Category Archives: Tower Hamlets

Vyner Street ~ a valuable part of London’s art scene.

10 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by in Artistic Venues, Free Activities, Shopping, Tower Hamlets

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vyner st

Located just south of Regents Canal, in a fairly industrial part of the East End is this still relatively unknown street that for much of the last 5-10 years was arguably the true centre of London’s local art scene.  Well known artists such as Damien Hirst

Back to Black @ Cultivate

Back to Black @ Cultivate

and Tracy Emin could be found here before their rise to fame.  However, rising rents and the challenge of getting art collectors to come to the East End led to a number of the successful (or commercial depending on one’s viewpoint) galleries leaving - many initially to Fitzrovia.  However, those that remain still provide a great reason to visit, particularly for those interested in emerging art, not to mention the ‘free art’ visitors can take home with them on ‘Free Art Friday’ (see below).  In addition, new entrants are still appearing bringing a more international feel and hopefully Vyner Street will reemerge stronger in the future and preserve its place of significance in London’s art scene.

The busiest night on the street is usually the 1st Thursday of the month as all galleries participate in the firstCultivate_Spring_Exhibition Thursday free art walk program.  Otherwise visit Thursday - Sunday afternoons.  At other times it is mostly closed.  Several of the notable galleries and businesses along Vyner Street are:

DegreeArt:  12a Vyner St.  http://www.degreeart.com/  An online art store selling globally, with an artist’s gallery onsite.

Hada Contemporary:  21 Vyner St. http://www.hadacontemporary.com  Wed-Fri 11-6, Sat-Sun 12-4.  The first ‘East Asian’ art gallery on Vyner St.

Wilkinson Gallery

Wilkinson Gallery

Vyner Street Gallery:  23 Vyner St. http://www.vynerstreetgallery.co.uk/  This gallery hires out its exhibition space which results in new exhibitions on a regular basis.

Cultivate:  Corner Vyner & Mowlem St.  http://www.cultivatevynerstreet.com/ Thu-Sun 11:30-6pm.  An artist-run gallery with numerous exhibitions,  and is located at the corner of Vyner St and Mowlem St.  They maintain a wordpress blog ( http://cultivatevynerstreet.wordpress.com/ ) which is a

Hada Contemporary: Kim Hyunjun

great news source for current and upcoming shows.  Cultivate also supports ‘Free Art Friday’ (next one is this upcoming Friday 15th Feb) where visitors can take one free piece of art donated by the artists.

Wilkinson Gallery:  50-58 Vyner St.  http://www.wilkinsongallery.com/  Wed-Sat 11-6, Sun 12-6.  Representing numerous artists with exhibitions changing every few months.

Closest Tube: Bethnal Green  (closer rail: Cambridge Heath)

Mudchute Farm and Park ~ country life in the heart of east London.

12 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by in Family Activities, Free Activities, Parks, Tower Hamlets

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Mudchute Farm vistaArguably the largest urban farm in Europe, Mudchute Farm and Park provides 32 acres of open space in the heart of the docklands, providing open space, a farm experience, an equestrian centre,  World War II connections, nature and great views across the city.  Mudchute Park contains a wide range of habitats - including wetlands, woodlands, meadows and fields.  Consequently it offers a great range of biodiversity - both plant and wildlife.

History:  Named ‘Mudchute’ because of the area’s connection to the excavation of Millwall Dock when the excavated soil was literally conveyed here and dumped. As this wasteland became fertile it attracted wildlife and became a place for exploration.  The mudshute farm signMudchute Park & Farm was established by the local community who didn’t want to see this hidden wilderness area developed by the Greater London Authority who wanted to put housing estates here in the mid-1970s.  Their campaign to preserve the space was successful and in 1977 it started to take its current form as the newly formed Mudchute Association forested the land, introduced a city farm, and started to develop infrastructure.

