This walk leads through parts of London’s industrial history south of the river, past the rapidly growing financial section that is the City to the north and out to the East End that will one day surely be swallowed up by the expanding tentacles of the City developers.
Hays Wharf in the Pool of London, once known as ‘London’s
larder ‘, is now a shopping mall and tourist attraction providing access onto
HMS Belfast. This side of the river is also home to City Hall home of the Mayor
of London, currently Boris Johnson. This is not to be confused with the Lord Mayor
of London who lives in Mansion House in the City and is currently Roger
Gifford. This post was created in 1189 when Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone
was made the first Lord Mayor of London. While it may feel as though Boris has
been Mayor since the 12th century the post was only created in the
year 2000 with Mr Johnson being elected in 2008.
St Catherine’s
Dock, once the site of public executions, is now a marina for the superrich. It
is also home to a few historic boats such as the former workhorse of the river,
the Thames Barge.
Brick Lane is the centre of some of the best Asian
restaurants in London. The area has been home to many immigrant communities
such as the Huguenots, a Jewish quarter, the Bengali’s and now some of the best
graffiti artists and night life London has to offer. The perfect example of the ever changing
ethnic diversity of this area is the Jamme Masjid Mosque. In 1743 it was a place
of worship for French Protestants and in 1898 it became a Synagogue. It has
been a Mosque since 1976.
