A Nostalgic walk from Leytonstone to West Ham Park

A Nostalgic walk from Leytonstone to West Ham Park - East London Walks (4K)

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3 жыл бұрын

A Nostalgic walk from Leytonstone to West Ham Park - East London Walks.
This journey retraces old footsteps from my early years of living in East London. It also partly follows the route of one of the walks in my book This Other London. We start by St. Patrick's Cemetery and turn into Langthorne Road, a name derived from Langthorne Abbey in Stratford, which once owned this land. We look at the Victorian Leyton Workhouse built in 1840 which became Langthorne Hospital. From here we walk along Leytonstone High Road and stop to look at the old West Ham Parish Boundary Stone on the pavement.
Passing through Maryland Point, we visit The Cart and Horses pub where legendary heavy metal band Iron Maiden were formed by bassist Steve Harris in 1975. Steve Harris was born nearby in Leytonstone. Our route then takes us along Water Lane to Romford Road which I associate with my first year as a student at City of London Polytechnic.
Following Vicarage Lane we came to the local Roman Road of Portway or Porta Via which connected Stratford to Uphall Camp at Barking. We then go for a walk around the churchyard of the ancient West Ham Parish Church. The church has Anglo-Saxon foundations but was expanded by the Norman Baron William de Montfichet in 1180.
Our walk ends in West Ham Park, the largest park in the London Borough of Newham. It was where I spent many happy days larking about as a student. West Ham Park was originally part of Upton House and Ham House, owned at various times by the famous botanist Dr John Fothergill and the great reformers Samuel Gurney and Elizabeth Fry.
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Пікірлер: 204

@priscillarampazzo4359 3 жыл бұрын

It is such a breath of fresh air listening to such personal stories that can resonate with locals and visitors alike.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Priscilla

@StarWarsJay 3 жыл бұрын

My favourite part of the week has arrived. Thanks John.

@julieblackstock8650 3 жыл бұрын

I watched this on the sofa with a quilt over me and the heating on. as you say we went straight from summer into November!

@tonypammen6150 2 жыл бұрын

I spent my childhood in West Ham park, my teenage and twenty something years in the pubs that are all now closed, you could hear Iron Maiden playing in the Cart and Horses practically from the thatched house 😃. And then as a father I used to take my kids to West Ham Park, not all my memories are good from that time but I digress. The Cart and Horses could be at times like a western movie and their fight scenes 😳.

@morriganwitch 3 жыл бұрын

I often look at videos of my old stomping ground and I do remember not only the building but how I felt at the time xxx

@mozdickson 3 жыл бұрын

Tell us more...

@StephenGrew 2 жыл бұрын

I'm convinced this capacity to notice and feel things that quite often are very deep and primeval in our surroundings are wrapped up in survival instincts from the ancient past, brought into relatively modern existence and manifested as observing our current surroundings, the near and the far, cars to buildings to absorbing anything nearby.🙂

@andicheese1763 Жыл бұрын

I was born in East Ham in the 1960's and remember as a young kid going to West Ham. Being brought up in hard times West Ham park was like a mini holiday. Sandwiches, orange squash, a football and some friends made for a fun day. Lovely memories. Thanks.

@ArthurStone 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John; landscape with memories. Sidenote: many East London parks (inc. West Ham) were developed for public recreation by Queen Victoria after concerns about the fitness/health of East End regiments during the Boer War.

@luxford60 3 жыл бұрын

Most long predate the Boer War.

@ArthurStone 3 жыл бұрын

@@luxford60 Yes but they were developed into the parks as they are today (as per the sign outside West Ham Park where I became aware of this info).

@2007Tarkus 7 ай бұрын

I was born in West Ham, Christened in West Ham church, spent my early days in Manor Road Primary School before my family jumped ship and moved to Romford, I can always say I was born in E15 and my heart will always be in E15

@ttv2951 3 жыл бұрын

In a world gone mad John Roger's keeps you grounded I love how you bring the history to life the names & building's plus "rustic informants" keep on keeping on.

@ashleysgaze 3 жыл бұрын

A terrific walk, John. Radical ramblers, and ‘rustic local informants,’ of the world unite! 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️

@ianjohnson2198 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John. I grew up on Janson Road, off Leytonstone Road, and it was nice to see lots of familiar sights. I have very happy memories of visiting the old Water Lane Library (now Uni of East London) as a kid. Over thirty years ago now but I still vividly recall the dark panelled walls and wooden floors inside. The Passmore Edwards museum just around the corner was also a great place to visit.

