasn't dead (God only knows how - perhaps the alcohol from the large amount of tinnies surrounding him kept his body temperature up or something) but definitely dead to the world.

Robert says the police and ambulance were there almost immediately he called and were very kind and efficient. It took them a while to revive the guy, who was in his mid to late 30s and not wearing very much at all. Apparently he was very polite when he came-to. He's been taken to hospital to thaw out.

Drinking Ban

Tucked away in the Standard yesterday was a little piece about a consultation for a borough-wide 'in-public-spaces' drinking ban across Greenwich.

Apparently there are already several 'zones' where you can't drink in the streets. Has anyone noticed these? I vaguely remember it being talked about. I guess that I'm so used to seeing drunks staggering about of a Saturday night that whether or not they have a can of Special Brew in their paw at the time is a bit of a moot point.

The Council reckons these bans haven't really worked as it's just moved the problem on to the areas that don't have bans. Since I don't know how tight the the zones are, I don't know if St Alfege Passage is included in the Central Greenwich one, but I've been talking to Robert at Number 16 recently about unpleasant violent events that have been happening there - people having their doors kicked in, threatening behaviour, verbal, and in some instances physical abuse. The latest incident was last weekend.

Robert's had CCTV installed ever since he was beaten up himself last year, but the attacks continue. He has some footage of the latest attack that he's sharing with the police.

It's clear there's a problem here, but I don't know that it's drinking in the streets that's the source. If people are already mattressed by the time they come out of the various bars, especially those that have late licences (several of which were approved after someone died from a violent incident, if I recall) then whether or not they've bought an extra tin to carry about with them when they start to kick in someone's door late at night (a terrifying thing, especially if you're in bed at the time) seems a bit immaterial.

Surely it's the places that sell booze to people who must already be obviously drunk that must be the issue. It's hard to pin down specific bars - there are so many in a very small place (though Robert says that the gang who beat him up each had bottles of lager with little slices of lime in the top, which does sort of point to one particular venue in that specific incident - that, and that the drinking-in-the-streets-ban isn't working very well.)

What is to be done, folks?

Aluna Greenwich

When I first met Laura Williams, two years ago, at an open day at Trinity Wharf, and saw her models - and plans, I was excited enough about the Aluna Project to write about it even though it was planned to go the wrong side of the river.

In case you missed it, it's a wonderful, spiritual, gigantic piece of art; a working lunar clock, powered by the tide, marking the phases of the moon - and the tide itself. I won't go into it all again here, but it caught my imagination in a way that most public art doesn't. Let's face it - there can be few projects that have excited Pagans, Scientists and Phantoms alike...

Well - it seems that after a shaky start, it's beginning to gain momentum - and it's changed location - whilst negotiations for East India Dock Basin have faltered, it's now planned for a site on the Peninsula on our side of the river, marking the Meridian line, and it just feels so right.

There's a long way to go before this staggeringly beautiful, profound work gets made reality, but I'm nailing my colours to the mast here - I love it. Join their mailing list for updates here.

London Grinding To A Halt

Forgive the title of this post. There are times when only cliche will do.

Today I am going to a place just north of Farringdon. This journey would normally take - what - 35 minutes - if that. Today I'm allowing just over an hour. the TFL website journey finder reckons my best bet will include a walk, followed by a train, followed by a tube, followed by another walk, followed by a bus. Frankly I'm just going to take a chance that Cannon St will be open (TFL reckon it will be, but I'm always edgy until I get there) and walk the rest.

Weekend engineering works are such a sore point it feels tedious just to mention poor transport links - every blog I read moans about them on a weekly basis. But just because it's getting boring now doesn't mean to say that it's any less inconvenient, irritating or downright fury-inducing.

The weekday services have been utterly appalling - especially during the snow which created excuses a-gogo for Southeastern, and yet, strangely, didn't seem to affect anyone else nearly so badly - even those companies in the west of London that had it so bad TV reporters camped out to gloat managed to get on their feet more quickly that our lot.

But the weekend services have been on a trickle of misery for years now. The Jubilee line is worst of course, especially when it's closure has coincided with Southeastern closing the Charlton/Westcombe park/Maze Hill/ Greenwich line (and not mentioning on any kind of notice a the station that there's no point taking a bus to the Jubilee line 'cause that's shut too...)

And now it's all kicking off with the Northern Line. However much Boris may huff and puff, I'm guessing that it will make no difference. Tube Lines will continue to be inefficient because they know they can't get kicked off the job (I'm convinced they just factored the fines for late delivery into the initial cost).

It's enough to make you get back in the car.

But no - you can forget that too, if you're planning to be out any later than 9.00pm and - heavens - decide to cross the river.

For the next three years, don't even think about driving south through the Blackwall Tunnel between 9.00pm and 5.00am, Sundays to Fridays, AND Sunday, 1.00am-8.am - so that's your Saturday night on the tiles scuppered.

Why is there no contraflow created? All I can find are mutterings about Health and Safety. I don't buy them. As Lupo-Lupo points out, this won't just affect motorists either - I don't think I'd go as far as to say that Evelyn Road, Blackheath Hill and Greenwich town centre will be 'paralysed' every weekday night, but the traffic will be heavier and we will get jams. Not least because there's not been that much advance warning of this, and there will be a whole bunch of confused motorists getting as far as the A2 and being forced to turn back. No hope of extended Ferry crossing hours, of course.

It doesn't seem like any time at all since this all happened last time.

It all kicks off from tomorrow - so here's a fun thing to do tonight:

Get a load of mates together and drive back and forth through the tunnel all night - between one o'clock and eight - just because you can, luxuriating in the delight of two tunnels at night.

Accident This Morning

Andy asks:

"I wonder if you or readers know any more about the accident that closed Woolwich Road between Chevening Road and Calvet Road this morning?
There were police roadblocks along with tape across the road. I asked one officer what was going on and he just said it was a motorbike accident. I asked if it was fatal but he said "not yet" and left it at that.

It seemed odd to me that they closed the whole road as there was no evidence of wreckage or anything I could see. There were a couple of busses parked up so I'm wondering if they had something to do with it and they were awaiting investigation?"

As someone who hasn't walked along that part of the road this morning I can't help, 'fraid. But I remember when I passed Vanbrugh Hill a few weeks ago and there was that terrible cycling fatality, they'd closed off large chunks of the road, presumably to collect evidence.

But maybe someone else has some news? Let's keep that poor motorcyclist in our thoughts, eh...

Greenwich's Third Ghost Bike

Sue's sent me the saddest photo I've seen this Christmas time. It's the ghost bike for Stella, who died after that accident at the junction of Vanbrugh Hill/Woolwich Road a week or so ago.

