Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender - January 3rd 2024

Weekender January 3 2024 • www.weekender.co.uk

Greenwich & Lewisham

Cinema / Theatre / Education / Arts / Music / Food & Drink / Family / Property

Hit the ground running

ADVERTORIAL

News from the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Kitchen upgrade for The Javan Coker Foundation A charity that serves hundreds of meals every week to children with special educational needs/disabilities (SEND) has celebrated the opening of a brand-new kitchen, thanks to support from the Council.

One of the Mayor of Royal Greenwich’s nominated charities for 2023 to 2024, the Javan Cocker Foundation moved into their Abbey Grove home in April - but the kitchen needed a significant overhaul.

The council enlisted contractors to transform the kitchen into a fully accessible and modern space, making life easier for the foundation to continue to provide its bespoke support for families with children with SEND. Read more: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/jcf-kitchen

Nominate your local hero for a Royal Greenwich Civic Award Nominations are now open for the Royal Borough of Greenwich Civic Awards 2024.

Mayor of Royal Greenwich, Councillor Dominic Mbang, said: “Has someone you know made an outstanding contribution to their local community?

“Perhaps you have a friend whose quick thinking in an emergency has saved a life? Or maybe a family member who volunteers their time to help others?

“Whatever your reason, if someone in your life deserves to be recognised for their contribution to our borough, nominate them for a Civic Award today.”

Nominations can be made across 11 categories.

The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Wednesday 31 January. All nominations will be reviewed by the judging panel and the winners will be announced at the Civic Award 2024 ceremony on Thursday 7 March at Woolwich Town Hall.

Nominate your local hero: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/civicawards-2024 Nominations can also be sent by post to Mayor’s Office, Woolwich Town Hall, Wellington Street, London, SE18 6HQ. Please include the nominee’s name, address and reason for nomination, as well as your name and contact details.

www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

@royal_greenwich

royalgreenwich

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greenwichcouncil

Pick of the Week

By Holly O`Mahony

Peter Kay, live!

Comedian Peter Kay is continuing his O2 residency into 2024. Yet to see him in your ‘hood? Now’s the chance. Following his 12-year absence from the stage, the king of the one-liner, who makes us laugh at our Britishness, said: “It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy, and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now.” So why not sign yourself or your loved ones up for some laughs this January?

EDITOR

Holly O'Mahony

The

Greenwich & lewisham Weekender is an independent weekly newspaper, covering the boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham.

Stock up on locally grown produce

You can also view each edition online, as well as daily news and events, on our website: www.weekender.co.uk

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to shop more consciously, get 2024 off to a worthy start by paying a visit to the weekly Blackheath Farmers Market this Sunday.

Bring along your tote back and look out for seasonal specialities such as celeriac, sprouts and purple sprouting broccoli, plus a chance to buy everything from juice and pies to free-range meat, shellfish and flowers.

The Greenwich & lewisham Weekender covers all aspects of life in the boroughs, including music, theatre, comedy, film, events, and food and drink, as well as all your community events and campaigns.

Blackheath Station car park, London SE3 9LA. January 7, from 10am - 2pm. Admission: FREE. www.lfm.org.uk/ markets/blackheath/

Weekender

Get on top of your wellness

The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX. January 21, doors 6:30pm, show 8pm. Admission: £35+. www.theo2.co.uk/ events/detail/peter-kay-1

We publish every Wednesday, covering every postcode sector of the borough, and boasting, by far, the highest weekly circulation in Greenwich. Each week, we deliver our paper to every Greenwich neighbourhood, with further copies stocked at convenient public stands.

We are also the highest distribution newspaper in Lewisham.

At The Hour on Greenwich Peninsula, Thrive’s winter wellbeing programme is in full swing. Sign up for free to take part in classes including yoga, aromatherapy, mindfulness and more. From outdoor barre to circuits, sound baths to kids’ yoga, there’s something to get everyone moving.

The Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 020 7231 5258. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk Weekender Editor: Holly O’Mahony Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising team: Clarry Frewin; Sophie Ali Advertising support: Katie Boyd Editorial: Michael Holland; Holly O’Mahony Design Manager: Dan Martin Design team: Ann Gravesen Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Offices at: A202, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, SE16 4DG. Printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge Ltd – www.iliffeprint.co.uk News: 020 7231 5258 /hello@cm-media.co.uk Ads: 020 7232 1639 / hello@cm-media.co.uk Finance: 0779 883 3758 / em@cm-media.co.uk www.weekender.co.uk @insouthlndn

Issue: GLW343

Stretch and flow in impressive surroundings Continuing its partnership with Deptford’s Kindred Yoga studio, the Old Royal Naval College is offering more opportunities to stretch and flow in the impressive surroundings of its Painted Hall this January. Take part in a 45-minute Vinyasa Flow class while gazing at the visions of Sir James Thornhill. Who knows? It just might be the inspiration you need to get down on the mat.

Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9NN. January 3, 7:45pm - 8:30pm. Admission: £18.50. www.ornc.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/47820

Take an audio tour of the universe While your typical planetarium show at Royal Observatory Greenwich focuses on showing what the stars, moon and planets look like up close, at this new Audio Universe tour, the soundtrack takes centre stage. Strap in and be transported via a spacecraft to the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), which boasts a brilliant view of stars in the night sky before whizzing off on a tour of the planets in our solar system.