Farm:  The farm houses a collection of British rare breeds with over 200 animals on site.  Visitors will be able to view the rare breeds, as well as other animals, throughout the farm’s barns, enclosures and fields.   For those who really want to get more insight into the workings of the farm consider booking a Farm Tour which is approximately 1 hour long.  The farm is open daily from 8-4 and admission is free.  The park is open all the time. For more information and for details on their special events occuring year round visit:  http://www.mudchute.org/

Equestrian Centre:  The Mudchute Equestrian Centre offers a range of horses and ponies for all abilities.  With an all-weather floodlit riding arena there are year round riding facilities.  There are also jumps and cross-country fences for those riders with interest in learning jumping.   Lessons are available for adults and children (7+) at all skill levels, including beginners. Contact for availability.

Mudchute during WWII:  During WWII, Mudchute had a battery of four anti-aircraft guns installed in an effort to defend the docks. Today, three of these sites are used as animal enclosures.  One site has recently been restored with an authentic anti-aircraft gun installed.  There is a series of displays with photographs, uniforms and memorabilia providing insight into this areas role during the war.

Cafe:  The onsite ‘Mudchute Kitchen’ offers freshly cooked items using seasonal ingredients, many sourced from local Kent farms.  Located in the courtyard, overlooking the horses , it provides a feel of the countryside without leaving the city.  The cafe opens at 9:30 am until 3:30 on weekdays (closed Mon) and 4:30 on weekends.

Located at:  Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3HP

Closest Transit:  Crossharbour DLR (not Mudchute) is the closest.

Forman’s ~ the last original London salmon smokery - now with a restaurant & Olympic views.

22 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by in Artistic Venues, Restaurants, Tower Hamlets

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Founded in 1905, H. Forman & Son has been a very successful smoker of salmon - with clients such as Harrods, the House of Lords, Wilton’s Restaurant, as well as Fortnum & Mason.  But this successful business happened to be located on land that was to become the Olympic Park.  In order to cede its land, Forman’s was able to secure a wonderful canal-side location adjacent to the Olympic Park - with perhaps the best views of it - and expand from being a smoker, to also being a restaurant, bar, gallery and event venue.  A visit to Forman’s is well worth the trip and for those who would like to view the Olympic Park while either admiring art or dining on salmon - this is the spot.

H. Forman & Son (the smoker): The Forman family came to London from Russia back at the beginning of the 20th C.  The patriarch - Harry (Aaron) Forman - knew one thing well - curing fish.  He started his trade by importing brined salmon from the Baltic.  However, he soon discovered Scotland’s salmon - which were much closer and easier to obtain.  Given how fresh the Scottish salmon were he modified his curing process - known as the ‘London Cure’ (salty and oakey) - and the result was quickly successful.  Soon Henry Forman was supplying London’s best restaurants and stores - something that continues to this day.  There are areas to view the smokery from inside the building and tours are available.  It is significant to note that Forman’s has remained a family business with Lance Forman, Harry’s great grandson, now running the business.

Forman’s Restaurant & Bar:  This water-side restaurant & bar certainly has plenty of the smoked salmon on the menu as well as various seasonal British foods.  Regardless of the menu, the views across the water at the Olympic Stadium are stunning.

Hours: THU - SAT - 7-11pm, Also SAT brunch - 10am-2pm, SUN lunch 12pm-5pm. Reservations suggested - see their website for specifics:  http://www.formans.co.uk/restaurant/

Forman’s Smokehouse Art Gallery:  In addition to the restaurant, Forman’s also has an art gallery with the goal of providing exposure to new artists.  The exhibitions change regularly so check their website for details.  The 600sq. metre space has great views of the Olympic stadium and is on the top floor of Forman’s building.  You can get a drink from the bar, wander the gallery, and enjoy the art and views.

Gallery hours:  THU - FRI 5pm-9pm, SAT/SUN 12-5pm

Forman’s Fish Island:  While least likely to be of interest to the diner or art gallery visitor, it should be noted they do also have a corporate event and party venue under the name ‘Forman’s Fish Island’ as it does hold some interesting events throughout the year - some of which may be open to the public.

