SAVE THIS VICTORIAN MUSIC HALL

Take a look at this....it's a back alley in Wapping, East London which I discovered last week. I was looking for a building which once offered a noisey, bawdy, beery night out. It's Wilton's Music Hall but sadly it is now in desperate need of a large injection of cash to save it from collapse.

Imagine a night out here. Everything from opera to saucy sing-alongs went on here; sometimes as many as 1500 were inside; Prostitutes, sailors, merchants, street-sellers, rich and poor, young and old - they packed the gas-lit hall from six in the evening to six in the morning. If you fancied musical debauchery then Wilton's was the place.

Those days of 150 years ago are part of the fast-disappearing Victorian heritage of the East End. This is one of London's last surviving music-halls and should be saved so send some donations to Wilton's Music Hall, Graces Alley, London E1 8JB. And to find out more visit www.wiltons.org.uk

Less than a mile away the City of London is booming. Wiltons also had a period of prosperity but not any more. It doesn't deserve to be lost forever.

LONDON CITY WALKS FEBRUARY-MAY 2006

January 2006

JOIN US FOR A WALK THROUGH HISTORY

Programme for February-May 2006

In the cold days of Winter it is difficult to imagine walking the streets of London. But the Square Mile will always warm the visitor with its fascinating history and remarkable stories.

So join your official guide, DAVID WILLIAMS, on a leisurely two hour walk round the City streets. It's fun and informative.

The following programme covers February-May 2006. If you are interested in joining one of these City of London walking tours then please let me know. You can either come along as an individual or with a few friends or we can arrange to take a group from a club or society.

There are usually 15-20 people in the group and you are invited to meet me outside Fenchurch Street railway station which is just a short distance from Tower Hill Tube station (District and Circle Line).

The cost is just £5 for the walk, pay on the day.

LONDON FOOTSTEPS
70, Hadleigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 2LZ
Tel: 01702 710232 email: info@londonfootsteps.co.uk
www.londonfootsteps.co.uk

Saturday, 18th February:

THE SUFFERING CITY (meet at 11 am Fenchurch Street station)

This walk will take in the events and places that have featured in some of the tragic moments and episodes in London’s long history – plague, fire, riots, poverty, the Blitz, and terrorism.

Saturday, 4th March

INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY: (meet at 11 am Fenchurch Street station)

For those who want a general picture of the way London has developed over the last 2,000 years then this ever-popular walk is a must. You go through the streets, alleys and narrow passageways; see some of the finest Wren churches and grand buildings and learn something about the people and events that have made the City so inspiring.

Wednesday 8th March:

THE RIVER THAMES POLICE MUSEUM and WAPPING WALK

The visit to the Thames Police Museum at Wapping is a special arrangement and we have to book beforehand. There are 20 places available on the visit which is part of a walk that takes in St Katherine’s dock, Shadwell Basin, the riverside inns, Execution Dock and the old dockland heart of London.

Places are restricted on this walk and Museum visit so please contact us beforehand to confirm availability.

Meet at Tower Hill underground station at 10.30 am.

Saturday 18th March:

THE FLOW OF HISTORY (meet at 11am outside Fenchurch Street station)

We set off along the Thames Path to the Millennium Bridge, cross over to Southwark then go the South Bank and back over London Bridge. The story of London is really the story of the River Thames and has influenced the wealth and development of the Square Mile.
Meet at Leigh-on-Sea station at 9.45 am or 11 am outside the main entrance of Fenchurch Street Station.

Saturday 1st April:

SECRET GARDENS IN THE CITY

Meet at 11 am outside the main entrance of Fenchurch Street Station.

This walk reveals one of the City’s hidden secrets. At this time of the year there is colour in the small parks, gardens and green spaces that flourish among all the high-rise buildings. See them – and see how the City gardeners have transformed what were once derelict sites and overgrown churchyards.


Easter Holiday Walk

Wednesday 19th April:

CITY CHURCHES (Meet at 11 am outside Fenchurch Street station)

An opportunity to see some of the fine churches which were designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire – and those that date back to Saxon and Roman times. We visit St Olave’s Hart Street, All Hallows by-the-Tower, St Michael Paternoster, St Stephen’s Walbrook, St JHames Garlickhythe, St Mary Aldermary, St Mary Le-Bow, St Mary Woolnoth, St Peters Cornhill.

Saturday 13th May

THE FLOW OF HISTORY (Meet at 11 am outside Fenchurch Street Station)

Another chance to walk along the banks of the Thames from the Tower of London to the Millennium Bridge and then over to Southwark. It is incredible to learn how much this stretch of river impacted on the development of London over 2,000 years.

OTHER DATES

Some clubs or groups like to arrange a walk on a special date. It could be on a weekday or a weekend. That’s fine. Give us a call and we’ll see what can be arranged.

YOUR GUIDE

DAVID WILLIAMS is a qualified City of London guide, a member of the City of London Guide Lecturers Association and Associate of the Institute of Tourist Guiding.

London Footsteps
Tel: 01702 710232 Mobile: 07831 857382
Email: info@londonfootsteps.co.uk

davidwilliams@dwmedia.co.uk