Comments on: In Old Rotherhithe

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 03:11:02 +0000

Thank You So Much for these Pictures. They are Sad, Amazing and in the Past, but we must Remember Them.??????

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 23:11:04 +0000

Somewhere, sometime I read of an encounter at a party between Dr. Johnson and some young fellow. Dr. Johnson took it upon himself to urge this young man to venture out over the seas to unknown lands, to immerse himself as few Englishmen had ever done in the great unknown, with the purpose of coming back to England to enlarge the knowledge of his fellow countrymen while bringing renown upon his children and his children’s children, for surely such adventure would resound down generations.

“I am quite serious, Sir,” said Dr. Johnson to the young man.

If this young fellow was moved by the elder man’s exhortation, it wasn’t movement enough to get him on a ship, at least as far as we know.

And then we have the marvelous example of Prince Lee Boo, who, I have no doubt, was a magnificent young man, full of verve and adventure, a man who, I think, would well have become a commanding and interesting figure, a young man on the cusp of a full life of fun and worth, who, yet, was destined not to live. Which is very sad.

Even though he died hundreds of years ago, his story is affecting, and incites speculation. Yet all we can do is consider his grave.

Thank you for placing Prince Lee Boo in our perspective. Someday, I, from overseas, may visit his resting place. Those of you who can now, why not do so, leaving boughs and flowers of remembrance?

By: Liz Lloyd

Liz Lloyd — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 14:45:45 +0000

The nice people in the costume store below Sands films have a great collection of photos of Rotherhithe which they will let you browse if you have a family connection.

By: Marnie

Marnie — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 11:44:55 +0000

The foreshore of Rotherhithe is now the haunt of intrepid mudlarkers. That’s all I knew about the area.
Thank you so much, GA, for the wonderful photos and your unique, descriptive text: the image of the ‘diabolical’ water swirling into Brunel’s underground chamber caused the hair on my arms to tingle!
And so thoughtful of you to place in the foreground the proud thistles standing sentinel near Brunel’s tower. We marvel at your eye.
The Mayflower and hundreds of tall ships and the facade of the early school with the two ‘students’ watching for the lucky ones coming to school. As an American of British and Palatine German heritage, I love that information.
I will return often to this wonderful piece on Rotherhithe.

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:26:13 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, thank for the interesting excursion through the neighborhood of old Rotherhithe and the story of Marc Brunel and his genius. Image – “the growth of the docks brought thousands of tall ships to the Thames and the traffic made river crossing by water almost impossible.” Farewell to the watermen at that point I guess.

Great pics. Hey, that Mayflower pub looks mighty inviting too.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:15:39 +0000

If possible, can you tell us more about Sands Films costume warehouse? Years ago, I found an article about it in World of Interiors magazine — and I would be thrilled to know/see more.
For History of Costume addicts, it looks like the Ultimate Destination.

Many thanks for always shining a light.
Stay safe, all.

By: Heather Fenton

Heather Fenton — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 09:44:16 +0000

Thank you so much for this. My Fenton ancestors were Lightermen on the Thames, and lived in Rotherhithe, I think for many generations up to around the 1920’s. I would really like to visit there myself but it is a long way from Wales aside from the current Covid limitations. So special thanks for making the trip! I enjoy your blog, reading it most days.

By: lyndsey smith

lyndsey smith — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:54:28 +0000

My family ancestors were the TALBOT family, barge builders on the foreshore between the Mayflower pub and the gasworks pier. They were churchwardens at the church too. Their name appears on the gate post. I wonder if one of the Talbot family is responsible for that graffiti!

There is quite a lot of history online for “Lucy Talbot & Sons” online, with photographs, by my distant cousin Liz Lloyd.

I love the area. I painted the pub, and my painting is up on the wall there. they also have photographs on the wall of the pub including our barge builders.

By: Nicholas Sack

Nicholas Sack — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:22:44 +0000

Thanks for your fascinating tour, Gentle Author – from the top of the church steeple to the depths of Brunel’s tunnel. I live locally and thought I knew Rotherhithe pretty well, yet you have illuminated surprising details that spur me to return soon. Super photographs, too!