Edith's Streets

Riverside, south bank, west of the Tower. Barnes St Paul's School This posting covers the south side of the river in this square only – basically a small area at the northern end of Castlenau which covers only Hammersmith Bridge and the playing fields of St.Paul’s school. North of the river is Hammersmith Riverside Post to the south Castelnau Post to the west Chiswick riverside to Bedford Park Post to the east Central Hammersmith Hammersmith Bridge Hammersmith Bridge. This is a suspension bridge built in 1887 to the designs of Joseph Bazalgette. It replaced an earlier suspension bridge erected in 1827, and which was the first to be constructed in London on that principle. That bridge was designed by Tierney Clarke with a roadway which was sixteen feet above high-water mark suspended by eight wrought iron chains arranged in four double lines. It was a toll bridge and there were octagonal toll-houses. However it was only twenty feet wide and not strong enough to take the tra...

Riverside. South bank West of the Tower.  Harrods Village This post shows sites to the south of the river only. North of the river is Fulham Palace Road and riverside Post to the south Barn Elms  and Fulham Bishops Park Post to the west Castelnau Post to the north Central Hammersmith London Wet Land Centre Water works . The site of the Wet Land Centre was previously that of the West Middlesex Waterworks Co who opened this site in 1838 as an extension of their works across the river in Hammersmith.  The reservoirs being filled by the Thames at high tide by gravity and water then being pumped across the river to Hammersmith. This north east corner of the site appears to have been covered by half of a reservoir and a number of filter bed added in the 1890s. These were drained and covered in the early 1970s  London Wetland Centre , This reserve is managed by the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust. The site is formed of four disused 19th reservoirs. The centre opened in...

Riverside - south of the river, west of the Tower.  Putney Boathouses Post to the north Barn Elms  and Fulham Bishops Park Post to the east Putney High Street  and Fulham Riverside Post to the west Barnes Common Balmuir Gardens Putney Lawn Tennis Club . The club was established in 1879 for Lawn Tennis and Archery and originally met near to Putney High Street. It claims to be the second oldest such club in the world. Originally all members were issued with shares. Barn Elms Park This is a landscaped path between Horne Way at the river and Lower Richmond Road. It has been laid out like this since at least the 1870s and follows the route of the back entrance to Barnes Manor House. It is lined with plane trees including one of the largest in the country Burston Road 4 Royal Mail . Delivery and sorting office Charlwood Road Hotham Primary school Keepers House Rail Bridge . Built for the London to Richmond Railway in 1845 22 The Quill. Closed and the site ...

Riverside, south bank west of the Tower. Putney High Street This post shows sites south of the river only. North of the river is Fulham riverside Post to the east Wandsworth Post to the west Putney Boathouses Post to the south East Putney Brandlehow Road Brandlehow Primary School . A progressive period building piece of 1951 by E. Gold finger with an extension of 2006 by Franzika Wagner. A listed caretaker’s cottage was demolished illegally by developers. This building replaced a London School Board school of 1901 which had been bombed. Brewhouse Lane The main landing place for ferry passengers was at the northern end of the lane which thus provided one of the principal routes into the village. Brewhouse .   Martin the Brewer is recorded as the third-largest taxpayer in 1332, He is thought to have had a brewhouse to the east of the lane. This is thought to have still existed in the 18th Boathouse Pub and Riverview Restaurant . Young’s Pub. The Boathouse replaces ...

Riverside. south bank, west of the Tower. Old Battersea Post to the south Battersea York Road Post to the north Battersea Morgan's Walk Althorpe Grove This is on the sites of Althorpe and Surrey Houses, as well as some smaller housing blocks and was developed by the Greater London Council. It was begun in 1976 originally as an extension to the Somerset Estate but developed into a Mix of new-build with old buildings. This followed local pressure and a public enquiry.  The job architect was Nicholas Wood of the GLC Department of Architecture’s Housing Branch.  The estate is bisected by Westbridge Road and includes buildings in Church Road; and the High Street. The layout sought to give river views where possible. There was a shallow stream for paddling and cast-concrete portrait heads of various celebrities are on some of the buildings. There was to be a Club room and a nursery school Battersea Church Road Phoenix Wharf. This was south of Garden Wharf (see square to t...

Riverside South Bank west of the Tower - Morgan's Walk Post to the East - Battersea West of the Park Post to the south Battersea Old Town This represents a tiny corner of this square which is on the south bank. It includes mainly part of a housing estate on an old industrial site Thorney Crescent Whistlers Avenue Morgan’s Walk Estate. Morgan Crucible Company . In the 1930s–50s the Morgan Crucible Company’s works took up 1,000ft of river bank. The six Vaughan Morgan brothers began in 1850 with the acquisition of the City firm of druggists’ sundries and ironmongery. They handled crucibles made of graphite, also called plumbago. They then opened a factory to make an American brand of crucible. They began on Garden Wharf (see below) but by 1872 had built a factory fronting on to Church Road with a large clock tower. They also took over other wharves to the east. They were now known as the Morgan Crucible Company. In the early 1900s they bought up the boatbuilding yard of th...