My thoughts are with her family - Christmas time has to be the worst time of all to lose someone. I know I sound like a right old fusspot today, worrying about black ice and snow - but please, lovely Phantom Cyclists - take care. Don't become a ghost, okay?

Peninsula Fire

Katrien was also out and about on Thursday too, and noticed black smoke on the peninsula. She called the fire brigade (as you do) and:

"The person there could not tell me which company had a fire or if the smoke was poisonous, but he did advise me to stay inside. On the website of the London Fire Brigade, the fire is not in their list of latest incidents. Do you know more about it? "

I was out of town on Thursday and totally missed it. I wonder if it's anything to do with the demolition of Syrol? There are also a couple of other warehouses being demolished around there - maybe something caught as it was being taken down.

Meantime Moving

Funny I should be writing about Meantime beer this morning - I just got a press release saying they're moving from their current Charlton base to a new gaff in Blackwall Lane, making them an even more Greenwich-based company. Depending on exactly where they are, they could even have the Meridian line crossing their beer, I guess...

The new plant won't actually have any output 'til the summer, but we can look out for a parade of brewing vessels making their stately way to the new site very soon.

They're not saying exactly where it's going to be in Blackwall Lane, but I'm guessing the northern end, since their super-duper new training suite (training for what, I wonder - how to walk in a straight line?) is going to be a ten minute walk from the O2.

I don't know whether or not you like the smell of hops or not (personally I'm okay with it), but it looks like we'll have a new Greenwich odour on the Peninsula very soon...

Accident At Vanbrugh Hill

Strange we should be talking about cycling accidents this morning - I just went past the junction where Vanbrugh Hill/Blackwall Lane meets Trafalgar Road/Woolwich Road to find at least half of Greenwich police force directing traffic around a stationary lorry being photographed from every angle.

They didn't tell me anything, but Scared of Chives just emailed to say a cab driver told him that an unfortunate cyclist had been knocked off her bike. I truly hope the injuries the cabbie mentioned are just rumours, so I won't pass them on for now.

I know no details - or even if SoC's cabbie had his facts right, but, oh, boy. Cyclists - please, take care guys. These dark days hide hazards many.

More About King Billy

Sorry about the delay here - I'm finally reposting this after a week or so of prevarication (the splendid Phantom Webmaster was away and I'm a technical toddler without TPW) But now the link should work...

There's been a huge amount of interest in the digging going on around the site of the Old St Mary's Church, where King William stands (curiously, according to the article below, the poor guy's even facing the wrong direction - he was apparently supposed to be looking south into the park...) and both John and Tony have sent me some clues that imply that the land is still consecrated - and that there are over three hundred bodies under there - some of whose coffins are just a few inches under the soil...

Tony sent me a link to a truly fascinating document written a few years ago by the author William Clarke, who, at the time was editor of the Friends of Greenwich Park. It's so beautifully written that I'm not going to reinvent the wheel here - here it is for your own perusal - I highly recommend it as a utterly intriguing read. I am sure the NNM already know of its existence.

Old Friends

Yup - they are demolishing it.

I shed no tears for it when it closed - the just-shy-of-outright-offensive slogans outside (who can forget England - Love it or Leave) the regulars who used to hang around outside with an intimidating air about them, and the ever-more shabby feel the place had - but I'm not convinced the actual building deserved to die.

I always harboured hopes that someone would make a go of it when the New Heart for East Greenwich happened (I had my hopes pinned on Meantime doing a Union Two - well - a Phantom can dream...) but presumably the Hatcliffe charity which owns it just got fed up with paying people to live in it rather than let it turn into a crack den. They don't need planning consent to demolish - it's an old building but it's not listed. I understand there aren't any plans to build anything in its stead.

As I understand it (and I'm sure I'll be told if I've got this wrong...) there are two local Hatcliffe charities - the Hatcliffe and Misses Smith, which owns the almshouses in Tuskar Street (most of the trustees are council and local church nominees) and the estate charity which owns the Old Friends, most of the shops in that parade and houses in Woodlands Park Road. The trustees of the second charity are people from the Greenwich and Lewisham churches, and there's no one from the council on the board. Once a year it gives money to a charity in Greenwich and two charities in Lewisham. Maybe it will give the charities the money it saves from paying Camelot to house-sit for them instead.

The Old Friends wasn't the most beautiful building on earth but what we will have there now is a lump of dead land - to go with the dead hospital site, the dead shops and the dead DHSS building (I think it was still the DHSS when it was open) with just a couple of tedious equipment hire stores to break the gloom.

East Greenwich is looking pretty sad these days. Almost makes me yearn for the halcyon days of Roger Romantic crooning his songs of lurve of a Saturday night. Almost.

The Old Friends in happier times - when the buffets were free and Gallic picnic tables roamed the streets of East Greenwich ...

Latest On Restell Close Footpath

Not great news on this, folks, unless you're planning on buying a place in the gated community of Seren Park (soon to declare independence and start printing their own postage stamps, I understand...)

Michael, our man in Tom Smith Close, who has his ear to the ground, tells me there's been a tiny bit of movement from South Eastern but not in any really useful way for local people. He says:

"The essence is that South Eastern have said that they see no reason why the pathway can't be reinstated as long as the cost issues for Oyster readers and security can be addressed (which Seren Park, I am sure, are more than happy to pay for!) So, with the details yet to be formally agreed it looks as though early next year the new shortened, more direct path will be opened under the lock and key of Seren Park residents.

However, I understand from long-standing residents that there has never been 'official' access for non-Restell Close residents and that it has never been a public footpath, so it still looks unlikely that a short cut will be possible from Vanbrugh Hill, to the disappointment of many I am sure."

Me too, Michael. So, guys, if you're dragging a pram up and down the hill and two sets of stairs at Maze Hill, or pushing a wheelchair all the way round Woodlands Park Avenue to get to the station via Tom Smith Close, don't expect to lose those extra muscles you've gained any time soon...

The Advent of Advent

Out a-haunting last night, I spotted the cherry-pickers out in force, putting up this year's Christmas lights. None of the upside-down squiggles of last year, jolly as they were, this year's look to be globes of festivity. It all seemed to be going quite well; I reckon it will all be in place for Friday's big switch on.

The usual minimalist Christmas Tree will brighten up the windswept gloom on Cutty Sark Gardens - its simple maypole of fairy lights is a winner for me (I know not everyone likes it.)

I didn't get a pic as it was still in pitch darkness, but I did briefly pass it as I wanted to get a nosey at the River Bar and Grill, which I've heard rumour is opening this weekend.

The bar area is definitely in place and there are some chairs and tables in random-ish sort of arrangements, though there's also still some scaffolding up there. I can't get any more information as I have searched in vain for any kind of email/website for the place, though if the food and atmosphere work, this could be a stunning venue, especially in the summer months.

