Two Women on a Footpath

TWO WOMEN ON A FOOTPATH 

 

The old footpath which winds its way along the Greenwich riverside to the end of the peninsula - and the Dome - has recently been the subject of some attention. Shortly before the Dome was thought of it had been designated as pan of a nation-wide network of signpost cycle through routes - and was to be upgraded to meet the requirements of fast cyclists. Since then it has been suggested that it ought to be a pleasant walk for people who want to travel by foot from -historic' Greenwich to the Dome. It is a raggedy old path which has, no doubt, seen a lot in its time - and so Greenwich Council commissioned the consulting engineers, Ove Arup, to look at it with a view to turning it into a cycle and foot path to the Dome.

Ove Arup reported to the Council late in 1997 - they said the project could not possibly be completed in time given the requirements. There are a number of legal problems concerning access and land ownership and there were engineering difficulties of providing the fast cycle track - which might also meet with considerable opposition on what were often very reasonable grounds. In August 1998 Mary Mills and Ursula Bowyer set off along the path to see what they could find - they noted down what they saw and tried to think of ways in which things could be improved very cheaply. They talked to people they met - all tourists walking the path on a rainy summer's day - and asked what they would like to see there. One aspect was more information about the industrial heritage.

The following are some of the suggestions which Mary and Ursula made for heritage signing - and in each case they added a suggestion for payment through sponsorship. They noted the following sites and the information needed:

*** at the Greenwich Foot Tunnel - about the LCC together with some of the tunnel's history..

***The Bellot Monument - who was he? Why is it there?

***Queen's (and other) stairs. What are 'river stairs'. Why are they there? What are the rights on them - and who owns them?  

***Trinity Hospital - what it is? Why is there? (and ask people to respect the privacy of the inmates!)

***London Underground Power Station - information about its past and what it is used for today.

***The Meridian line

***Harbour Master's Office - what is it? Who used it?

***Morden College Plaques - explaining they are NOT fire insurance plaques.

***A plaques noting the riverviews and buildings of interest from Cutty Sark pub - and a number of other places along the way-

*** Cranes on Lovell's Wharf- how to make a feature of them, and explain why they are there.

***R.enewing the painted signs on Lovell's Wharf

***A note about the visia down Pelton Road, the Pelton Arms and some explanation about the name.

***The Cadet Place wall - the Great Globe - and some notes about Portland Stone.

***Some notes about the industry using Granite Wharf and Pipers Wharf - and a request to respect their privacy.

''"^Noies and a display about sailing barges at Piper's Wharf with some information about barges built on site.

***Public access to Enderby House plus a display inside

*** A search for the mast of the Great Eastern and other relics which were once displayed here.

**Some interpretation of the cable motifs on the riverside office block

***Interpretation of the preserved machinery on Enderby Wharf - and a display of telecommunications heritage would be wonderful

***A return of the John H.Mackay - or a different cable layer.

***A plaque noting the line of the ropewalk

***'A plaque about the seventeenth century gun powder depot

***A plaque on the Amylum silos

***A plaque at the site of the Sea Witch

*** Some information at Bay Wharf about Maudslay and other shipbuilders once on site

***A plaque about inland vistas - panicularly the gasholder

***A plaque at Victoria Deep Water Wharf (if they managed to open the path up, through there) about Henry Bessemer - whose Greenwich works was there. Perhaps also some information about Appleby engines and where one can be found preserved

***Delta Wharf- some information about Delta Metal.

****'Point Wharf. See if it is possible to moor Orinoco here - she was built on this site and is currently berthed at Hoo.

*** Something about boat building at Point Wharf using the skills of those who recently worked there

***A plaque on the vent of the 'old' Blackwall Tunnel with some notes about the LCC.

***A note about the Blakeley gun foundry at Ordnance Wharf and its interest for Americans - and a pointer to the Virginia Settlers site across the river.