Friday 21 January 2011

Victorian Wood Wharf

We have been quite excited to see a copy of this new book - Victorian Wood Wharf and Greenwich Riverside 1820-2010.

But - before we get any further - we have no information whatsoever on where to get it, or how much it is, and it doesn't have an ISBN It has been produced by the authors Ronald A.Richards & Derek J.Bayliss. Both of them spent working lives in businesses on that stretch of the Greenwich riverside and historical information is interspersed with their own memories and stories.

The book gives a great deal of detail on several, otherwise forgotten, riverside industries:

for example: Coneybeare Ltd. Marine Engineers and Boilermakers, Orient Lighterage Ltd., Baker barge breakers, Wood & Co. forage makers, Anglo Swedish Welding ... and most of all Pope and Bond.

They go into the historic detail of famous firms like Rennie on Dreadnought Wharf and the less famous gas works at Phoenix Wharf, and go on to General Steam and the Royal Daff.

it also gives details of the pubs -The Sun, The Retreat, The Rose and Crown, The Loyal Briton

the cottages and who lived there .............the council estate ... the barge races .............the recording and rehearsal studios............... the artists

People should know about this little book - the area it covers is full of new residents who will know nothing of what was until very recently a busy working area -which has just grown up informally and was full of interest. In fact its a great little book and don't let it sink without trace.

ugh oh late info
The Wood Wharf
Sale price £5 per copy
108 pages Size A5 Colour
Leighton Darwin Press

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Leighton Darwin are the printers. The book is available by post from The Island History Trust - 0207 987 6041 It is £6 inc P&P.

I am eagerly awaiting my copy to see what it says about The Loyal Briton. If anyone knows anything about the pub, particularly in the war years, I'd love to hear from you.

Ray Oakley

Mike Dawson said...

Island History Trust (IHT) Open Days are on Saturday April 30th, Sunday May 1st and Monday 2nd 2011. I know this book deals with Wood Wharf but does anyone know the origins or history of Dawson's Wharf in Greenwich?

Joy P said...

Joy from Australia. I have an interest in the history of the "Loyal Briton Pub", as my Brooks/es descendants were involved with it, for a greater part of the 19th Century. I am a descendant of Charles Brooks/es listed as the Pot Boy, in the 1851 Census.