Royal Observatory Greenwich, Blackheath Avenue, London SE10 8XJ. January 3 & 5, 3:30pm. Admission: £12/£8 concessions. www.rmg.co.uk/ whats-on/royal-observatory/audiouniverse-tour-solar-system

The Hour, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 0QZ. Sessions most days until February 9, times vary. Admission: FREE. www.the-hour.co.uk/thrive

Have a crack at stand up comedy Think you might have a Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle or Katherine Ryan hiding inside you? Make 2024 your year of giving stand up comedy a go. Bromley’s Churchill Theatre is running a stand-up course for beginners.

Over six sessions, you’ll be guided through writing your first five minutes of material, culminating – if you like – in an end-of-course showcase where you’ll perform your five-minute act to the rest of the group. Hopefully you’ll leave with the foundations of your own tone of voice and the confidence to keep on going.

Open to ages 18+.

Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA. Weekly sessions from January 8 – February 13, 7:15pm.

Admission: £200. www.trafalgartickets.com/ churchill-theatre-bromley/ en-GB/event/other/stand-upcomedy-for-beginners-tickets

January 3 2023 3

Wellness

Catching up with Greenwich Runners It’s that time of year, where we’re just about ready to put away the Christmas box sets, heave ourselves off the sofa and brush away any lingering crumbs from that final round of mince pies. If you’re hoping to quite literally hit the ground running in 2024, then joining a running club could help you get started, writes Holly O’Mahony...

SE10 is home to one of the most versatile and committed running clubs in London. The Greenwich Runners meet up multiple times a week, and offer sessions ranging from casual jogs to speed, strength and marathon training.

With New Year’s resolutions in mind, the Weekender spoke to Ellie Brown, head coach of Greenwich Runners, for an inside view of how the club works…

Firstly, can you start by telling us a little bit about your own running journey?

I was a keen runner as a teenager, however as I got older, life and work took over and my running fell by the wayside. I was encouraged to start running again when my children’s primary school encouraged parents and children to enter the local 5K ‘Race for Life’. I’ve been hooked ever since! It’s always a challenge to take up running or to start again, but with encouragement from our small group of runners and raising money for a fabulous charity, it really helped us all to reach our goal.

Life’ I trained to be a running coach.

The group who had run the 5K race together wanted to run a 10K, so I said I would support and coach them, and the Greenwich Runners was born.

How good a runner do you need to be to be part of Greenwich Runners?

Our values are community, support and friendship, and we have sub-groups for all levels of runner; from complete beginners to the ultra runner!

How many members do you have in the Greenwich Runners? And how does someone become a member?

Our group is very relaxed; there is no membership and you just come and run with us as and when you can.

We have over 150 runners who are part of our community – luckily, they don’t all come on the same day!

How are runs organised? And, how do sessions work? Do people organise themselves by ability or do different sub-groups meet at different times?

We have a community running WhatsApp group as well as information on our website, and Instagram and Facebook pages. We have multiple sessions during the week all coached and led by athletics coaches.

On Thursdays at 7pm, we have a free 5-6K community run, where you can just turn up to Market studios in Greenwich Market and run with us. All levels of runner are welcome,

Tell us about Greenwich Runners.

How long has it been going? How did you get involved with the group?

We turn 19 this year, which I find quite hard to believe. Back in 2003, I changed careers and became a pilates teacher, and after running the ‘Race for

4 January 3 2023

Continued on page 6

Wellness and no one gets left behind!

Our Saturday sessions are coached sessions, and these sessions focus on speed, endurance and strength.

Each week is different, and we all work together as a group. The groups are split into ability: beginners, improving and confident, and we also have a mixed level group.

Monday is a strength session for all our runners and Tuesday is a session where we focus on speed.

Are these sessions free to join or is there a fee attached?

There is a cost for our Monday, Tuesday and Saturday sessions. We also run marathon workshops to support those in training. These workshops, held in January, also have a small fee to attend.

What would you say are the benefits, both mental and physical, of running as part of a community?

Running in a community group brings so many health benefits as well as long lasting friendships. Running we know improves cardiovascular health, but we also must mention the mental health benefits of exercising outside, in green spaces, with like-minded individuals.

It’s an opportunity to make friends, share experiences, and achieve goals that you never thought possible.

In the lead up to Christmas, you do themed runs. Can you tell us about those?

When Greenwich’s Advent Windows are running, we organise a jog

with runners training for a marathon, so if you are a charity and would like some support, get in touch!

between each window. Each year, we also support a local charity with our 12 Ks of Christmas. We encourage our community to run 12 kilometres every week (you can run just a few k’s at a time – you don’t have to run the full 12K in one go!) throughout December finishing with a 12K pub crawl on New Year’s Eve. This year, we supported Greenwich and Bexley Hospice, which is a wonderful charity. We also run support workshops for charities

We do trips, too: every year, we run a 5k or 10K in Montreuil Sur Mer in France, which is a great weekend of celebrating friendships and running.

What advice would you give to people who are contemplating taking up running this year?

Any encouraging words?

Set yourself achievable goals and then take the small steps to achieve them. Find a group or rope in a friend to run with you – it’s always easier with company.