@jenniferlevine5406 8 ай бұрын

I really love this walk! One of my favourites. Thanks again for this wonderful video!

@williamheale5162 3 жыл бұрын

I used to take my son to the park 40 years ago. There's a bridge where i told my son a troll lived under.

@bakerloobadboy 3 жыл бұрын

I always remember being told that part of West Ham Park was hollow due to a rifle range for the TA unit there. Have no idea how true that is

@edwardkeats5537 3 жыл бұрын

You missed another famous Leytonstone resident, John: Jozef Pilsudski, leading light in the struggle for Polish independence, lived there while keeping clear of the Russian secret police. Wonder how he would have got on these days.

@temperancecottage362 3 жыл бұрын

He'd have to steer clear of Itsu Sushi in Piccadilly

@glenndrewett3735 3 жыл бұрын

Another interesting and enjoyable video, particularly as when I lived in Forest Gate I walked around some of the route you chose, Just bought your book, and finding it a very good read. When I worked at theCity Poly in the 70s & 80s, I was based in the Jewry Street building in Aldgat,, the chemistry dept had the upper part of the building, and the Physics the lower part. In the basement Physics lab, when you opened one of the cupboards below the benches you found an origanal lenght of the old Roman London Wall was still in situ, the building having been built around it. Look forward to your next walks. Glenn

@FIO6271 3 жыл бұрын

John, thanks for another beautiful, calming walk! The weather is changing fast over there, here in Buenos Aires we are hoping for the summer to come, its been rainy and windy for it seems like a long time.And it was so good you mention it, it happened to me too, to find so many memories attached to buildings, that maybe I dont notice in my everyday like but when i am away from them, and then I get back its like my life going before my eyes for a second! Have a nice week John!

@martynbush 3 жыл бұрын

Steve Harris was until recently living in an Essex village called Sheering. I think he moved a couple of years ago. But, Sheering now has a new famous resident, Sir Rod Stewart.

@diannereeks1150 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this walk

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure Diane thanks for watching

@janeoxley4829 3 жыл бұрын

Great to see London from another perspective. thank you.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure Jane - glad you enjoyed it

@minijames2777 3 жыл бұрын

Great walk as always John, the ornamental gardens in West Ham park looks amazing.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

They’re fantastic James - well worth a visit

@SyedWinder91 Жыл бұрын

Hi John, thank you so much for making these wonderful videos, I grew up on Romford Road in the 90's. What you said about each building and sight having memories associated with it, I experience the same when watching many of your videos from across east London. Brings back many memories of earlier days, the 90's do feel ever so long ago. Thank you so much ❤️

@andiharper4498 2 жыл бұрын

First time I've seen these video's... excellent, great history from a place I knew and worked. I now live in Australia... so it really was a walk back in time. So sad to see the decay, mess and just how run down the area has become.

@phooichunlau7827 23 күн бұрын

Thanks 🙏

@bakerloobadboy 3 жыл бұрын

Next to West Ham Church is a green open space next to The Portway. A bronze age settlement was found there during land scaping works back in the late 70's. There used to be an information plate about it but it was made of Aluminium so has most likely been stolen by now

@grahamwood333 3 жыл бұрын

Monifichet was one of the Barons that forced King John to agree to Magna Carta

@andykeddie7602 3 жыл бұрын

So nice to find your channel, I was born and bred in Leytonstone, grew up around Bushwood, but left in 1979....... the place has certainly changed, I remember walking down to the church at Langthorne many times for Christmas midnight mass, and went to school close to West Ham park...... thanks for the videos!

@monkeytrousers6180 3 жыл бұрын

Local Rustic Informants? Didn't they support Hawkwind in 73?

@mozdickson 3 жыл бұрын

Bum Titty Bush!

@monkeytrousers6180 3 жыл бұрын

@@nn-ro1lv my new alarm wake up music. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r9mbi8mlsNG2knk.html

@tommyxbones5126 3 жыл бұрын

I remember the pub mentioned at 16:14 as the Toby house ,it had a large collection of leather sofas to sit on - that was in the '80's.

@johnsmyth3663 27 күн бұрын

Great walk John, just found it , really enjoyed it.

@aerondight7378 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video. Crossed through West Ham park everyday, to go to school, which was Portway. Have some of my happiest memories over here.

