• Ride 1. Lesnes Abbey
• Ride 2. Bermondsey tour 

Ride 1. Lesnes Abbey

Mike K. led a 21km ride to Lesnes Abbey ruins at Abbey Wood. Mostly Thames path passing the O2 and Woolwich Arsenal and then across Thamesmead. Ultrabrief report from Mike: “The ride was completed today as planned. All went well and the weather was beautiful. 10 people started the ride and 3 more joined us on the way.” Nice comment from Jamie on WhatsApp: “Many thanks to Mike for a fabulous ride to Lesnes Abbey today. Very sunny and delicious toasted tea cakes at the Coffee stop.

Ride 2. Bermondsey Tour

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Bruce led his 9 mile Bermondsey tour for the 3rd time. Always something new to add, this year Appleby Blue Almshouses and Tommy Steele. 13 riders started from Canada Water and had first stop on the boundary of the old Bermondsey Borough on the river where the ruins of Edward III mansion can be seen and the Salter statues (Dr, Mrs and daughter) admired. The Salters were prominent social campaigners in the 1920s and 30s. Dr Salterr was MP for most of this time and Mrs Salter was Mayor for some of it.

Along the river ro the SuperSewer site at Cherry Gardens. The land created out into the river for the tunnel construction has nearly all been removed. A new stretch of Thames Path has been built but may not be accessible for several years due to planned construction of flats on the riverside. Heading further into Bermondsey stopped briefly at the Tommy Steel blue placque on Georges Row. Tommy was very much a Bermondsey boy and was born in 1936 and brought up on the Dickens Estate. He was the UKs first home grown rock star in the 1950s and went on to a successful career in entertainment. At the age of 88 is still active!

Next the riverfront at Butlers Wharf. Stopped to look across St Saviours Dock at the posh flats on what was Jacobs Island in the 19th century. This was the setting for Bill Sikes demise in Oliver Twist and an area described by Dickens as the worst slums in London. Bit different now! Continued to Talbot Yard off Borough High St. Now not really in Bermondsey, more medieval Southwark. Viewed the placque to Geoffrey Chacer and the Canterbury Tales. The pilgrims started their travela at this point heading first across Beermondsey and stopping at Bermondsey Abbey. We headed in their footsteps via the Marshalsea Prison to St Mary Mardgalen Church (1680) on Bermonsey St. This is on the site of a much earlier church, recorded in 1082. Would have been part of the moanstery that stood in this area.

With its closeness to the doicks Bermondsey became a centre for food and leather processing. We passed seveal markers of this, the Leather Market building on Leathermarket Street, the Hartleys jam factory and the new Pickle Factory development off Grange Road. Time getting short to skipped the medieval cottages on Grange Walk, the restored Bermondsey Town Hall on Spa Rd (now flats), Spa Road station (first in London) and the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Went straight to the new Appleby Blue Almshouses that have been awarded the Stirling Prize for Architecture this year. A not very exciting frontage. The important features are internal. Will probably have to wait for Open House next year to get a look inside.

Continuing along Grange Rd we came to The Blue, the core of 20th century Bermondsey. Admired the strange “Bermondsey Lion” statuue and the newish Mural. The clock tower has some tin can tops amongst the tiling to commemorate the start of commercial canning. Yes, Bermondsey did not just have the first London Station, it was where canned goods started. Around the corner from the Blue we took a look at the redevelopemt work on the large Peak Frean Biscuit factory site. From 1865 to 1969 this factory was a major employer in Bermondsey and also the source of great smells of baking that I used to appreciate when commuting up the adjacent rail line in the 1980s. The biscuit factory was the last stop on the tour apart from Michael Caine’s blue placque on Lower Rd, but this is not Bermondsey but Rotherhithe. Back at Canada Water only a few minutes late (12.15). Half the group adjourned to Corner Corner, a new food and drink venue on the corner of the adjacent Shopping Centre. Also has a stage for live music and a lettuce farm (yes, go and look!).

A fun ride, nmuch better weather than forecast. Nice comments on WhatsAp. For exmple from Eva, “Thankyou Bruce for a very informative ride through Bermondsey!” Route map at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1G-3W6xSCsWXFZPea5hSb5sd2yCSylZ4&usp=sharing

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