Listen to the parrot on your shoulder that encourages you and not the parrot who discourages you. You’ve got this!

We are a friendly, local running group that puts friendships and community at the heart of our running. If you are interested in running for fitness, to meet friends or achieve a goal – whether it’s to run a 5K or a marathon – we have a team of wonderful coaches who will be on hand to guide you.

Finally, what should people know if they’re interested in joining Greenwich Runners?

For more information about Greenwich Runners, visit www.greenwichrunners.co.uk/

What's On 2024 Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com • & DANCE PART OF TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC

Tom Robinson Band

Sun 14 Jan, 8pm

Shelf The Kids' Show

Sun 3 Mar, 7pm Sat1810 Feb, SAT Nov, 2.30pm 11am & 3pm Sun 26 Nov, 7pm

Mark Watson Sat 27 Jan, 8pm

N'Faly Kouyate Sat 17 Feb, 8pm

Sat 24 Feb 1pm & 3pm

Sat 20 Apr, 2pm & 4pm Sun 21 Apr, 11am & 2pm

Food & Drink

©©Kris Humphreys Photography

Bureau review: a laissezfaire supper club with a generous spirit

As technology, remote working and, perhaps, a touch of laziness tempt us into ever more isolated lives, experiences that propel us back to socialisation are treasured events, writes Holly O’Mahony…

6 January 3 2023

All hail the rise of the supper club: a growing trend in the hospitality industry in which restaurants lay on a single, set menu, and encourage folk to book a set-price seat around a big, communal table for a night of elbow jostling and passing round of steaming sharing plates.

Bringing a slice of this (and then some!) to SE10 is Bureau restaurant chefs Sean Fleming and Matt Strutt, whose arrival in Greenwich’s Design District is trailed by stints at some of London’s most creative restaurants, including Fergus Henderson’s St John and former Brixton small plate haven, Salon. Here, in an open-plan room adjoined to Bureau’s co-working space, they serve a daytime seasonal menu on weekdays, but save the best for their monthly supper club.

It’s this we’ve turned up to partake in one Friday night in early December.

Arriving promptly at the 6pm start time, my companion and I are initially alarmed to see the space brightly lit and empty. Oh dear, no bookings?

Perhaps Bureau’s slightly hidden location within the pedestrianised Design District complex is to blame, or the end-of-the-working-day start time? But no sooner have we taken our seats at one of four long tables than our fellow diners start to trickle in. And by the time our aperitif – a glass of crisp, creamy cremant – is served at 6:30pm, every seat is taken.

It was bustling, sure, but one thing that remained lacking throughout the night was ambience. The lights were office-style bright, and given the tables, chairs and vinyl flooring also resemble a casual workspace, it’s

an atmosphere that doesn’t exactly scream sit-back-and-relax. It’s odd, too, given pictures advertising the supper club online show a candlelit event. Still, nothing that can’t be fixed with a bit of dimming down.

The wine was free flowing with whites, a red and even a dessert wine among the offering. From a glance at the labels, it was clear some care had gone into curating a list of interesting varieties. However, there was a lack of continuity with what was being served between tables.

The sparkling wine served to the first table was different from the one that arrived at ours. Later, someone topped up my glass of white with a different (much nicer) bottle to the one I’d been sipping. When I pointed out what had happened, a member of the waiting staff told me there was

only one white being served. By the time the second bottle came around again, I had photo evidence to prove the Domaine Bernatas La Petite Cordillere was indeed different from the Mas des Agrunelles Nicot Blanc.

An honest mistake, I’m sure, and one that could be ironed out with better communication between the team.

To say the food was plentiful would be an understatement. Multiple starters gave way to two incredibly rich mains – if you’re the type of person who goes in too hard on the bread basket then insists on second and third helpings of mains because you don’t want to see it go to waste, you have been warned.

Food & Drink

Potted smoked salmon came with door stopper wedges of toasted brioche that seemed self-replenishing given the speed at which fresh slices arrived. A clementine, chicory and toasted hazelnut salad was fresh and spoke of the season, but stealing the limelight among the starters were slivers of juniper and back pepper coated venison, served with creamy, crunchy ribbons of celeriac.

For mains, either one of the following would have sufficed, but hey, I’m not complaining. A plump pie of Brixham Halibut and lobster proved a gourmet upgrade of a classic winter warmer.

Next to it came a platter of roast duck – with breast and even scrummier

leg – served with homemade crisps so fresh they were chip-like, and further samples of duck in pâté-ontoast form. A side of artichoke and chard gratin was just as rich and a bit of a showstopper, while landing on our plates for the sake of a healthy balance was a Christmassy salad of warm beetroot with bitter leaves and a sprinkling of pomegranate.

Having dragged my fork through the duck, gratin and fish pie platters a frankly shameless number of times given we were sharing them with strangers, by the time homemade mince pies, a cranberry and orange log of ice cream and some chocolate and cream fudges were brought

around, I could barely look at them.

Truly. But more fool me, because the few spoonfuls I forced down against my better judgement were heavenly.

Fleming and Strutt are onto something with their supper club. It has none of the ponce or showmanship of many of its equivalents ‘in town’, which makes it joyfully unpretentious. Although, a little bit of ceremony, with dishes and drinks being announced before they’re served, would only add to it. Still, in its somewhat disorderly infancy, what shines here is the generosity and serious culinary talent. ~Would I go again? Oh yes.