@hungryyumyum3813 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, the opening shot of Grove Green Road is pretty much where the house I was born and raised in the 1960s long before my side of the street was torn down. I would wake up to the sound of the trains passing by behind the house and the smell of fresh bread being baked at the corner bakery where the food and wine shop is now. Ah childhood memories.

@user-zc6jc5tv6q 3 жыл бұрын

Sorry I’ve been absent from your vids for a few weeks, John. Been looking for work and generally getting stressed with everything. Another brilliant vid as always!

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

No worries Sean, thanks for taking the time to watch and comment - it's greatly appreciated. Hope things are working out for you

@thehumancanary131 3 жыл бұрын

I've lived on an island in the Andaman Sea for the past 35 years..but remember working in London...shame to see so many pubs have shut their doors forever....

@briancox144 3 жыл бұрын

It’s sad that all the pubs are going to the wall their be a thing of the past soon , being a West Ham fan I was always around that neck of the woods interesting video John West Ham park is a wonderful garden well done on a fantastic video .

@brianjrichman 3 жыл бұрын

John. As an east Londoner (born and bred and both my parents were cockneys) but who has not actually lived in the UK for 20 years now, I can attest to your sentiments about the buildings being seared into ones memory of the past. They form a reference for how we recall an area. From watching your videos, it would seem that so much of what I recall visually is now just a mere echo of a time gone by - but it was only the late 1990's when I last lived in that part of London. The old town (from Stratford out to and past Ilford towards Barkingside) is looking very run down these days with all those closed pubs and the little shops are also looking like they could do with a coat of paint... So sad to see some of that. Keep up with these videos. Love seeing them.

@taomahNEGEV Жыл бұрын

The Birthplace of Iron Maiden. I wish we could have visited it.

@overnightparking 3 жыл бұрын

I grew up thousands of miles to the west of this video, in the USA, where we pronounced Maryland as Mer uh land so when I moved here 25 some odd years ago my ear really struggled with the London pronunciation of Mary land when I saw Maryland and mentally heard Mer uh land. Now to know the origin of Maryland in London was because a chap from here, who lived there and returned, must have known it by its American pronunciation yet here we are with Mary Land.

@brianjordan4787 3 жыл бұрын

Being born and brought up about a mile from here, I remember we always pronounced it as Merrilund. That was in the days long past when I still had a cockney accent!

@johnleach7358 3 жыл бұрын

Buildings seared into memories is so true .. and east london is a big part of my life and that period of having 3 kids

@robj8201 3 жыл бұрын

Best cuppa of the day...cheers john.

@levilm69lovecoldplsywillia9 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you !

@bananaman7638 3 жыл бұрын

Your videos are so soothing. Could watch all day :)

@terrybennett8692 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John, many happy times spent in West Ham Park as a lad.

@TheGingaKiwi 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John, really enjoyed that. I’m a kiwi who lived on Ham Park Road during my two year OE in 2003. Some excellent old pubs including King Edward VII, I recommend a visit. Cheers mate

@stephenhumphrey4748 3 жыл бұрын

I went to st bonaventures school opposite West Ham park in the 1960s changed a bit since I was there we used to go over there to collect the conkers thanks for the memories

@stephenmadden6566 3 жыл бұрын

Stephen, we were in St Francis & St Bons together.

@robertbarling5601 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you once again John for a great video , very informative. I am an Iron Maiden fan as is my son Ian. In fact my son used to play in a band called D-FUSION and they were the support band for Iron Maiden at the standard pub in blackhorse road in Walthamstow. Bob.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

Great story Bob - thanks for that

@john80c 3 жыл бұрын

Great video John. I have your book, and Full Metal Jacket. Iron Maiden great band. Shame for all the pubs COVID has finished off quite a few.

@davidfarrell7373 3 жыл бұрын

Winter moves in. Great film John. Thanks. Dave

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Dave

@janmalaszek1459 3 жыл бұрын

You've just walked through a chunk of my childhood memories! Thank you.

@buster6093 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks :)

@davidmcguiness8862 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John, great video. Tragic to see the Thatched house pub as a Bet Fred. The Charleston pub has disappeared from Maryland point sadly. Steve Harris was best mates with my cousin Ralph who lived in Steele rd and I do hope the Cart and Horses opens again in some form. My Grandad spent his last days in Langthorne hospital and they cared for him incredibly well back in 1989.

