More about Paddington, Little Venice and an excursion

Wednesday, 19 November 2008 20:24

Monday morning we were up early to do the short trip back to Little Venice for water, rubbish and elsan. It was a nice morning if a bit grey!

We winded in Browning's Pool of Little Venice so we could reverse under the Westbourne Terrace bridge to the services. The tap is rather slow, but eventually we left and circling around Browning's Island.






The Island and Pool are named after the poet Robert Browning (1862 -1867) who lived nearby and liked to row there to write poetry.


Paddington was just a small village when the Regents Canal was fully opened, linking the Grand Junction Canal to Limehouse at the Pool. The section from Paddington to Camden Town was opened in 1816.

As we turned into the basin we saw our mooring was still vacant so we winded and moored up, settled for a few more days!

Then it was excursion time again. We caught the 205 bus - top deck, front seat to get the best view of course. We were off to the East End! Our plan was to visit a Master Weavers house and explore the Spitalfields area. Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and surrounding areas were a hive of industry, silk weaving being the prime occupation. John has ancestors that were silk weavers and came from this area so it was a personal quest!



Dennis Severs was a very clever chap. He created a very different visitor attraction in Folgate Street. A time capsule of a house. The house is the home of the Jervis family, Huguenot silk weavers and they are still there after all these years!

The house is a "still life drama" and evokes the life and times of the family in a very unique way. The theme is "whether you see it or whether you don't". It is a very special experience and really worth a visit. I will not spoil it for you but you can find out more here.



After that we wandered down to the Old Spitalfields Market, it used to be the fruit and veg market of London until the market moved in 1991. It is now transformed into a modern complex of shops, cafes and modern market.

Talking of veg ... here is a gherkin in Bishopsgate! The previous London Mayor Ken's delight!

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