The damage (for 2): Bureau supper club experience TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . £140 Food & Drink . . . . . .

Ambience . . . . . . . . . .

Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Disabled access . . . . . . . . Yes Disabled toilet . . . . . . . . . . Yes Booking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes

Bureau 13 Soames Walk, London SE10 0AX. Restaurant open Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm. Supper clubs once a month on Fridays, 6pm - 10pm. Admission: £70. www.bureau.club/bureau-restaurant/

Greenwich Dance is Closing Our dance classes will continue through to December while we explore various ways to keep our programmes going with other custodians.

Please check our website or follow us @GreenwichDance on social media for the latest updates.

In the meantime, we would like to thank our participants and artists who have moved with us over the last 30 years. We will miss dancing with you.

Team Greenwich Dance x

greenwichdance.org.uk Photo: Kinga Dawid

January 3 2023 7

COMMUNITY TRUST At The Heart Of The Community

NEWS FROM CHARLTON ATHLETIC COMMUNITY TRUST

Kick off the New Year with Charlton Challenge!

Charlton Challenge offers structured football sessions for children aged 2-8 to help improve their core movement and develop their football skills over a 12–16-week period.

One young person who has progressed through the programme is Oli Fairley. After joining Charlton Challenge sessions at the age of 4 with Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT), Oli Fairley’s love of football began to grow.

Oli regularly attended the sessions and as a result his football skills developed, and his confidence levels increased.

As he continued to develop and grow, Oli was offered to join the Valley Gold Advanced Centre U6 sessions.

Oli’s development within football due to attending regular Charlton Challenge sessions is the perfect example of CACT’s pathway of progression. Now as part of the Valley Gold Advanced Centre, if Oli continues to improve, there may be opportunity for him to trial with the Charlton Athletic Academy in the future.

Oli’s dad, Will Fairley, said: “Charlton Challenge was an incredible gateway for Oli into football. Open & welcoming to all, but with a professional club mindset. His love for the game has grown hugely as a result and seeing how Josh not only created brilliant group sessions

8 January 3 2023

but would individually focus on the boys too to help them improve their own specific game, was great - his commitment to all the boys there kept us coming back.

“Josh and the team at Charlton Challenge provided clear, regular feedback on his development which was hugely appreciated. Oli has now moved into their Advanced Centre and I’m already seeing the improvements as they once again take him to the next level.”

Josh Covill, CACT’s Football and Sports Development Coach, said: “Oli began attending the Charlton Challenge at 4 years old and started improving almost instantly. He has since being with us continued to learn new skills and has been growing in confidence during the sessions which has helped him to be a part of the u6 Advanced Centre group with an opportunity to be a part of the Pre-Academy next year.

I’m looking forward to seeing Oli’s development continue to move forwards and hopefully he continues to enjoy his football with us!”

Find a Charlton Challenge session near you and book a place today, by visiting: cact.gives/courses

Oli Fairley is just one example of a young person progressing through the programme into the Valley Gold Advanced Centre.

THEATRE

New Eltham Community Productions stages 50th Anniversary Pantomime

New Eltham Community Productions turns 50 this year, and to celebrate hitting the half a century milestone, it’s staging the pantomime Mother Goose, writes Holly O’Mahony…

The amateur dramatics society performs a variety of shows throughout the year, including plays, musicals and concerts, but its annual January pantomime is the crowning jewel of its programme.

Adaptations of the Mother Goose pantomime are typically liberal with the origin French fairy tale, but the plot typically involves a hard-up family whose fortuned are saved by a goose with the power to lay golden eggs, but a Mother Goose who’s willing to trade in their feathered saviour for beauty.

Ahead of its production of Mother Goose opening this January, the

Weekender spoke to the show’s codirectors and writers Julian Bartlett and Vanessa Wixley to find out more…

Holly O’Mahony: Vanessa, you’re a long-standing member of the NECP team. How did you get involved with the organisation?

Vanessa Wixley: I have been a member of the group since 1981 when it was a drama group known as The Community Players. I have been in many plays, pantomimes and musical productions over the years, but no longer perform on stage as I’m now in my 70s and have retired.

HOM: NECP turns 50 this year, which

is no small milestone! Am I right in thinking it’s run on a voluntary basis? What do you think has kept it going for all these years?

VW: Yes we do run it on a voluntary basis. We’ve been very lucky with our members, who are a talented lot! Between them, they organise the music, set design, scenery painting and lighting, as well as acting and singing in the shows. We are mainly able to cover all aspects of our productions ourselves, and are open to all ages and abilities.

Shows are funded by ticket sales, fundraising, quizzes and special events. This year saw the return of our popular murder mystery night for the first time since Covid, and we are planning a ballroom dancing evening led by our fantastic dance tutor Hilary for next year.

HOM: What made you decide to stage Mother Goose as your 50th anniversary production?

Julian Bartlett: We wanted to do a traditional pantomime for 2022 and at the time we decided on it being Mother Goose, which used to be a

classic, however it seemed to have dropped off the pantomime radar.

Because of the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing it two years later. Ironically, it seems that in the last few years, Mother Goose is having a resurgence [last year even saw a West End production starring Ian McKellen].

