Story of London Walking Trails - June 6th-7th, 2009

In February 2009, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson announced a month long cultural festival "to celebrate London's past, present and future". Events will include exhibitions, walks, lectures, concerts and street parties and will be held across the capital.

As part of this event, the Heritage of London Trust, in association with the Buildings of England Pevsner Architectural Guides, will be hosting a number of walking trails in Newham and Tower Hamlets over the weekend of June 6th and 7th. There will be 6 trails, exploring diverse areas and themes ranging from Bethnal Green to West Ham, and from the Industrial History of the East End to radical politics and the suffragette movement.

A series of information leaflets and maps are available to download (click on the links below), and further details about the guided walks, meeting places and times can be found at the bottom of this page. If you cannot make the dates and times of our guided walks, the map guides have been produced to allow you to do it on your own whenever you wish.

During this event, artist Clare Newton will be hosting a 100 metre long photographic exhbition, entitled Riches Uncovered in West Ham Park. It will showcase the cultural history and people of East London. Also, our colleagues at Harrow Heritage Trust will also be leading walks on June 6th. Click on this link for details: Harrow Heritage Trails Times and Meeting Points.

This is a great opportunity for us all the celebrate and explore further the cultural heritage and rich life of our capital city, and we do hope that everyone will find an event or venue where they can participate throughout the month of June.

For further details of the festival visit the Mayor of London's Story of London website www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon. Click on the links below to download a trail map.

*** the maps used in the trails have been graciously lent by and are the copyright of Pevsner Archtiectural Guides, Yale University Press. To learn more about the Pevsner Architectural Guides or to purchase copies of their excellent volumes on London, visit www.pevsner.co.uk or www.yalebooks.co.uk ***

Saturday June 6th

11am - A walk around All Saints, West Ham. Includes visit to West Ham Park to view art installation by Claire Newton. Led by Tara Draper-Stumm of Heritage of London Trust. Meet at All Saints Church, West Ham, Church Street, E15. 

2pm - Poplar: From East India Company Hamlet to East End Borough. Led by Bridget Cherry, Chairman of Heritage of London Trust. Meet at Poplar DLR.

2pm - Roadway of Radicalism: Politics in the East End. Led by Clive Bettington of Jewish East End Celebration Society. Meet at Aldgate underground station.

Sunday June 7th

11am - A walk from Bow Road to Three Mills. Led by Helen Mowat. Meet at Bow Road underground station

2pm - To the end of Mile End. Led by Catherine Cartwright of London Undone. Meet at Mile End Underground station.

2pm - A walk around Bethnal Green. Led by Charles O'Brien of Pevsner Architectural Guides. Meet at St John on Bethnal Green.

Photo: Catherine Cartwright leads a group during the East London Heritage Trails weekend in September 2008. Catherine, a Blue Badge guide, will be leading a walk in Mile End on Sunday June 7th. For details of how to hire her for tours or walks please visit www.londonundone.net