Located at: Stour Road, Fish Island, London E3 2NT

Closest rail: Hackney Wick (Overground), Pudding Mill Lane (DLR)

Whitechapel Gallery ~ premiering ‘now-famous’ artists since 1901

20 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Artistic Venues, Free Activities, Restaurants, Tower Hamlets

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Surprising as it may sound given London’s other art institutions the Whitechapel Gallery was the first gallery in Britain to premiere the works of Pablo Picasso (in 1939), Jackson Pollock (in 1958), Mark Rothko (in 1961), and Frida Kahlo (in 1982).  Recent exhibitions have included Lucien Freud, Nan Goldin, Noam Chomsky and Alice Neel.

The Gallery:  The Whitechapel Gallery is a significant player in London’s cultural art scene, and is a key international institution for contemporary art.  Despite its 111 year history, it is as relevant today as it has ever been.  At its inception, it was one of the first publically funded art galleries in London with rotating exhibitions.  In 2009 the Gallery reopened after a 2 year expansion plan was finished which incorporated the neighbouring building which used to house a library, resulting in a doubling of the gallery’s space. With a strong committment to education through its non-profit education programs, the gallery provides access to significant archives and research materials.  In addition, the gallery holds special events throughout the year, from book fairs to film screenings to lectures.  The broad and expansive list of events (many of which can be booked) is on their website:  http://www.whitechapelgallery.org

The Gallery is open Tues - Sun 11-6pm (9pm Thurs).  Free admission.

Dining Room:  The Whitechapel Dining Room is open for lunch and dinner.  Reservations via their website  http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/dining-room  or Open Table.  The restaurant’s menu is designed and overseen by Angela Hartnett, a protege of Gordon Ramsey, and focuses on modern British food.  There is also a simpler cafe & bar on site.

Located at: 77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX

Closest tube: Aldgate East

Whitechapel Bell Foundry ~ maker of Big Ben & the Liberty Bell

14 Tuesday Aug 2012

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Whether visiting their onsite museum displays or store (both open daily) or arranging a full tour of the Foundry, a visit to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry is truly unique and a part of British (and global) culture.  The Foundry is Britain’s oldest manufacturing company, having been established in 1570 (during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I) and being in continuous business since that date.  The history may even extend further back, as links show a foundry in Aldgate and Whitechapel back to the year 1420 (in the reign of Henry V, and 72 years before Columbus sailed for America).

Whitechapel’s famous bells include the original Liberty Bell (1752), the Great Bell of Montreal and, probably best known of all, Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster. Cast in 1858, this is the largest bell ever cast at Whitechapel, weighing 13½ tons. To this day, a cross-section of the bell surrounds the entrance door to the Foundry.  The Foundry buildings date from 1670, four years after the Great Fire of London, and presumably replaced earlier structures lost to fire. Originally built as a coaching inn called the Artichoke, the lease of the buildings was acquired by Thomas Lester - then Master Founder at Whitechapel - to accomodate the need for extra workshops and space during a time of great expansion in the craft of bellfounding. The business moved there from the north side of Whitechapel Road, and has remained on the site ever since, withstanding the ravages of war and development.  The premises are now designated as Grade II listed buildings. The frontage remains unchanged.

During the Blitz in the Second World War many surrounding buildings were hit and destroyed, including the Church of St. Mary, Whitechapel (the ‘white chapel’ which gave the area its name), just a few hundred feet from the Foundry. The ground where it stood is now the Altab Ali Park. During the war years, the Foundry ceased making bells, switching to manufacturing castings for the Ministry of War. In the aftermath of the war, the Foundry was very busy replacing peals lost to bombing raids and fires, including the bells of St. Mary le Bow and St. Clement Danes of ‘Oranges and Lemons’ nursery rhyme fame, in London.  Cumulatively, this history makes this a fascinating place to visit.  The museum displays in the foyer and the Foundry store, which sells bells and a range of Whitechapel merchandise, are open Monday to Friday, 9.00am and 5.00pm.