Hopefully it’s well recognised now.

HOM: What sets your version of the story apart from other versions?

VW: I think all versions of pantos, whether it be Mother Goose or Cinderella, are individual stories based on the good guys, bad guys, plus a little bit of mild drama all coming together at the end so that the characters live happily ever after. I’ve only seen one other Mother Goose panto in Canterbury and ours bears no relation to that one! The only thing I can add is that it has been written by myself and Julian rather than a ‘bought in’ version to be adapted.

HOM: How big is the cast performing in it? And how often have you been meeting up to rehearse?

VW: We have a cast of 25 adults and eight children performing the show, plus our invaluable backstage crew, choreographers and our fantastic pianist Simon working on it. We meet twice a week, cast and chorus on Tuesdays, and principals on Thursdays.

It’s a panto, but you’re staging the show outside the busy Christmas period. Why? JB: Basically, tradition! We’ve always done our panto after Christmas, so it’s something to look forward to in a cold, gloomy January. We also use the Christmas period to build the set and rehearse so we can give people something to look forward to after the excitement of Christmas is over.

Mother Goose is being staged at The Centre, New Eltham Methodist Church, 435-439 Footscray Road, New Eltham, London, SE9 3UL. January 6 and 13, 2:30pm and 7:30pm.

Admission: £10. Keen to join NECP? Annual membership costs £50. www.necp.org.uk/

January 3 2023 9

history

Rundown pubs, dodgy clubs, the growth of cinema and Gracie Fields

Travers crossroads

Gracie Fields

Mary Mills

I started off writing this with totally different idea of what it was going to be about. I thought I would begin with asking who people thought was the most popular female singer of the 20th century? There are lots of lists on the net but all of them only list singers who were post 1960. Come on, there has to be someone earlier than Dusty?

I then began to look at the crossroads at the bottom of what is now Vanburgh Hill and Blackwall Lane as they intersect the Woolwich Road. Both of those roads have had several different names. And I thought - ‘I’ll start there’.

The earliest map we have of Greenwich is Travers 1697 plan which shows the Woolwich Road with ‘Green Lane’ running north from it but there is nothing we could recognise as Vanburgh Hill. However it does, most importantly, show ‘Conduit 9’ - north of Woolwich Road and West of the future Vanbrugh Hill. I wrote quite a bit about this conduit head in an article a few weeks ago and I’m sorry if I’m repeating myself here but I think it’s an interesting subject and hopefully this has got a different spin on it from the previous article.

Vanburgh Hill‘s earliest name was ‘Conduit Lane’.Do the residents of 103- 127 Vanbrugh Hill have any record of their houses being called ‘Conduit Terrace’? In 1851 they were advertised as having “two good bedrooms, two parlours, kitchen, small flower gardens in front, enclosed with ornamental iron palisading, and good garden in the rear”.

The conduit itself is now forgotten.

Was it a source of fresh water to be used by local people or was it just

10 January 3 2023

a derelict structure? When in the course was it removed and who by?

Did it remain as a heap of unidentified stones for many years? Is it possible some of those stones remained in somebody’s back garden?

Travers explained that ‘Conduit 9’ was the remains of the Arundel Conduit which brought water down the hillside from Blackheath to Crown properties on Ballast Quay ‘in earthen pipes now destroyed’.

The conduit was on the south west corner of the crossroads Diagonally opposite on the north east is the Ship and Billet pub, aka ‘Thai Tiger’. It stands on a plot where surrounding land was owned, as now, by the Hatcliffe charity. Although even in 1697 the pub site appears to be separate.

Town Social Club. There are some jolly Victorian pictures of people socialising in the grounds. After that the pub survived as a destination on bus blinds and as a local landmark.

As pubs began to close in the 1980s it went into other ownership and into a silly names mode. It eventually closed following a visit from the Council’s licencing staff which was dramatically described by Mr. 853 blogger about how it was being run by various drunken customers, the landlord having vanished.

Perhaps we should look at this pub which has been on that corner site for over 150 years. For most of the time it was called The Ship and Billet’. There are press reports of it from the 1840s but I guess it is very much older than that - the date could be established from the Justices Minutes which will record its licencing, but they are archive material, unavailable to me.

On the opposite side of Woolwich Road – the south east corner - where the baths and library now stand, most people will remember Greenwich District Hospital? It was built on the site of the Greenwich Union Workhouse of 1834. Which was on “a pull of upland lying on the south side of the highway ... called by the name of Catts Brains’.

The building was extended in 1875 and its medical sections greatly increased. The workhouse and its infirmary was in some ways a centre for East Greenwich with space for public and official meetings, as well as providing an infirmary which treated members of the public as well as inmates.

The pub seems to have been a local entertainment centre and behind it was a big garden on the site now covered by the Greenwich

In 1818 Greenwich and Woolwich Lower Road Turnpike Trust was set up to manage the main road from the Arsenal gates to Greenwich.

history

Ship and billet

Blackwall lane signs

Crossroads 1860s

As part of this legislation a toll gate was set up at the crossroads and called ’Greenwich Gate. This was on a site in the centre of the crossroads and marked on a slightly earlier map as ‘pound’ – that is a secure enclosure where stray animals could be held. It doesn’t look to be over large and no doubt they weren’t expecting much more than a single stray sheep or pig.