I remember a long while back that Kieron who's behind all this, promised to invite Phantom readers to the opening. I can't email you Kieron - but you know where I am - and we're all gagging to know what this place is going to be like (hint, hint...)

Transport Ups and Downs

So - from today we can use our Pay As You Go Oysters on the clippers, which gets us a 10% discount on the fare. I'm really pleased about this - it joins up the transport system much better even if it doesn't follow through that the Clipper counts on the daily travelcard-capped fare which would have been the ideal outcome (of course...) You can find more details here.

Even more useful for those of us who use the Southeastern trains, we'll soon be able to use our PAYG Oysters on the main lines too - the machines which were shipped in several months ago will, apparently, be turned on on the 2nd Jan 2010. I guess it remains to be seen whether we still get to have actual human beings in the stations after the demand for paper tickets drops...

Where I'm also less clear is what the hell's happening with Southeastern's new timetable. We've been warned that we'd get no through trains to Charing Cross in the new edition but from my (albeit brief - I hate reading timetables online - must get a proper paper one from the station - if there's a human there, of course...) perusal of the new version, there do still seem to be the odd one or two through trains. I know nothing about what's going on there.

I'm going to test out my Oyster on the Clipper ASAP. I'll report back.

John Roan School Decision

Joan's just sent me a press release that confirms John Roan School will be rebuilt where it stands, and not relocated to the Peninsuala. Read all about it here

Dream Home By The Dome

Dazza saw this in Friday's Metro and thought it might raise a giggle. He says:

"Don't know how long Tarves Way has been 'next to the O2 Arena' or 'Two minutes from Canary Wharf on the Jubilee Line' or indeed 'Next to North Greenwich Station'. Funnily enough, when I checked their website, they have nothing listed for Greenwich. Maybe it's listed under Wandsworth!"

In case you're still puzzled, Tarves Way is here. BTW I'm assuming that the headline should have an 'if' at the beginning - unless the Greenwich Peninsula really is that exclusive...

Depressed Phantom

David's just depressed the hell out of me.

Contrary to popular belief, I DON'T have a big problem with giant modern glass buildings - just modern buildings in sensitive settings. We've been worried for some time about what the hell will become of Trident Hall - not an utterly glorious building in its own right, I'll admit, but at least low-rise.

We've known it's been hoovered up by the Greenwich Inc. Empire for some time (which, btw is still looking for places to swallow - thanks for the link, Karen) but we didn't really know what form the hotel we've known they want to build would look like.

Well - here it is, courtesy of David.

Apparently, according to the article, the architect has actually worried about what impact her design will have. Not worried all that much, I would hazard. This looks completely out of place in such a historic site, to me.

But am I just being a jumpy Phantom this week? IS it that bad? I guess it could have been worse. What do you think about this?

Greenwich Book Place At Last

Remember the long saga of 258 Creek Road? We visited it again and again and again and again and once again. In fact I'm quite surprised at myself - I thought I'd only talked about it once or twice.

Well, after yesterday's moan about the possible loss of a truly historic and curious building, I bring you the good news that another - well, at least old-ish - building has been saved. It may not have even the beginnings of the kind of importance that the Rotunda has but it's David Herbert's home and he's finally had the right thing done by him.

I've been watching the scaffolding turn into proper, standing-up walls over the past few months and now Sridevi tells me:

"I was walking home today from Cutty Sark DLR station today, when I noticed that the Greenwich Books and Gallery was open! It's been shuttered for so long and it used to have the scaffolding all around it, that I thought it was abandoned."

Sridevi went in and was impressed with the selection (the last time I went in, I got the feeling that things were definitely being run-down, so it sounds like it's now worth a peek...) Sridevi tells me "they now plan to keep the shop open regularly from mid-day onwards till 6-7pm, no fixed hours yet. They want to see if they get any customers, if its worth opening the shop.

I do think people should go and check it out- they had such lovely looking really-old books and prints, many first-editions, the kind of hard-back books that look so gorgeous on the bookcase and give the thrill of reading once more a treasured book that has passed through many gentle hands over time!"

I couldn't have put it better myself, Sridevi. Sounds like we have a 'new' Greenwich secondhand bookshop - and that can never be a bad thing.

Incidentally - in case you haven't been following yesterday's post about the Rotunda, it's occurred to me that we could possibly suggest that its preservation be part of the Woolwich Olympics legacy (seems as good as any...) - there is a list of useful people to pester on the comments section...

David Herbert, triumphant at last...

Tunnel Talk

Luke met (over the weekend, I'm assuming) some people seeking support against the closure of the foot tunnel and wondered if I'd come across them (which I hadn't.)

We talked about refurbishment work looming on the horizon back in January but although Andrew Gilligan's June article mentions a start date of September 2009, work doesn't appear to have started yet.

Luke says that the protesters claim the tunnel (along with the one at Woolwich) will be closed for 6 months while it's refurbished. Andrew Gilligan thinks it will be more like 10 months to a year.

"The campaigners were getting signatures on letters to Greenwich Council asking for the work to be done at night or for shorter bursts rather than completely shut off a major route across the Thames," Luke says.

I think the issue here is one of this being a public highway (which is why the tunnels are not closed at night.) Surely there HAS to be some kind of provision for an alternative crossing - especially for people like cyclists who aren't allowed on the DLR? I mean - when they close a road, they generally provide alternative routes that aren't something like a ten-mile round trip.

I've tried cycling round - it's bloomin' MILES to go via Tower Bridge - the nearest alternative, and much of the cycle route is hard to decipher. I didn't even finish, being an exercise-o-phobe. Closing both tunnels at once is especially bad (if true) - but even cycling down to Woolwich is an extra - what - hour-and-a-half for me, 30 mins for everyone else.

However, I'm not sure I agree with the work being carried on at night or in short burst. It would just provide an excuse for the only bit of Cutty Sark 'Gardens' that isn't a building site to be an, um, building site - for no fixed period of time - and for the lifts to never work properly ('oh, we're getting to that bit later...')

But if we want a nice clean, fresh tunnel with lifts that work, improvements need to be done.

I would be in favour of lobbying for a regular ferry across the river to Island Gardens - paying for such a facility would be a wonderful concentration for the mind on getting that work finished...

Maze Hill Pathways

A lot of people have been asking about the ex-pathway on the south side of Maze Hill station where the new Seren Park development has been built. It's been closed ever since the hoardings went up and I've been regularly asked when it's opening again.

Well, Michael, who lives in Tom Smith Close, has just got back from a meeting with Seren Park developers, Network Rail and Greenwich councillors and thought we'd like an update. His report will prove for anyone who thought that South Eastern don't give a damn about community relations (read 'customers') that you're absolutely right.

