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Meandering Along The Lea

April 8, 2025
by the gentle author

Click to book for my tour of Spitalfields next Saturday 12th April

Click to book for my tour of Petticoat Lane on Saturday May 2nd

Click to book for my tour of the City of London on Sunday 18th May

 

Taking advantage of the spring sunshine as an excuse to escape the city and seek some fresh air, I wandered along the river bank from Bow as far as Tottenham Hale

At Cody Dock

Sir Corbet Woodall, Gas Engineer and Governor of the Gas Light and Coke Company, with two of his historic gasometers at Bow

At Bow Lock

Looking towards the tidal mill at Three Mills Island

At Three Mills Island

Who can identify this water fowl?

Old Ford Lock

Beneath the Eastway

Sculling on the Hackney Cut

At Lea Bridge

Barge cat

The Anchor & Hope

Looking towards Clapton

The Lea Rowing Club

At Tottenham Lock

Two Thames Barges at Tottenham Hale

Coal & diesel delivery barge

At Stonebridge Lock

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16 Responses leave one →
  1. John Fletcher permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Just delightful.
    Thank you

  2. Heidi permalink
    April 8, 2025

    I suspect the water fowl might be an Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)? Thank you for your daily posts, living in Belgium it’s always a pleasure reading them at the breakfast table and getting to know new people, places and histories through your excellent writing.

  3. Martin Palmer permalink
    April 8, 2025

    It might be an immature Ruddy Sheld Duck. Also known as a Brahminy Duck. There used to be a pair in St James’s Park. But that was a very long time ago.

  4. Penny Simpson permalink
    April 8, 2025

    I think the waterfowl is an Egyptian goose.
    Thank you for sharing these photos of the Lea looking at it’s best in the sunshine.

  5. Janet Cheffings permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Is that an Egyptian goose?

  6. Martin Ling permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Egyptian Goose?

  7. Tom Price permalink
    April 8, 2025

    You’ve missed the wonderful sculptures of The Line public art walk, which follows the Lea from Cody Dock to Stratford.

  8. Neil permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Looks like an Egyptian goose to me.

  9. Jill permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Agree. An Egyptian Goose.
    Wonderful posts – much enjoyed!

  10. April 8, 2025

    I did this walk in two halves. The day I walked to Tottenham Hale, it was bitterly cold but bright. Last year, I walked to Lea Bridge, it was beautifully warm. One of my maternal great grandmothers lived in Pleasant Place, on the banks of the River Lea, opposite a rowing club. My grandmother was a member of a ladies rowing club but, became petrified of water. There had been a capsize and she was lucky to escape which set her fear for the rest of her life.
    Other great grandparents lived in School Nook, Lea Bridge, which still exists, although most of the old cottages have gone.The school still stands and is a temple – which I believe you have featured previously. Thanks GA for another walk down memory lane. I hope that you are keeping well.

  11. Janet permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Was the waterfowl a hybrid of an Egyptian goose?

  12. Andrew Sinclair permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Lovely photos GA – did you pop in for a swift one at The Anchor & Hope?

  13. Marcia Howard permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Wonderful pics, especially as I don’t know this area of the Lea. Goose is definitely an Egyptian one!

  14. lynne casey permalink
    April 8, 2025

    I believe the bird is an Egyptian Goose, I have done this walk with my son and his family (who live nearby in Clapton). It’s a nice walk.
    Thank you for Spitalfields life, I always enjoy reading it, even though I live in West London.

  15. Victoria Cooper permalink
    April 8, 2025

    Magical except for the rubbish in the first photo! Yes, magical and legendary in so many ways, layers to unwrap. I am thinking also Shelduck (native or otherwise) or Egyptian Goose. The River Lea also inspired a song by Adele who was born nearby:

    https://www.google.com/search?q=adele+river+lea+lyrics&sca_esv=edec2e4b4572a4c0&sxsrf=AHTn8zoYdhJ_KgdTuhnNvGnrGUy2VToIWA%3A1744146050941&ei=go71Z8aWObP

  16. April 10, 2025

    I’m pretty certain the water fowl is an Egyptian goose nice photos of places I’d never seen before

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