In 1828 there was a toll house “on the west side of the southern extremity of Marsh Lane, and also near to the northern extremity of the lane bounding the west side of the Greenwich Union Workhouse, and commonly called Love Lane”.

I am not aware of any pictures or indeed any information about this toll gate and toll house. There are smatterings of news stories about various disputes on access here which only show that it was staffed.

On the site adjacent to the conduit head things were changing. As I mentioned in my earlier article a house was built there in 1830 Conduit House – and ‘Vale cottage ‘or ‘Hyde vale cottage. The cottage was the home of Joshua Taylor Beale and later his son John Taylor Beale was in Conduit House before he moved to Westcombe Park. I have written elsewhere about the Beales and hopefully I will one day do a ‘proper’ article. Joshua had an engineering works adjacent to the

Enderby site on the Peninsula where he built steam cars and other items.

Most important was his development of the ’exhauster’ as an adaption of his rotary steam engine design and which became a must have item in gas works. After his death his son John sold the exhauster patent to Donkin’s in Bermondsey, later Chesterfield. They were still producing equipment based on a modified version of it in the 1960s.

Conduit House later became a clinic for the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich and ended its days as Conduit House Club for the Rechabite Order.

The final site to note has to be the cinema on this south west corner of the crossroads which was built on the footprint of Conduit House. I had intended initially to write this article about the cinema only but there is so much written already about it that there is very little I can add. There are a number of websites including the ever reliable Cinema Treasures https://cinematreasures.org/ theaters/3781. There is a particularly interesting write-up of the site by Rob Powell.. https://www.greenwich. co.uk/magazine/05212-greenwichgranada-plaza-234-trafalgar/ The Greenwich Granada is only too easily confused with the Woolwich Granada and many sources call

Plaza ex granada

the Woolwich building ‘Greenwich Granada’ because it’s in the borough of Greenwich. The Woolwich Granada is a very important cinema and I’m afraid our Greenwich Granada was a lot less glamorous.

Rob explains that The Granada Theatre chain was ‘experiencing incredible growth in the 1930s’.

Our Geeenwich cinema dates from 1937. It could seat 1900 and was designed by C. Howard Crane, with the interior designed by Theodore Komisarjevsky, although it was not one of his trademark dramatic interiors. In fact it was rather conventional. I ought to admit that I never saw the inside of it when it was functioning as a cinema but I understand it was the “plainest of the purpose built Granada Theatre chain.”

There was of course a Mighty Wurlitzer organ, able to “command a world of music, from a full symphony orchestra to a Chinese tom-tom”. Web sites say that it was recovered when the building closed and was taken to Cornwall and then rescued again by enthusiasts to be restored. Does anyone know what has happened to it?

Inevitably it became a bingo hall from 1963 until the 1980s and then became a bad news night club Stars - locally known as ’Stabs’.

In 1996 it was closed, gutted and thirty-nine flats built. Rob Powell’s article includes some great pictures taken by Mr. 853 of the site when it was just a skeleton within four walls and no roof. When I was a councillor for the area I remember being told about the building by one of our officers from the noise team, who said that because it was built as a theatre there were all sorts of special structures within the walls which were to do with noise containment and ventilation.

These would only be understood by a specialist on the subject.

So the flats are still there and it is now basically an apartment block. As part of my work as a councillor I sometimes went in to meet residents. I’ve never seen a picture of the interior and I’m unable to even find a description of it on line but I remember it very vividly. It consists of flats around an atrium which had in it four enormous sculptures of palm trees made entirely out of tin cans. It was a very very dramatic interior – are they still there and is it still like that?

At the beginning of this article I asked about the most popular female singer of the 20th century. I had looked at a lot of websites which all seemed to think there was no form of popular musical life before the 1960s.

But the Greenwich Granada was

opened by a big star of the 1930s.

I’ve recently been reading Iris Bryce’s memories of her childhood in 1930s Greenwich. Like many other local children Iris was all excited to see the star who was to open the new cinema. Unfortunately she had an accident in the kitchen so her Mum would not allow her to go out and sent her to bed.

So Iris tiptoed into the front bedroom and climbed on a chair to look out of the window “but all I could see were roof tops .... then soaring over them I heard Gracie start to sing ‘Sally’.

The words were clear and pure and to my astonishment I felt tears pouring down my face... I hadn’t missed the opening after all”.. Outside were crowds of many hundreds – estimated at up to 10,000 - people who had come and see ‘Our Gracie ‘. She was piped into the cinema by the Dagenham Girl Pipers and went straight up to a roof balcony to perform ‘Sing as we go’ and ’Sally’.

In the past few days I have asked everybody I have encountered what they know about Gracie Fields. No one under 60 had any idea who she was. The 10,000 people who turned out to see her in 1936 in Trafalgar Road were just a tiny fraction in the numbers of her fans nationally.

It was a great day for East Greenwich.

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public notices

ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) BELLOT STREET PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER)

Royal Borough of Greenwich

Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (AS AMENDED) Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(England) Order 2015 Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (AS AMENDED) Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 (AS AMENDED) Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (AS AMENDED)

1.

2.

3.

4.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich make’s this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Southern Gas Networks who need to carry out decommission works.

The Order will come into operation on 8th January 2024 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 1 month. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.