He writes:

"Seren Park's land was purchased to include permission to reinstate direct access to the platform using the narrow short path in between the allotments and Tom Smith Close. The pathway is all owned by Network Rail and used to be much longer and previously ran alongside the platform but has been amalgamated with the platform itself a little while ago.

Agreement was made with Connex (South Eastern's predecessors) to grant the access gate and for Seren park to meet all associated costs. But South Eastern are not interested despite all efforts by the developers to make contact and offer both recompense and upkeep generously.

Us residents (of Tom Smith Close- TGP) support the developers on this issue because we don't want people attempting to break down barriers and turn our cul-de-sac into a walk-through - we have minimal pavements and this would cause litter, disturbance, noise and security issues for a predominantly elderly populace. South Eastern don't want any additional hassle and want to avoid additional access points to their stations.

Unless South Eastern change their minds, the access won't be reinstated and permanent barriers will have to be erected by Network Rail, the council and developers to secure their respective boundaries and force Seren Park residents to the long way round. The privacy of Tom Smith Close and security of the allotments will be fought for ! (there has never been any kind of accessway through the cul-de-sac and it's one of our car parks)."

So - there you have it. And just in case those of you who hump prams, wheelchairs, shopping trolleys or small children the long way round from Vanbrugh Hill/Humber Road etc. think there's any kind of chink of hope in this bleak news, read on...

"Also, note that the access was only ever to be exclusive to Seren Park with keyfobs and special security gates," says Michael, "I think newly moved in residents are going to be disappointed at South Eastern and will want to take issue with the developers for unintentionally misleading them about this 'direct access' - could be expensive for them !

This issue has been debated constantly for the past few years and South Eastern have had a tactic of avoidance and failed to show up at every opportunity and meeting."

So - yes - give up now on ever seeing this useful path ever reinstated for anyone who can't afford the ridiculous prices at Seren Park (even the 'affordable' ones require people to have incomes far higher than the average wage) but even if you can manage the squeakingly high prices of the new development, get used to that hike around the north side, eh...

Bye Bye Jack-Up, Hello Jack-Up

So - it came, it saw, it fiddled about a bit under the water. The Jack-up barge has just barged past Kathy's Wood Wharf window, and has now docked just off Greenwich Reach:

Here's a view of the construction site - concrete walls were poured yesterday - and soon we'll be losing Kathy's view upriver...

BTW - for those of you who have been asking, December is the new opening date for Wood Wharf Bar and Grill - but, as Kathy says, don't hold your breath...

Bye, Bye, Syral

Not everyone is going to mourn the passing of Syral - the giant factory of doom better known as "what the hell's that awful pong?" on the Peninsuala. But as one of the last remaining heavy industries left around here, the refinery was the employer of many people - and has been churning out its repertoire of appalling odours for years now.

No more. The place has closed, and on the evidence of my passing by it a couple of times over the last few days (sorry - my camera's irretrievably broken so no pics, 'fraid) they're dismantling it with almost unseemly haste. The chaps in hi-viz jackets who are swarming over the place don't seem to be actually demolishing yet, but much preparation is being done.

As I went past on Sunday, they seemed to be playing a final rendition of their 'greatest hits' of dreadful smells, maybe they are cleaning out the silos or something.

I wonder what's going to happen to this oh, so marketable piece of real estate on the riverside. Will we keep the jetties that had so much cash spent doing them up for the millennium, with their historic bits and bobs, natural-plants habitats, fishing platforms and weepy willows?

Will we lose yet another piece of our Thames Path? (I'm beginning to forget what the bit outside Lovell's Wharf even looks like, it's been closed so long...) I would be most upset if we lost another bit of what is, after all, a right of way.

It's all happening very fast, though one of the chaps I was talking to told me that the giant silos won't be blown up until next February (a date for the diary for anyone who remembers the hospital chimney exploding about four years ago. Watch this space.)

I vaguely remember that under Ken, the riverfront round that part of the peninsula was to be kept for industrial use, but now I just don't know - I'm sure the developers are slathering just at the thought of it.

What I'd like to see is some light industry - small, interesting workshops, maybe maritime-related, moving in. What I have the creepiest suspicion we'll actually get is yet more luxury flats and a truly interesting, different, real part of the Thames Path will turn into more identical glass and steel blocks.

My camera breaking (it was the moment of trying to take a picture of the towers being scaffolded that did it - maybe I annoyed the god of industrial silos...) is a real bummer. Syral may not have been our favourite part of living in Greenwich, but it is part of our history. At the very least it needs recording.

May I suggest that anyone walking along the Thames Path over the next few months takes their camera with them and takes some snaps? It will change every day - we should have a record of what the area looks like now.

The White Elephant In The Room

I've been searching iPlayer to try to find the report that Adrian Warner, the BBC London's Olympic correspondent filed last night on the 6.30pm bulletin - I'm rubbish with trying to find things on the BBC site and I can't dig it out - sorry.

What it boiled down to was that the 2012 committee had originally planned to build a £40m temporary structure on Greenwich Peninsula to house the gymnastics, boxing and something else which slips my mind, but which might be badminton (spot the sports-fan, here, folks...)

Boris Johnson said that was too expensive and announced he was going to move them to Wembley. Now the individual sports are saying "Hey - why should we move? It was supposed to be in East London - we want to stay."

They've dug their heels in and now everything's reached an impasse. And the sports have a point - a big old fuss is being made by the organisers insisting on putting the equestrian events in the park, for example, using the excuse that they want to 'keep it local.' What's sauce for the goose...

But here's the rub. Adrian Warner's report, the tenor of which is "Everything's in meltdown while the organisers desperately search for a venue" was delivered standing in front of the O2, one of Britain's most user-friendly, public-transport-accessible venues, and very notably in the east of London. One that's just lost a whole load of cash, not to mention face, over the biggest no-show of its short career (though Michael Jackson did have a good excuse...)

It was built with huge amounts of public money and sold to AEG for a song. Why the hell wasn't it requisitioned as a venue in the first place? And why the bloomin' hell aren't they considering it now? The only excuse I can think of (apart from AEG refusing to play ball - or even shuttlecock - get that sports imagery in, Phantom...) is that it's 'too big' - but I've seen the place made smaller with cunning screens, curtains and seating.

Surely the committee could offer the O2 somewhat less than forty million, giving them loads of that precious 'good publicity' that we're supposed to be getting from the games, keeping the sports happy, AEG nicely-promoted and LOCOG headache-free (on that issue at least...)

I find Warner a frustrating reporter. He seems so busy toadying up to the 2012 committee that he fails to ask obvious questions. The very fact that he did this whole piece about not being able to find a venue in front of a seemingly perfect candidate really makes me wonder what he's doing...