@jennifergsearle 3 жыл бұрын

Love these videos

@thebirthdayletters1782 3 жыл бұрын

I cannot tell you how much you make my Sunday evenings - a new vid and a beer is the ultimate tonic before the oncoming week. Part of the pleasure of watching you is how you find such joy and reason for positivity in much maligned places. London under lockdown has been quite stifling and I often find myself dreaming of living elsewhere in some rural idyll - however your boundless enthusiasm for London and the surrounding area really is inspiring in the extreme. Thanks John - you’re a rare diamond.

@drfo5t3r 3 жыл бұрын

The reason why I look forward to Sunday's. Another great Video, Thankyou John

@simonmackenzie9831 3 жыл бұрын

Used to play football in West Ham Park - last century. Then went to the two Puddings in Stratford for a refreshing beer or two

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a fine day out

@simonmackenzie9831 3 жыл бұрын

@@JohnRogersWalks Unfortunately the legs have gone and so has the pub!!!

@bakerloobadboy 3 жыл бұрын

@@simonmackenzie9831 sadly most of the pubs along Stratford High street and beyond have gone to make way for much needed Eastern European supermarkets or workers hostels

@stratford27 3 жыл бұрын

Many thanks for that John, a real trip down memory lane for me.

@jimmydotcom6078 2 жыл бұрын

A year on.. I was interested to hear you talk about Elizabeth Fry. One of my ancestors was friends with her, I understand; and her family also had something to do with anti slavery, and also helping prisoners. Wonderful video, thanks.

@markames3688 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent as always, thanks.

@henrygingercat 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful. I lived, very contentedly, in Leytonstone in the early 70s and it's great to revisit it again.

@michaelstevens630 3 жыл бұрын

Look forward to seeing you on the next walk - Iconic words that create some calm in our minds.

@maureenswallow3054 3 жыл бұрын

A great vid that reminded me of great times,thanks,Bill.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Maureen

@sandramcintosh2231 3 жыл бұрын

Loved your video, I find looking at the past so interesting and informative.

@raymondpenalver7095 3 жыл бұрын

Right I can go off to bed now as your great videos are always the perfect ending for Sunday night, thankks john.

@francineridgewell2263 3 жыл бұрын

I really love watching your videos! And especially seeing places from my childhood in Waltham Forest and Epping Forest. Thankyou again John for another fantastic video 👍

@grandmasterbeats9732 3 жыл бұрын

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MAN

@darkpurpleshadow3240 3 жыл бұрын

I am so excited, I am going to copy some of your walks soon.

@annepuffett2025 3 жыл бұрын

As usual John fabulous keep them coming

@billyfury1952 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John I really enjoyed this walk

@ringscircles142 3 жыл бұрын

100 years from now this will still resonate

@angiebolton-cox1490 3 жыл бұрын

I love the crunch of autumn leaves, thanks John 😊

@ldb281 3 жыл бұрын

Thatched house pub!! its gone !! Many a bundle in there in the late 60s.

@fizzbinuk2814 3 жыл бұрын

The marble pub was called The Royal Oak. Refurbishments were started a few years back, but stopped. The building where the Blue River Cafe is was once all belonging to Bedwells the stationers and printers. It used to say Bedwells corner above where the chip shop is now.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

thanks for the info Fizzbin

@4thEyeVision 3 жыл бұрын

Thank's John you make Sunday's great :)

@pnr8uk 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this John, the birthplace of Iron Maiden! What a wonderful treat for us. We watch and love all the videos and you have kept us going through these very strange times. Up The Irons! \../ thank you again! Look forward to the next video.

@lycan36 3 жыл бұрын

Great walk John! thanks.

@edgarbokye4656 3 жыл бұрын

Another excellent video John. Ethereal and enchanting as always. I find myself walking the mundane streets, narrating my journey in my head...the way you do. Strange, I know. You're always good man.... real good!!

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

That’s very kind of you Edgar

@frglee 3 жыл бұрын

I have clear memories of this area, and of my first job at Leyton Senior High School in the late 70s, with the long daily treks in all weathers to and from Leytonstone Tube.

@imranzazai7404 3 жыл бұрын

Wow very nice.

@histmanuk 3 жыл бұрын

Great walk. Photographically one of the best. So many interesting shots and details. Thanks.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

thanks very much

@LoisDavidsonArt 3 жыл бұрын

So interesting and informative as always John, and funnily enough, I rediscovered my first conker from a week or so ago in my pocket, on my way back from my beach walk this evening at Hove. Treasure!