The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Bellot Street at the junction of Azof Street.

Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via Azof Street, Christchurch Way and vice versa. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.

Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.

The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.

Notice is hereby given that application(s) have been made to The Royal Borough of Greenwich in respect of the under mentioned premises/ sites. You can see the submissions and any plans at http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/planning.

5.

If development proposals affect Conservation Areas and/or Statutorily Listed Buildings under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 (As Amended) this will be shown within the item below.

7.

Anyone who wishes to comment on these applications should be made in writing to Development Planning within 22 days of the date of this notice.

Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport.

The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ

Please quote the appropriate reference number.

6.

Dated 14/12/23

Date: 03/01/2024

(INTERNAL REF: PL/620/LA463352)

Victoria Geoghegan Assistant Director - Planning and Building Control List of Press Advertisements - 03/01/2024

mezzanine floor and associated external alterations to include the provision of 2 new entrances, introduction of bollards/ramps on Wellington Street and Polytechnic Street and removal of brick panels to provide additional windows, to allow:

Publicity For Planning Applications.

Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mr Y. Oladime Ji @VR 23/3022/F 33-35 HARE STREET, LONDON, SE18 6NE Construction of smoking shelter, kitchen and store as well as fence and gate to the rear of no.35 Hare Street, and all associated works (retrospective) [Reconsultation due to amended address] Conservation Area: Woolwich Conservation Area Applicant: Shell Trust (UK Property) Limited 23/3417/F Site Address: THE IO CENTRE, 9 SKEFFINGTON STREET, WOOLWICH, SE18 6SR Development: Change of use of Units 1 and 2 from Use Class E(g)(i) (Office) to E(g)(iii) (Industrial Processes) and/ or B8 (Storage and Distribution) and Units 3 and 5 from Use Class B8 (Storage and Distribution) to E(g)(iii) (Industrial Processes) and/or B8 (Storage and Distribution), alterations to parking arrangements and all associated works. [amended address] Conservation Area: ROYAL ARSENAL WOOLWICH Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mr S Miedziejko 23/3566/F 7 EDITH CAVELL WAY, LONDON, SE18 4JY Replacement of existing painted wood windows with white UPVC windows. Windows to match existing trickle vents and astragal Georgian bars (This impacts the setting of the Woolwich Common Conservation Area).

Conservation Area: WOOLWICH COMMON Applicant: Site Address:

EE (UK) Ltd 23/3707/F THE MITRE, 291 GREENWICH HIGH ROAD, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 8NA Development: Installation of 1 no. half height gantry pole on existing grillage with 1 no. MSE cabinet to be affixed to the gantry pole and ancillary development thereto.

Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Berkeley Homes (East Thames) and Peabody 23/3862/R Land bound by Nathan Way, Pettman Crescent and Hadden Road, and intersected by Western Way Submission of reserved matters application (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) for Plot 9 pursuant to Condition 15 of permission ref.

22/3782/MA dated 17 March 2023 comprising the construction of 326 residential units and commercial floorspace with associated parking and private and public open space. ES submitted to the planning authority at the time of the previous application.

Applicant: Mr R & Dr D Hawkins & Kearns 23/3865/HD Site Address: 32 MORDEN ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON, SE3 0AA Development: Construction of a two-storey rear extension with a hipped roof, construction of a rear/ side garage, including the conversion of existing bedroom and storage room and associated external works.

Conservation Area: BLACKHEATH PARK Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mrs Wojtyra-O'Malley 23/3872/HD 199 WOODHILL, WOOLWICH, LONDON, SE18 5HN Construction of a single storey rear side infill extension with atrium.

Conservation Area: WOOLWICH COMMON Applicant: RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP. 23/3965/MA Site Address: 38 WELLINGTON STREET, WOOLWICH, LONDON, SE18 6PE Development: An application submitted under Section 73 and 73a of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 in connection with the planning permission 20/1164/F dated 28/07/2020 which was allowed by appeal (Appeal Ref: APP/E5330/W/20/3257735) for the 'Change of use of the lower ground floor to include Class D1 to already consented A3/A4/ D2/B1 uses, with the installation of a partial

The removal of Condition 1 (Time limit) Variation of the wording of Condition 10 (Secured by design) Conservation Area: Woolwich Conservation Area Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mr S Dunne

23/3972/HD 25 BEACONSFIELD ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON, SE3 7LN Installation of white silicone render faced external wall insulation to existing dwellinghouse.

Conservation Area: WESTCOMBE PARK Applicant: Evolution Estate Development Ltd 23/3977/F Site Address: LAND REAR OF 16-14 VICARAGE PARK, VICARAGE ROAD, PLUMSTEAD, SE18 7SX Development: Construction of three, two-storey dwellings with associated landscaping, refuse storage, cycle parking and cycle parking, to the rear of no.14-16 Vicarage Park Conservation Area: PLUMSTEAD COMMON

ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) ELTHAM HILL PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich make’s this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Thames Water who need to carry out excavation works.

The Order will come into operation on 8th January 2024 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 11 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.

The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from parking or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Eltham Hill between 116 to 102 westbound.

Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will not need to be diverted. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.

Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.

The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.

Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport.