Cobbled Concessions

I just saw the article in Greenwich.co.uk talking about a climbdown on the part of Greenwich Hospital Trust over the market's cobbles and the Edwardian buildings in Durnford Street.

Apparently now the "much loved" (how patronising can GH get?) cobbles will now be saved and re-used in a 'new configuration' with granite sets. Um, weren't they going to do that much anyway?

Even more depressing, the historic Durnford Street buildings, which were going to be demolished to make room for rubbish bins, will now be...

...demolished to make room for rubbish bins. Greenwich Hospital's 'concession' is that they will 'salvage' the building materials, to be 'donated' for use within the World Heritage Site.

How the hell is this a concession?' All it does is save Greenwich Hospital the cost of hiring a skip to take the rubble away.

Nothing has changed.

Rumours, Rumours...

...none of which are substantiated, but nonetheless refuse to go away...

They regard Queen Elizabeth Almshouses - the pretty little crescent of dinky homes opening onto a leafy green just opposite the station (see Stevie's pic above...)

For a couple of weeks now, I've had a number of disturbing messages left by 'Jessica' regarding the future of the buildings. She said that they were to be knocked down by the Drapers Company who administer William Lambarde's 16th Century local charity for local people because they no longer meet H&S standards.

I was surprised to read this, and contacted a few people who might know something about it. One of the perils of being anonymous is that I can't get completely stuck into things like this, but the contacts I do have told me that the buildings had only just been done up, so it didn't seem likely that they would have been refurbished if they were to be demolished.

Appeased, I took my eye off the ball. After all, the buildings must be listed, surely (though I can't find out that they actually are - it's hard to get a definitive account of all listed buildings in the borough.)

But then I got another message from Jessica, saying that there was a notice on the railings outside the almshouses. As soon as I was well, I nipped over there, though in such a hurry I forgot both my camera and my notebook.

The upshot of the notice is the proposed merger of the Drapers' Company's three charities (the other two are in Tottenham and Southwark) to create a single entity. The most memorable other issue on the railings-notice is that this new Uber-Charity will reserve the right to sell off whatever of its property it likes, as long as the cash goes towards almshouses.

Now, this is as much as I know. There is nothing at all about the proposals posted on the property railings on the Drapers' Company website and no overt signs that the gussying-up of the very pretty - and very marketable - Queen Elizabeth Almshouses was a precursor to selling them off to build ugly new ones somewhere cheap, but nothing to reassure me that that isn't the intention either.

Does anyone know anything further about this? Someone from the Ashburnham Association, perhaps? I can't see that these buildings are in any danger of actual demolition - they're far too olde-worlde-desirable as bijou executive bachelor pads for that - but is there the intention of moving out the pensioners to make some easy cash (after all - what would old people want with easy access to shops, transport and entertainment..?) and flogging off these exquisite little chocolate-box homes?

I can't help feeling William Lambarde's grave could be less than restful just now...

Just Say No

Dunno how many of you got this little shiny purple and white leaflet through the door this afternoon, but in case you're even thinking about going to the latest King William IV Amazing Credit Crunch Clearance Sale - just don't, okay.

This scam happens about twice a year. They post leaflets through local doors advertising a marvellous cash-only sale of incredible deals - ipods for eight quid, washer-dryers for forty-five - that sort of thing. The leaflets go out after the Trading Standards guys have packed up for the weekend, they make gullible people queue outside the pub just before 2.00pm, then let them in for ten minutes and fleece them.

There are those that said, when I mentioned this before, that if you're greedy and/or stupid enough to fall for such an obvious scam you've got it coming to you - but that's not a valid reason not to at least put a warning up here. People new to the area are often caught on this one and until Trading Standards catch up with these individuals, all I can say is - this is NOT the real deal.

I've scanned the leaflet for your enjoyment. Once you start reading between the lines, there is a 'between' for every line...

Wood Wharf News

Kathy, my eyes and ears in Wood Wharf, has news. Funny we should have been discussing the relative merits of the restaurant SE10 yesterday, as Kathy tells me:

"I know you weren’t a fan of SE10 restaurant & bar, but the community around Wood Wharf Apts. is saddened that it is now closed. A small hand-written paper is posted in window saying they closed May 25th. Up to that time they had reduced their days opened and I saw very few customers April and May. I felt SE10’s isolated location was a detriment. For us at Wood Wharf it was very convenient to drop in for a pint, yummy breakfasts (when young female French chef was employed), and Sunday Roasts were decent. I especially will miss the cheery yellow walls."

Interesting that it closed on May 25th and yet no one seems to have known that - even the people recommending it yesterday.

I agree that it was a little out of the way - but then so are The Guildford and Ginza and I'm not aware that they're in trouble (but then maybe I don't know about that either. Must get out more...)

I confess Kathy's right - I was no fan of SE10 - but it's never good to know a restaurant has shut (unless it was The Alamo or Pizza Luna, of course, upon whose closure I understand there was dancing in the streets.)

I didn't hate SE10 - I just didn't like it enough to seek it out a fourth time after three disappointing meals in a row. I know other people had happier times there - and there were some great touches - I liked the squashy armchairs, the yellow decor and the board games.

I wouldn't give up on the area though - with all the new flats going up at the Reach, there will be more people wanting to eat. Perhaps someone new and innovative will take over the place.

But Kathy also brings news of River Bar and Grill, the restaurant to open in Wood Wharf where she lives:

"The latest info is that the opening will now be near the end of August. Up till now the construction has been putting up outside walls, concrete tiling, and general fixing up the restaurant site since all they had was an empty, open-to-elements shell. There is a guard and guard dogs in the space when workers are not on premises due to there being no windows yet.

I hear rumblings that some of the previous work was vandalized and of course there’s concern for theft of copper tubing, etc. Pigeons have been a big annoyance as well. After large glass windows are installed THEN the decorating work will begin – carpets, paint, fixtures, etc. It’s amazing to us that the past 2 years work has just been for fixing the shell space.

Wood Wharf occupants had an opportunity 2 weeks ago to meet with owners and take a tour, but we had USA visitors arriving that night and couldn’t make it. From notices posted, there will be live music – not DJ, 2-floors with space for special events, and possible outdoor seating. Contrary to former posts on your blog, 2 years ago they DID apply for music/disco until 3am, but this was rejected. Duh! There’s a special needs building right across the street and 45 flats above the restaurant! I don’t know where people will park their cars. On the dead end street parking is only by permit.

Also, in light of the latest criminal activity in this part of Greenwich along with the opening of the River Bar and Grill, local police are encouraging the neighbourhood to be part of a “crime watch”.

Unless there will be great advertising and signage this could be a bust like SE10. On the flip side, if it does well and lasts for 2-4 years, River Bar and Grill will be “the place to be” when the new Greenwich Reach extravaganza opens next door. Since I’m a foodie and desire a close place for a pint, I’m more interested in what’s on the menu. I will be greatly disappointed if it’s the same ole, same ole."