@richardclark148 3 жыл бұрын

Another great walk John...I quite fancy being a local rustic informant

@Suho1004 3 жыл бұрын

So right about memory being embedded in place (and vice versa). It's amazing how just being in a place can conjure up such strong emotions. And I always find it incredibly disorientating when I visit a place with which I have strong memories associated only to find that it has changed. I often find that my brain seems to reject the change and continues to remember the place as it was. Memory trumps reality, I guess.

@eleanorruskin9566 3 жыл бұрын

love that old Newham logo on the sign at 5’33. Really neat, stylish municipal design work there!

@BrianHewittThaibirdspot 3 жыл бұрын

Great walk as usual... makes my day here in Thailand... so many memories..

@colinmumford6843 3 жыл бұрын

Great video John..... Yep, summer is definitely over 😩

@timbuthfer901 3 жыл бұрын

Never realised West ham Park was so massive. Fascinating walk, thanks John. Also never seen langthorne hospital so two places I need to visit.

@streetrambler134 3 жыл бұрын

Great walk, your videos have given me a different view on my walks around Wolverhampton streets and introducing me to the Detectorists 👍

@llessibm 3 жыл бұрын

Always look forward to your videos and this was no exception although I did feel like I needed to put my fleece on - I love your description of old buildings, you seem to find beauty in the strangest of places - much appreciated.

@londoncabby 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting video, it bought back some great memories of playing in the park. Amazing history of the area too, my parents got married in West Ham Church. 👍

@obrYo 3 жыл бұрын

Nice John, it felt edgy today. Liked the new music at the beginning.

@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS 3 жыл бұрын

thank you John. so many closed pubs but if its a blessing I thought the church was very interesting.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

It’s a really fascinating church, that whole area around the old Abbey grounds in fact

@fizzbinuk2814 3 жыл бұрын

the Cart & Horses is having major renovations, with a small residential block to the rear.

@AndyDeres 3 жыл бұрын

Great video John and what a fantastic channel this is and because of this channel I have discovered many new areas in and around London to walk. Also could I recommend a walk for you that walk being a walk through Footscray Meadows it's a gem of a place and The River Cray runs through it and it's also a part of the London Loop .

@thejourneymanxl1194 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks John enjoyed this video👍you walked right past my house you could have popped in and had a cuppa👍

@Walksandwanders 3 жыл бұрын

Never mind Iron Maiden! Cart & Horses Pub at 8:55 in the video had a sign near the top of the building ‘Egan’s Freehouse’. Egan being my surname, would be interested to know more about that part of the building’s history. Also love the building features above the shop signs. And the church dating from Saxon times is mind boggling. Great video again.

@TetinKlimente 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful. Greetings from Macedonia.

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you - hope all is well in Macedonia

@mariana4059 3 жыл бұрын

I always enjoy the urban street walks. Looking at the buildings. The pubs (sadly mostly closed up). The interesting little shops - what they specialise in and how they advertise it. What is taught at the Khidmah Academy, I wondered? I imagined typing, old-school secretarial duties or perhaps a private detective school. (But I googled and I was wrong). The ordinary people going about their daily lives. The wonderful pockets of open green space in between. A lovely walk - thanks, John.

@andrewcroft6855 3 жыл бұрын

Fabulous as ever John, did you know that West Ham Park was the place where the very first FA Cup goal was scored in the 1860's by Clapham Rovers, a couple of years ago they staged a match there celebrating that fact and it was a very enjoyable afternoon in pleasant surroundings there

@JohnRogersWalks 3 жыл бұрын

what a brilliant bit of local history Andrew - deserves some sort of fitting memorial

@SuperMadman54 3 жыл бұрын

Didn't know this Andrew so read up about it. Season was 1871/2 Upton Park FC v Clapham Rovers 0-3 pkated at West Ham Park.

@thfccfht 3 жыл бұрын

another great video John, always enjoy your stuff and having a few beers at home, been raining today and this evening so there is a cacophony of sounds coming from the frogs and toads outside...all those battle cruisers closed down is a bit alarming though...

@neilwarmington7246 3 жыл бұрын

My grandparents lived in Cavendish drive and I always check to see if you wander down it.. my sister once went back and sat outside and said she didn’t remember any of it.. turned out she was sitting outside 107 instead of 103.. 🙃 great videos and wonderful insight into the history.. 👍