Comments on: A Walk Along The Black Path

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 08:56:07 +0000

An interesting walk, which left me with the thought of ‘eating quince with a runcible spoon’

By: paul loften

paul loften — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 14:09:07 +0000

I know this route so well. In the early 60s I lived on an old council estate bordering Millfields and close to the Lea and with my mates we would spend hours on the marshes. We used to watch the barges carrying coal and timber from the James Latham wood yard and delivering the coal to the power station. The barges would pass us and the old bargee with his cloth cap would give us boys a cheery wave as it slowly made its way down the Lea . We then moved in 1961 to the brand new Nye Bevan Estate which was even closer to the marshes and so much of my time was spent playing football in the evening after school in Millfields with boys from the estate. I knew so many of them from the estate . Directly opposite us was the Clapton Dog Track it was once the home ground of Clapton Orient FC but it has all disappeared along with power station. I recall seeing the huge concrete chimney on the marshes demolished . We all gathered there to watch from a distance.
The River Lea also has some sad memories for me . There was a boy at school who fell off a rope hanging from a tree by its banks into the river and drowned . We would all use it to swing accross the river . I recall the day the council workmen came to remove it after a campaign by the boys father . He stood there crying by the banks of the river .

By: Marnie

Marnie — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:22:34 +0000

Dear GA,

Nostalgia and all that, but I often cringe when viewing the remote, overgrown, disheveled paths you–alone and unarmed, I imagine–are merrily reminiscing about.

I would have a few close friends around me–a complete SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team with a BearCat armored vehicle.

Perhaps its just that I am a vulnerable woman.
Such are the times we live in.

Thanks for enabling us armchair travellers to accompany you on your fascinating jaunts.

Love the sheep and the grazing pony!

By: Bernie

Bernie — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 08:26:59 +0000

My grammar-school’s playing fields were in Walthamstow and we lived for some time in Shoreditch, but I sadly confess that no word of the Black Path or its history reached me in all those years. Kudos to the GA for teaching so much!

By: Leana Pooley

Leana Pooley — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 08:12:52 +0000

Years ago when I lived on a hillside in Herefordshire and after I’d read Alfred Watkins’ Old Straight Track I became aware of the white and black tracks crossing the countryside. According to Watkins they were routes along which were carried salt and coal.

By: Jill

Jill — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 08:07:02 +0000

My forebears – g g g grandfathers weee described as ‘cattle herders’ or ‘cattle drovers’ on followed the direction of the A1.. down to Clerkenwell and Smithfield market.
A great morning read as always. Thankyou, Gentle Author.

By: John Finn

John Finn — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:07:51 +0000

Great post and photography (as usual) especially as I live near the path in Hackney.

By: Greg T

Greg T — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:00:20 +0000

Did you note the memorial plaque on the clock-tower to the horrendous death toll from a V-1 that landed there? ( 390 metres from my front door ) ….
L. Manze’s is threatened with permanent closure – did you know?

By: Penny Gardner

Penny Gardner — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 06:55:56 +0000

Ah , memories of Norf London, Queen Eleanor School ,where likely lads had a ready opening for the jobs on Smifffield Market . The Redoudtable Smiff Clan had their horses on Leyton Marshes and my great grandad (Fishy Dick) was a Billingsgate Porter. Everyone a towering viking, spawn of the Lea.

By: John Price

John Price — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:41:55 +0000

Droving routes are so interesting. History for the reading of. Drovers came from the north to what is now Pond Square, Highgate, let their flocks drink and then plumped them up a bit on the east heath before heading down Holloway and Liverpool Rds, first to Smithfield, later to Caledonian Market.