I think that the Riverside has several things in its favour - not least the location - who doesn't like sitting on the riverfront of a balmy summer evening, or enjoying a cosy meal behind glass when the winter winds are squalling outside? I think that people from across the river will see it too, and be curious - after all, it's only a foot tunnel away...

I also like the enthusiasm I've been feeling from the people who run the place - I got the feeling that SE10's enthusiasm (which I absolutely believe was there once) had run out of steam in recent years, and that they seem to be communicating with residents. The manager's name is Kieron, if memory serves, and he's been in touch here and they've obviously held consultations, even if not everyone can attend.

I'm not sure parking would be a problem. I see it as a local restaurant - I can't remember the last time I drove to a local eaterie - not least because I like a drink...

I also can't see drunken hooligans flocking to a smart restaurant when there's a Wetherspoons down the way that will serve them cheap alcohol way into the night.

I'm optimistic about this. Sad about SE10, yes. No one likes an empty building. But if River Bar and Grill can come up with the foodie goods, and the experience is enjoyable, I don't see why it couldn't be another Inside or Guildford.

Michael

Well - he made it to Greenwich once - to wave - which is my excuse for being sad on here today. But fifty gigs was always going to be too much for someone so very weak. I didn't have a ticket for the tour. I assumed the chances of my actually seeing him were slim - that he'd just pull out after a couple of dates through exhaustion - I didn't expect the guy to die. No one expects superstars to die.

Hell. I grew up with Michael Jackson. Not literally, of course. That would be silly. But I don't remember a time in my childhood without him. My sister bought the presciently-titled Off The Wall and she seemed so grown up. It's still my favourite Jackson album.

This is off-topic so I'm going to stop before the Michael-isn't-really-dead conspiracy theories begin. But however nutty he was in later life, whatever he may or may not have done to others - and himself, however dodgy one or two of his later songs might have been, he was an important part of my younger childhood. I'll remember him as the happy little black kid from the Jackson Five, not the sad little 'white' kid walled up in Neverland.

Bad Stuff

Folks, I've just had some disturbing news about Robert Gray, of TV, Screen, Radio - and St Alfege's Guesthouse fame - and, of course, regular commenter here.

His friend Nic has just contacted me to tell me that he is very badly injured as the result of an attack last night, and he wants everyone in the centre of town to be extra careful just now. Nic says:

"Four drunken youths - almost children - tried to kick in Robert's door in Roan Street at 2.15am this morning. He confronted them, chasing them down Straightsmouth.

He caught up with a boy and girl, but they turned on him and beat him, kicked him and bit him, shouting "Kill him, kill him."

Robert passed out and was left for dead. He is very lucky to be alive."

I'm getting very worried about the late-night drinking regulations in Greenwich. Stabbings, beatings, glassings - even murders - are going on, and yet licences are still being granted.

We don't know which establishment these oafs were drinking at - but it's unlikely they were enjoying a tinny in St Alfege's churchyard. Wherever they were, they must have been obviously drunk. If we must have late night drinking, then surely it should fall a upon the owners of these places to purvey alcohol with some kind of integrity. It's not good enough just to keep serving drunks until they're paralytic then chuck them out on the street so it's someone else's problem.

In this case, that Someone Else was Robert, who was in his own home, not even out on the street. Next time it could be any of us.

My best wishes go out to Robert, who I understand is in a very bad way - and to Nic. If anyone saw anything that might be useful, I know the police would like to hear about it. These assholes could strike again any time.

Pants On Fire

Did anyone hear that interview on the Today programme this morning, with Bob Crow and the Mayor? Sadly they were not interviewed together, which I'd have really enjoyed.

Management claim that today's strike is down to two sacked workers; Crow swears that it isn't and never has been about that, that there was a deal on the table that either he had signed or was about to sign when a mysterious telephone call saw said agreement whipped away from under his nose.

The only thing that we can be certain of here is that Someone Is Lying. And I find it bizarre that whichever side that is, it must be a blatant lie. An easily revealed lie, surely?

Either there was a deal (and now isn't) or there wasn't. Either the two sacked workers were part of the dispute or they weren't. Both sides seem to think they're still in the playground, while the rest of us are stuck searching for bus routes and cycling maps.

It doesn't help that Bob Crow has to be one of the least sympathetic characters on the London political stage just now (and let's face it, there are so many candidates for that 'accolade') but he sounded so indignant this morning I nearly believed him.

Whoever's lying, it should be reasonably easy to resolve - that contract Bob Crow says he was willing to sign at 6.00pm just needs to be found and signed now. And if it can't be produced...

If you can't get in today and are stuck for something to do, try amusing yourself with Darryl's entertaining drinking game.

Ship Builders - Ahoy!

Today I have a request. Not from me but from David Ramzan, who, if you recall, has written several books on Greenwich and Charlton (check him out in the Book Reviews section...)

His latest venture is about three ships built in the area - the East Indiaman Princess Louisa built at Deptford in 1733, the Halloween, a clipper built on Greenwich Marsh in 1871 and the frigate HMS Dolphin built in Woolwich 1751.

David has a huge amount of facts about these three, but the thing that makes his books so very readable is the human element - the memories and the anecdotes.

Now, of course, if anyone here actually remembers any of these three being built they probably can't see their reflection in the mirror and find themselves followed around by small black dogs, but what David Ramzan is looking for is family history nuts who may have discovered ancestors who worked at those three docks - or even on these specific ships.

If you can hep, he'd love to hear from you - contact him here.

For those of you who are wondering what the hell today's photos have to do with the above, you're right. Bugger-all. But they were sent to me last week by Sue, and are of a Maltese-registered cruise liner called something like the Marazana (though I can't find it listed under that name...) and I needed an excuse to use them...

Next visit of a cruise ship, btw, is, according to the magnificent IanVisits Silver Cloud. He says it was going all the way up to the Embankment - if it's anything like the size of this one that'll be a nice trick if they can do it...

'Achievements'

When I was a child, one of my favourite non-fic books was a hand-me-down copy of The Story of Houses and Homes - a Ladybird 'Achievements' Book. No - really - I was a weird kid. In fact I still have it. Here it is:

I read that book endlessly - it was one of a handful I knew back to front - even the boring bits like the page about nasty slums and the one following it which explained how "a famous Act of Parliament, passed in 1875, stopped the greedy building of large numbers of small houses crammed together."

That 'famous Act,' I found out later, was Disraeli's Artisans Dwellings Act - which effectively began the social housing movement. My Ladybird book told me "Among other regulations there had to be a certain number of rooms, walls had to be of a certain thickness, every house had to have a sink in the kitchen with a tap, a copper for boiling water to wash clothes, and its own lavatory."

