News for the New Year

Industrial Archaeology Review

This academic style journal covers the whole of Britain and thus articles about Greenwich are few and far between. The current edition however almost the last page carries a book review of Stewart Ash’s book on John Pender. As people may know Stewart has been for a long time a mainstay of the Enderby Group and is a great expert on cable manufacture.  It’s fair to say to that the Industrial Archaeology Review’s report on his book is ecstatic describing it as ‘absorbing and informative’ and in fact ‘magnificent. So congratulations to Stewart.
Stewart Ash. The Cable King-John Pender. Self published 2018 and available on Amazon 

IA review also gives a short note which covers James Hulme’s article on the Charlton Riverside in London’s Industrial Archaeology 16.

IA Review 2/40 2018

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Subterranea – The Magazine for Subterranea Britannica. Issue 49 December 2018

Sadly nothing about Greenwich in this, otherwise interesting, journal.  Th.D. nearest they get to us is a long article on the Gravesend Cold War Bunker.  (You know, my Auntie used to go down there couple of afternoons a week to make the tea).

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Crossness Record (Vol. 21 Issue 3) Winter 2018.

Much of this issue is taken up with issues around the need to fund raise following the discovery of asbestos.  In fact we have already noted on Twitter a crowd funding page for this https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/rang-railway

Away from this there are pictures and information about the proposed Railway RANG and the news that track laying is about to start.  Volunteers are needed
There is a historical article about the Crossness School which was set up in 1865 for the children of workers, in what was then a remote spot. Another article covers last summers ‘Fly By Night’ where there was a spectacular display by pigeons flying in various formations with lights tied to their legs.
More info from www.crossness.org.uk

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GLIAS Newsletter (299 December 2018)


Lectures and events
16th January – Tom Furber on Marc Isambard Brunel and the Making of London
27th February Mildred Cookson on Rolling Flour Mills of London
17th March. Graham Dolan.  Ripples in Time.  The building of the Greenwich Power Station and the Unintended Consequences for the Royal Observatory.
15th May, AGM followed by Richard Albanese on Trinity Buoy Wharf.
All these at The Gallery, Alan Baxter Ltd.75 Cowcross Street, EC1 (go through the archway to the back) 6.30

Greenwich gets a bit of a mention with ‘Delivery Driver Memories’ by Bob Rust. He talks a bit about the Merriweather Building – and then about the bakers shop on Blackheath Hill and the eventual collapse of the hill.

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The programme is out for the 2019 South East Region Industrial Archaeology Conference which this year is on April 13th and is to be held in Dartford hosted by Kent Archaeological Society. Topics to be covered include – Ragstone industry – Aircraft Manufacture at Shorts – Sound Mirrors – Excavation of a brick works – Linseed Oil Mill – Rochester Bridge construction – Crossness Engines. Further info Mike Clinch mike@mikeclinch.co.uk

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Blackheath Scientific Society meeting
18th January 7.45 Mycenae House. On History and Recovery of the Tidal Thames and its Fisheries, Steve Culclough

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Subterranean Greenwich web site has run a piece on London Power Tunnels under Blackheath ad Greenwich Park http://subterraneangreenwich.wordpress.com
This tells us that this year work is to begin on boring a tunnel under our feet. The article has a lot of information from the consultant’s report about cavities and hazards and the like.  Read it

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The London Inheritance blog has also been in Greenwich https://alondoninheritance.com/  has this week covered the riverside walk between Cutty Sark pub and Enderbys (and – er – thanks for the plug for my book).

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And also – little tear – it’s been goodbye to John Burns, James Newman and Ernest Bevin and hullo to Ben Woolacot and Vera Lynn.

Lots of stuff on Twitter and Facebook.  End of an era but the Free Ferry goes on.   BUT – off went those three old ferries to be broken up.  Once upon a time every boat on the river would have saluted them all the way down to the Nore.  What’s wrong with us all now??

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Enderby Group

While Enderby Group has worked on the heritage issues of Enderby House we have been told that Barratts were going to lease, or sell, the house to Young’s Brewery.  Late last year Enderby Group members attended a meeting with Council Officers and representatives of Barratts and Young’s where we were briefed on Young’s intentions for the site and discussed with them the possibility of some input from the Group.  It has to be said that Young’s were very friendly, and we are also grateful for the input from Council Officers.

A few weeks later Young’s application for a licence for Enderby House was granted.  As local people will be aware there has been a great deal of dissent among residents on riverside licensed premises and the Council recently turned down a licence application from Hopstuff Brewery for a site nearby.  There were less objections from residents about the licence for Enderby House – but objections were made and several turned up to speak against the licence at the Council’s hearing. As a result there are many conditions on the licence about where and when drinks can be served and how drinkers can be discouraged from sitting outside the premises.  It was of interest that some of the residents who objected told Enderby Group members privately how much they would have supported our proposed mix of café/bar along with heritage input and community space.

We wait to see what will happen – but there is a vast amount of work to be done to the interior of the house before it can open and we hope to be in discussion with Young’s on heritage input soon.


Arvhive

The Greenwich Archive Users Forum was set up in response to stories about closure of the Greenwich Heritage Centre – which of course includes the archive.  The group includes members from every part of the Borough and beyond. The closure duly took place and we are now the only London Borough with no accessible archive – causing problems to researchers of all ages and backgrounds including professional consultants along with students, family historians and others. There are many issues concerning the archive which include ownership and storage as well as access.

There is no space here to discuss the Council’s plans for the Woolwich ex-Heritage Centre site or, in any detail, the temporary replacement site and plans for the archive.  The original plan to move to Anchorage Point in Charlton is clearly delayed but we understand work on the plans are ongoing.

The Heritage Centre and archive are managed by the Greenwich Heritage Trust.  Recently, a delegation of GAUF members met Trust staff along with Len Duval MLA, who is Trust Chair, and it is planned for these to be regular meetings. We hope to be sent copies of a series of position papers soon and that GAUF can work with the Trust on future plans to try and rectify the current unacceptable position.  It is understood that Trust staff hope to offer a ‘bespoke’ service from March for experienced researchers and an appointment service for others.  It is not clear if this will be at Charlton House or elsewhere.  There is also ongoing work on cataloguing and consideration on digitisation.

GAUF has raised many issues and would be happy to raise more concerns.  Hopefully we can all work together for the future of the archive, the Borough and its heritage.  Could add a sentence to say  "To be added to the Supporters' List of GAUF contact Elizabeth Pearcey



Pending awaiting approval – a note about building 10 on the Arsenal – news about the gasholder – new about the archive –news about Plumstead Station.  – and someone interested in a Tudor Navigation Beacon.