East London History Society

East London History Society newsletter in the post - and in it a whole lot of stuff about how Tower Hamlets intend to shut down Bancroft Road Library and the Borough's local history collection. I had heard this already but didn't really believe it - how could any Borough - even Tower Hamlets - sell of their local history. As the editor of ELHS says 'it beggars belief' - but, yes, apparently they are flogging it off to Queen Mary College, which is based nearby the present site.

Recycled Art Show

This Thursday; 1st Thursday, stop by the Linen Building on Grove Street & check it out. I will be entering a piece or two, come down & vote for your favorite. All art created out of recycled materials....vote on your favorite & place a bid in the silent auction. Proceeds to benefit Ship Inc.

Gala on Friday night; live music, wine & treats, & awards. Pick up your tickets at 2nd Chance. It should be a fun night; hope to see you there!!!

Amber

Back to work--an inspiring day....

Yesterday was a good day; I layed out some ideas for a couple new pieces; big ones---one 13 feet tall, one 16 feet. I spent the morning dragging stuff out into the front driveway & drawing on the concrete with chalk; I sure the neighbors think I'm getting crazier all the time!!!

This one will stand about 12 feet tall (I think) My original idea was some sort of mechanism thing in the middle with the big wheel on top, but after thinking about it all day, I think I'm going to do a huge wind-chime instead.....




And this one will be the kinetic piece. It all started with a solar tube that a friend gave me.... I'm wanting the whole piece to spin in the wind; I drew sails along the supports, but I think it may work better to make more of a vertical turbine; with 3 supports, & 3 long curving blades.... this one is definitely going to be a challenge, but I'm really excited about the possibilities! I'm going to have to find a spin mechanism for the thing to be built; maybe a wheel on an axle or something.....must do more thinking & engineering.....



After all the drawing & moving stuff, I decided to make something for my house; most of the time, I'm always making things for galleries or other people; its rare that I do any projects just for me. So, I had these hanging copper disks & keys that were part of piece that I didn't like & took apart, & I decided to make a small wind chime for the back of the house. Since we moved in, I've always thought that the space back there need something artsy.... So, here it is....



It makes the cutest little jingly sound in the breeze; I think I may need to make some more of these.....

Open House

News in the post of the next London Open House weekend 20-21st September. Lots of things in 'royal' Greenwich, but precious little industrial - lets see - Greenwich Yacht Club (well, maybe) ...Slice of Reality (well, almost nearly).... Thames Barrier (yesish) ... Woolwich Town Hall (well people do work there)
So what can we recommend in neighbouring boroughs -
In Tower Hamlets - Limehouse Accumulator Tower (*** ) ..... Museum in Docklands (**** ), Trinity Buoy Wharf (****)
In Southwark - Brad Street Railway Arches (?) ..... Brunel Museum (****) ..... Kirkaldy Testing Works (****) .... Lavender Pond Pumphouse (****) .... Sands Film Studio (***) ..... Hop Exchange (**) ....
In Newham ... House Mill (*******) ......
In Lewisham ..... Art inn Perpetuity Trust (**), Manor House Ice House (*),
In Bexley - Crossness Engines (*****),
In Bromley - Biggin Hill Airfield (**), Keston windmill (**)

Oh dear - what is wrong with us in Greenwich - is there nothing in the Arsenal, for instance, worth showing to the world?

Sub Brit

In the post - I wonderful new edition of Subterranea - www.subbrit.org.uk. As ever there is nothing in it about Greenwich - but most of what is in this edition is by one of our (ex?) members, the indefatigable Nick Catford. Most of what he is writing about here - but not all - concerns the London Underground and defunct railways generally. People will remember his recent work on the Blackheath Hill railway tunnel. I have asked Nick time and again to come and speak to us about his work - but he always says 'no' - so - everyone - all together 'Nick PLEASE PLEASE ........................'

off to Wiltshire

Just got back from annual conference of the Association for Industrial Archaeology in Wiltshire. This is held in a different part of the country every year and 2008 has been just outside Chippenham at the Lackham Agricultural Centre. Naturally there was, as ever, scant attention to industrial remains in London, let alone Greenwich. The focus of the special study day was military remains and the keynote lecture about cold war remains - not even the Arsenal got a look in there. However we learnt a lot about engineering in places like Chippenham (Westinghouse for instance) and about the canals, railways and military sites which abound in the area - and also that farming students live on pie and chips.

Bowater family in Woolwich

In volume 3 issue 6 of this newsletter (November 2000) Russell Martin wrote about the Bowater family and its landholdings in Woolwich, referring to a map of the Warspite Industrial Estate in his possession, and an 1895 survey of the estate with 38 more maps. The Survey of London, currently working towards a volume on Woolwich, is piecing together a history of the Bowater Estate, and would very much like to make contact with Mr Martin, or anyone else who might know his whereabouts. Please write to Peter Guillery at peter.guillery@english-heritage.org.uk or Survey of London, English Heritage, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST, or telephone (020) 7973 3634