It's pretty much down to that act why so many houses round here - and, of course, across Britain look like this:

All those thousands of terraced late-Victorian /Edwardian houses are the result of builders working out the way they could squeak within the letter of the law, given the new restrictions, using the least amount of land and building materials.

For the last 18 months, as I've plodded my way to Sainsburys, I've been watching these flats going up. From the start it was clear they were never going to be able to use the description 'luxury,' but there is a point where cost-cutting and greed does start to plum new depths.

Rooms I swear will never be lit by natural light, edges that don't meet, pipes sticking out from the walls, cheap, dodgy-looking doors and the block's one nod to 'style' - glass panels masquerading as porches - hung horizontally so that rainwater will gather on the top until it either spills over onto whoever's below or starts growing its own green roof.

A few weeks ago I walked past and they appeared to have given up on proper building materials at all. Workmen were busy putting up what I'm certain were plywood walls around the balconies and using what probably weren't but did look like old pallets for the balcony roofs. Another guy was merrily painting the high, end wall two different shades of white, after, presumably, running out of the original colour halfway up.

Now, perhaps in some kind of bid to sell it to the HM Prison Service as overflow accommodation, some battered battleship grey panels are being put over the plywood (one or two look wonky to me) and some metal grilles are being tacked onto the balcony sides. All they need is some netting to make sure the inmates don't chuck themselves over them. Oh - no - wait - that won't be necessary - the giant road sign outside the window will break their fall...

All this has been bugging me for months. So why am I spitting tacks today? Because this weekend there was an article on the news that put me in mind of my Ladybird Book, and for two mornings running I've woken up grumpy, thinking of these blooming apartments.

The government has given housing associations cash to buy up unsold new-builds and turn them into social housing. I think it's a great idea.

The problem? Many of these developers have been so greedy that they've produced properties so poor in quality the housing associations won't touch them. They're far too mean, small and badly built for social housing...

I'm not saying that this block has been rejected - or even considered by - housing associations, but if I were in charge of buying some new social housing stock I'd be giving it a wide berth, given what I've been watching go up over the months.

Of course, I haven't seen it up close. Taking a sneaky peek at the show flat would be illuminating (even if I can't promise those windows would be...) Every so often, a plastic banner is hung from the balconies, declaring the show flat is 'open.' I've not been able to see exactly where that would be. After a week or so, the banner starts to fall down, then it's removed.

Apparently there's an open day on 23rd May, though - the website still seems to hold out hope that someone would actually buy one of these. Just check out the prices - still absolutely ridiculous, despite their being reduced. If nothing else, check out the artist's impression of what Woolwich Road looks like in Developer Fantasy Land. I particularly enjoyed the greenery, the block that's been built over the coach station, the wide boulevard that is Woolwich Road and the piazza where the artist obviously enjoyed a pavement cappucino whilst sketching this fabulous scene of urban paradise.

It's right and proper that the housing associations have standards - but why haven't the rest of us? How have these developers been allowed to get away with this? According to the news at the weekend, MPs have been pushing for legislation that would guarantee standards for private development similar to the social sector.

What? We don't have regulations already? What happened to the rules embodied in the 1875 Act, for starters? Repealed, presumably. By whom? Who thought that was a good idea? Have we really gone backwards into slumdom again?

I wish I could say this block was unique in its hideousness, but for those of us who have watched several local new-builds going up over the past few years it's a familiar story.

My Ladybird book was published in 1963 - a brave new world of (admittedly unexciting but nevertheless sincere) tower blocks and glass Le Corbusier houses. I have no idea what they would write about Greenwich's most recent 'achievement' in a reprint today...

Greenwich's Second Ghost Bike

Gwladys asked me what the white-painted bike tied to the railings on the Charlton side of the A102M roundabout was. I didn't know about that particular one, but Ghost Bikes are a sad phenomenon that have been cropping up in cities around the world over the past few years as memorials to cyclists killed on roads. There was one put in Greenwich Park by Greenwich Cyclists a couple of years ago; this was obviously a regrettable second one.

I went to take a peek at it, to see what the story was, and it's even sadder than I first thought, because no one knows who the female victim was yet, and the lorry driver who ran into her didn't even stop.

Since Chez Phantom doesn't get local papers (or mags - I don't know if it's personal or whether my road isn't considered posh enough for that sort of thing), I looked online for the story and found it at the excellent 853 blog. Darryl must have stood in exactly the same place as me around the same time to have taken his pics, but he'd already noted the story last Friday...

Aarrrooooo!

"Me" asks:

"According to signage on the site, "Wolfman Films" is doing a bit of night filming around the University to May 27th. Do you know if it is connected to the filming done last year ('08) on the "Wolfman Film"? I walk through the University most days to and from work and had to walk through grimy streets and horse poop this morning - Ewww! It was still cool though because lots of props were hanging out to sneak a peek at...and how cool is it to tell my friends and family that I walk through film sets on the way to work! :-)"

Sadly, "Me," my call for a mole in the Greenwich Film Unit has gone unheeded (probably because I wasn't particularly polite about it once. Damn my mouth...)

So I had to resort to my old friend the Internet, which, as everyone knows, is never wrong. It is, indeed, more filming for Wolfman, which apparently had too much boring old plot, so they're tacking on some more action shots before the much-delayed release. The Big Picture is sceptical about it all - if a film's going to be boring, adding extra shots only makes it longer, argues Bruno, but hey - it will also add extra Greenwich...

And it gives me an excuse to add another pic from last year's shoot...

Confused Phantom

Rod has just put the willies up me by saying that the market's Durnford Street/Cobbles issue seems to be contained in a different planning application from the one some of us have objecting to.

The link I gave you was for Planning Application 09/0829/F - which I thought was the correct one (it talks about the demolition of 1950s core market buildings), but Rod now worries that it should have been Application 09/0830/C (which talks about "demolition and works to unlisted buildings in association with development works at Greenwich Market.")

The link is currently broken, so it's impossible to be sure, but the letter that arrived chez Phantom, after objections went in, lumps the two together "09/0829/F and Associated Ref: 09/0830/C. Somewhat worryingly it also invites me to object, which makes me wonder whether the online objections actually count.

Can anyone clear this up? I would hate to think that our objections would be discounted because of my stupidity - I confess I didn't see there were two separate applications for building demolition and had assumed it would all be lumped together.

Unpleasantness in St Alfege's Passage

Robert from Number 16 (the guesthouse)had a most unpleasant time Saturday night, and is keen to warn people to be on their guard. He says:

"I woke at 4.30 am to find an intruder in my bedroom which is very much at the back of the building. I don't know who was more shaken when I screamed at him, he or me. There was then a fight, in which I injured him. He made off across the gardens of the next door into the church recreation gardens. Police were called and details taken.He was mid to late 20s, black neat short hair wearing clean jeans and dark blue top."