Tours are generally on Saturdays throughout the year and have to be pre-booked.  Check their website for specific dates and times:   www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk To ensure your preferred date early booking is therefore advised. There is a charge of £12.00 per person (must be age 14+).  The tour last approximately 90 minutes.

Located at: 32/34 Whitechapel Road, E1 1DY

Closest tube: Aldgate East

Trinity Buoy Wharf (art, food, dance, theatre) & London’s only Lighthouse!

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Artistic Venues, Free Activities, Historic Buildings, Tower Hamlets

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Trinity Buoy Wharf is located at the confluence of the River Thames and Bow Creek, in Leamouth.  In 1803 this land became part of the Corporation of Trinity House (Trinity House is focused on the safety of shipping and seafarers - and has been since it was granted a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1514 ).  A seawall was rebuilt in 1822 and the site became the primary maintenance depot and storage facility for Thames navigation aids and for the docking and repair of Lightships.  In 1988, the property passed to the London Docklands Development Corporation, and in 1998 Urban Space Holdings took control of the wharf through a long-term lease.  It is now being developed and managed as a ‘centre for the arts and cultural activities’.  Studio spaces occupy used shipping containers, as does some office space.  The University of East London has a Fine Arts Studio and two dance studios here.   There is always a wide range of activities going on at the Wharf - much of it free to the public.  Go to their website for information on events, including Theatre, Dance and Art events.Go to their website for all details:  www.trinitybuoywharf.com

Of particular note is the Lighthouse located here - London’s only one.  Built in 1864-66 it was originally a testing site - even Michael Faraday conducted experiments here.  The Lighthouse is now home to ‘LongPlayer’, a continuous 1,000 year long piece of music that began as part of the millenium celebrations.  The music ends 31-12-2999.  There is a listening room in the Lighthouse open every weekend from 11am - 5pm.. For more info on the music go to: http://longplayer.org/

Other exhibits include “The Faraday Effect” - a tiny museum documenting the life and times of the famous scientist.  At the time of this posting, one of the more unique exhibits is the ‘gum art trail’, which extends from East India DLR to the Wharf.

Eateries are the ‘Fat Boys Diner’ (seen in the film Sliding Doors) which offers a 1940s American Diner experience (open 10-5 Tue-Sun) and the ‘Driftwood Cafe’ with views of the River Lea from a converted shipping container (open 8-3 Mon-Fri).

Located at: Trinity Buoy Wharf, Orchard Place, London E14 0JW

Closest rail:  East India DLR (follow blue signs from bottom of stairs at south exit) or take the boat service from the O2 QEII Pier / North Greewich (M-F 5am-8pm).

Columbia Road Flower Market

17 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by in Street Markets, Tower Hamlets

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Columbia Road flower market and shops runs from about 8 to 1 on Sunday.  Located in the East End on London at the edge of the city, with Shoreditch to the west and Brick Lane and Spitalfields nearby. Columbia Road connects with Hackney Road on both ends.  On Sunday the street is transformed into oasis of foliage and flowers. Everything from bedding plants to 10 foot banana trees are up for grabs.  A lot of the flower sellers grow their own plants or import flowers from around the world.  This is one of the few streets in the country composed of sixty independent shops. Small art galleries sit next to cup cake shops, vintage clothes stores, English and Italian delis, garden  and antique shops. There is also a wealth of great pubs, cafes and restaurants. The shops have a common thread, a love of the flower market and its history, and a refusal to be dictated to by a retail world where the sense of fun has all but gone.  For more info go to their website:  http://www.columbiaroad.info/

Closest Tube: Hoxton Overground

 

Dennis Severs’ house

26 Saturday May 2012

Posted by in Historic Buildings, Tower Hamlets

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Dennis Severs’ House, 18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, is a Grade II listed Georgian terrace house.  From 1979 to 1999 it was lived in by Dennis Severs, who gradually recreated the 10 rooms as a time capsulte in the style of former centuries. It is now open to the public.   The rooms are arranged as if they are in use and the occupants from the 18th Century as if they have only just left.  There are displays of items such as half-eaten bread, and different smells and background sounds for each room. Severs called this “still life drama”.  Woven through the house is the story of the fictive Jervis family - silk weavers who lived at the house from 1725 to 1919. Each room evokes incidental moments in the lives of these imaginary inhabitants. Severs bequeathed the house to the Spitalfields Trust shortly before his death. It is now open to the public, who are asked during their visit to respect the intent of the creator and participate in an imaginary journey to another time.  The motto of the house is Aut Visum Aut Non!: ‘You either see it or you don’t’.