The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ Dated 14/12/23 (INTERNAL REF: PL/624/LA461867)

Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Renisha David 23/3986/HD 2 HEATH VILLAS, PLUMSTEAD, LONDON, SE18 1PG Construction of a single storey timber clad contemporary garden building to be used as home gym.

Conservation Area: PLUMSTEAD COMMON Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mr R Ackland

23/4003/HD 50 ASHBURNHAM PLACE, LONDON, SE10 8UG Replacement of front elevation windows from painted timber single glazed to painted timber slim line double glazed.

Conservation Area: ASHBURNHAM TRIANGLE

Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mr R Crichton

23/4007/HD 59 FOYLE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON, SE3 7RQ Construction of a single storey rear extension and installation of a rear dormer roof extension with 2 roof lights to the front roof slope.

Conservation Area: WESTCOMBE PARK Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Ms J. Curtis

23/4062/HD 29 HADRIAN STREET, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 9AQ Loft conversion with the addition of three conservation style velux rooflights to the rear roof slope.

Conservation Area: EAST GREENWICH Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mr and Mrs Kler 23/4091/HD 22 FOXES DALE, LONDON, SE3 9BQ Demolition of existing rear conservatory and storage area to the rear of the garage and the construction of a 2 storey side extension, part 1/part 2 storey rear extension, detached bin store and alterations to the roof form from hipped to gable ends to facilitate a loft conversion with rear dormer window, conversion of side garage and addition of brick cladding to existing elevations.

Conservation Area: BLACKHEATH PARK Publicity for Listed Building Consent.

Applicant: Site Address:

EE (UK) Ltd

23/3706/L THE MITRE, 291 GREENWICH HIGH ROAD, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 8NA Development: Installation of 1 no. half height gantry pole on existing grillage with 1 no. MSE cabinet to be affixed to the gantry pole and ancillary development thereto.

Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH Listed Building: Grade 2 Publicity For Advertisements.

Applicant: British Telecommunications PLC 23/3998/A Site Address: Pavement outside 86 Powis Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6LQ Development: 2no. digital 75" LCD advert screens, one on either side of a BT Street Hub unit.

Conservation Area: Woolwich Conservation Area

ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) HIGHBROOK ROAD PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich make’s this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Thames Water who need to carry out a new connection.

The Order will come into operation on 8th January 2024 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 5 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.

The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Highbrook Road at the Junction of Halsbrook Road.

Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via Langbrook Road, Halsbrook Road & vice versa. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.

Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.

The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.

Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport.

The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ Dated 14/12/23 (INTERNAL REF: PL/626/LA459699) PUBLIC NOTICE LICENSING ACT 2003 First Date of Display of this Notice: 29th December 2023 An application has been made by: Adem SHENOL has applied to London Borough of Bexley for the grant of a PREMISES LICENCE in respect of the premises known as: Monty’s Cafe situated at: 17 MONTPELIER AVENUE, DA5 3AP. The application seeks permission for the following licensable activities: • The sale of alcohol by retail for consumption on/off the premises.

The provision of alcohol on the premises shall be served only to a seated customer. There will be no vertical drinking at the premises.

The off sales provision of alcohol will be via a food delivery partner such as Deliveroo and Just Eat. The proposed hours of opening are: Monday – Saturday 07:00 – 23:00 Sunday - 08:00 – 22:00 The proposed hours of licensable activities are: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 23:00 and Sunday - 11:00 – 22:00 Any “Other Persons” or “Responsible Authority” may make representations in writing to this application no later than: 26th January 2024 (Insert 28 days from date of notice above) To: Licensing Partnership, P.O. Box 182, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1GP Telephone 01732 227004 or email at: licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk Details of this application and the Licensing Register are available for inspection at the above address between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.

To place a public notice, please call 020 7232 1639 or email: hello@cm-media.co.uk

Guidance notes on “making representations” are available from the Licensing Team, or by visiting www.bexley.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence is unlimited.

Public Notices

ADVERTORIAL

News from the Royal Borough of Greenwich

‘Be around for your loved ones’ Local resident Pauline is encouraging others to get their lungs checked after it was revealed that smoking is the largest preventable cause of death in Royal Greenwich.

“I was petrified about having a scan but when I arrived at the community van, the nurses were friendly and immediately put me at ease. Just think about who is important to you and being around for them.”

If you are a smoker or a former smoker aged between 55 to 74, you will have been invited for a free lung health screening to spot signs of cancer or other breathing issues.

Pauline was checked as part of a pilot scheme taking place in the borough. Over 3,500 people have taken part, and you could join them. The pilot is for people without symptoms. If you’ve noticed a change in your health, tell your GP immediately.

Pauline, 73, booked an appointment after receiving her invite. She said: “As a former smoker, I was grateful for the check because if there is anything wrong the doctors can pick up on it and sort it, so you will still be around for your loved ones.

Learn more: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/lung-health-checks or call 0208 124 3125

Recycle your Christmas tree The Council will take your real Christmas tree as part of the green bin collection service, which will resume as normal from the week of 8 January.

If you live in a house, place the tree outside the front of your home beside your bin. If you live in a block of flats, put the tree next to the communal bins.

Remember to remove all the decorations and save them for next year. If you want to dispose of your tree yourself, you can do so at our Reuse and Recycling Centre in Nathan Way. royalgreenwich.gov.uk/bank-holiday-collections

www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

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