Robert's understandably very shaken, and presumably the burglar(?) isn't feeling so great either. I used to think that St Alfege's Passage must be an idyllic place to live; I'm getting less and less sure these days.

Stockwell Street Development

Folks - I have just had the first concrete information about what's to happen at the Stockwell Street site. The rumours that have been buzzing around about Greenwich University wanting to build a School of Architecture are indeed true - and they've set aside £60m to do it with.

They've not got very far - they haven't even commissioned an architect yet - but they're looking to build "an inspiring piece of contemporary architecture" As far as I can see - at least from their press release - they intend to consult with local people when they have something concrete (let's hope it won't be made out of concrete...)

I'm cautiously optimistic about this. Of course the weazle-word is always 'consult' - which means precisely nothing in real terms - consultation doesn't mean they'll actually listen to anything residents and businesses have to say, merely ask their opinion.

However, the university is an academic institution and although I don't know this one, I am yet to come across an academic institution that doesn't have a bunch of internal politics like a viper pit. However much the financial authorities will be trying to save cash, there will be people from within who will want to see a decent job done, aesthetically, locally and historically. The people who work in the university will, for the most part, actually live around here - and therefore have a vested interest in keeping the place nice (which, I'm afraid, another institution, based in The City and Portsmouth, may not...) And they must know that to have a school of architecture with a bad (new) building would be commercial suicide.

I will watch this with interest.

In the meanwhile it would seem that the reason the market's been closed so early is that the university will be "carrying out preliminary investigations including archaeological digs, geological surveys and a study of land contamination. A programme of enabling works will include the removal of existing buildings on the site, many of which are in a poor state of repair."

Those warehouse buildings were always doomed, and we can't (and indeed shouldn't) save everything. They are hardly architectural gems, and we can't live in aspic. I'm sad to see one or two of them go (I hope they find a fitting home for the Geisha... and that lovely sign) but I'm very keen to find out what's underneath all that concrete. Conversations I've been having with one or two Stockwell Street residents (and perusals of John Stone's book) lead me to believe there is Stuff To Be Found.

So, one to keep a beady eye on...we'll see...

Fwuffy-Wuffy-Muffy-Snuffy

A few days ago me and some friends were having ye olde 'favourite-words-in-the-English-language' discussion. Putative. Caoutchouc. Milt. Ytterbium. Gubernatorial. You know the sort of discussion.

My favourite word - well - maybe not my best word, but my desert-island word is Kitten. Here's why.

Meet Grey Boy Kitten. His dad is Big Max of Devonshire Drive; his mum is Tiny Ruby.

Boy Kitten, and his sister Brown Girl Kitten:

are looking for a home. Currently all is harmony in Devonshire Drive, but Kate is worried that keeping these adorable little bundles of fluff might cause fur to fly in the long run, and is reluctantly saying goodbye.

"They are very well brought up and are cuddly and litter trained," says Kate.

"We want them to stay in Greenwich so that we can checkout where they are going and so that new owners can come and check on us. We don't want to sell them but do want to be sure that they go to good homes and are happy."

So - is there anyone out there who is dribbling at the thought of the pitter-patter of fluffy feet? If so, drop me a line and I'll pass your details onto Kate...

Here's another pic, just because I can. It's my blog and I'll post kittens if I want to. The third fluffy chap in this picture has already found a home.

Greenwich Market Consultation Yet Again

Folks, I seem to have been sleepwalking. There I was assuming that Greenwich Hospital Trust were 'consulting' us before submitting their formal plans when all the time those plans are already with Greenwich Council, pending approval.

I thought we had time. We don't.

While a much of the content of the proposal is tolerable - and some of it's even okay - if, like me, you find the loss of those Edwardian buildings in Durnford Street (so that they have extra rubbish-bin space - hardly a great excuse to demolish history) and the removal of the classic cobblestones in favour of bog-standard paving an unacceptable part of the deal, then you need to act now.

Paul has kindly forwarded this link that goes directly to the application. At the bottom, you can click to go to an online comments form

Ignore the first bit that asks for a reference number (unless you have one, of course) and click on the bit just underneath that says "If you do not have a reference number..."

The form can be submitted online.

I think it's sneaky that the proposal only talks about "Demolition of the existing 1950's core market buildings, " failing to mention the much earlier Durnford Street buildings, and also says nothing about GHT quietly removing the cobblestones, which are so much a (literal) part of the feel of the place.

It's up to you of course. You may disagree and think I'm getting obsessed here. But if you don't, then now's the time to act.

Greenwich Hospital have not been entirely up-front with us here about the gradual seepage of our history, bit by bit, but it's not to late to at least put up a fight. Greenwich Council could easily insist on the reinstatement of cobblestones and the retention of the Durnford Street buildings as a Section 106.

Another Piece Of Greenwich History To Be Lost

I have discovered a new word recently. Facadism. (there should be a cedilla under the 'c' but Blogger doesn't allow such flourishes...)

I suspect that Facadism is exactly what we can expect from the new Greenwich Market development. We get to keep the look of the outside - but only because it's listed. The rest can go to hell in a handcart.

Of course most of the inside of Greenwich Market went down the Swanee back in the 1950s, and, frankly I say good riddance to much of it, having no architectural merit (or even build quality) to speak of - but that's no reason to continue the slide into Historical Oblivion with this latest development.

I have just received an answer to my question about the fate of those little outbuildings behind the market (apparently they're Edwardian, not Victorian. My mistake. It doesn't make them any less important historically.)

I am informed they are 'unsafe' and will be demolished as part of the new plans. I suspect that if they were not in the way of Greenwich Hospital Trust's plans, their 'unsafeness' might not have been quite so insurmountable.

David McFarlane, communique for the development, agrees that they have become "much loved friends to many in Greenwich" and tells me that Greenwich Hospital have agreed to "carefully photograph them for public records."

Big deal.

Mr McFarlane tells me of all the stuff that was demolished 100 years ago to widen Durnsford Street - and to create the very buildings we're talking about. But just because no interest in history was displayed by our ancestors does not give us the excuse to do the same to the very little we have left. Photography is not even a poor substitute.

We are still lucky enough to have a lot of Greenwich's grand past surrounding us. But we are losing the history of the ordinary people of Greenwich on a nigh-on daily basis.

Tide Mill

I know a lot of people have been curious about the medieval tide mill that was discovered during the giant Lovell's Wharf development.

No point in reinventing the water wheel here - Mary Mills has just done a grand job of explaining it on the Greenwich Industrial History Society blog.

Just thought you'd like to know...