Go to the website for hours, tour options and other details:  www.dennissevershourse.co.uk

Closest tube: Shoreditch High Street

 

Wilton’s Music Hall ~ the world’s last surviving grand music hall.

23 Wednesday May 2012

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Wilton’s is a unique building comprising a mid-19th Century grand music hall attached to an 18th Century terrace of three houses and a pub. The Mahogany Bar was built around 1725, we believe as a public house, trading under many names over the years including The Albion Saloon and The Prince of Denmark. In 1828 it was luxuriously and elaborately refurbished with a magnificent mahogany bar and fittings which was unprecedented for a pub interior at that time and earned the nick-name that is still used today.  In 1839 a concert room was built behind the pub and in 1843 it was licensed for a short time as The Albion Saloon, a saloon theatre, legally permitted to put on full-length plays. John Wilton bought the business in c.1850, enlarged the concert room three years later, and replaced it with his ‘Magnificent New Music Hall’ in 1859. He furnished the hall with mirrors, chandeliers and decorative paintwork, and installed the finest heating, lighting and ventilation systems of the day.Towards the end of the 19th Century the East End had become notorious for extreme poverty and terrible living conditions. Religious organisations tried to help. In 1888 Wilton’s was bought by the East London Methodist Mission, renamed The Mahogany Bar Mission and for some time considered ‘Methodism’s finest hall’. During the Great Dock Strike of 1889, a soup kitchen was set up at The Mahogany Bar feeding a thousand meals a day to the starving dockers’ families. The Mission remained open for nearly 70 years, through some of the most testing periods in East End history including the 1936 Mosley March and the London blitz. Wilton’s survived the slum clearance schemes of the 1960s and was grade 2* listed in 1971. It reopened as a theatre and concert hall in 1997.  The Mahogany Bar is also open as a bar, with the intent to start food service in the future.  Historical tours and entertainment events are listed on their web site: http://wiltons.org.uk/

Located at: Graces Alley, E1 8JB.  Nearest tube: Aldgate East (or Tower Hill)

Prospect of Whitby ~ an historic pub

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by in Pubs of interest, Tower Hamlets

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Possibly London’s most famous pub. It dates from 1543, built as a simple tavern in the expanding docks; by the 17th century it had a reputation as a meeting place for smugglers and villains, and became known as ‘Devil’s Tavern’. Fire gutted the Devil’s Tavern in the eighteenth century; it was rebuilt and renamed the Prospect of Whitby, after a ship that was moored nearby.  The main bar has a flagstone floor, its long bar counter is built on barrels and has a rare pewter top; timber beams and upright pillars appear to be sections of a ship’s mast, seasoned timbers were often used for building when ships were scrapped. There’s a small balcony where you can sit above the river and listen to the rhythmic lapping of the water. Just inside is a comfortable seating area with open fire; a further bar has a servery and a raised dining area.  Outside is a pleasant terrace with tables. Venture up the creaking stairs and find the restaurant, this is divided into several delightful panelled rooms, again enjoying river views. Another rooftop terrace, with iron garden furniture, overlooks the river too. Old photographs show what the Prospect and its surroundings used to be like, ramshackle and seedy, but crowded with vessels from around the world. Nowadays the occasional cruiser or barge passes by the warehouses, which have been converted into exclusive apartments.  A hangman’s noose swings over the river, a reminder of more gruesome times, though more as a recognition of the past patron “hanging Judge Jeffries”. 

(57 Wapping Wall, E1W. Closest tube: Wapping)

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