"projecting forward to an idealised future that was never really realised" - I've never heard a better explanation for the romance and hope and sadness I feel when I look at Modernist architecture.

A walk that resists Ballard's take on the London suburb: 'I would sum up my fear about the future in one word: boring. And that's my one fear: that everything has happened; nothing exciting or new or interesting is ever going to happen again ... the future is just going to be a vast, conforming suburb of the soul.' Great stuff, John. Bravo!

Loved the subway and the sound of the trickling pipe. The benevolent pylons. Good music too!

Almost a romantic view of the suburbs - goes to show that there’s always more than one way to view a picture

Hi John, My wife and I enjoy your walks so much. Very relaxing and informative. It would be great if you walked the upper Roding from High Ongar road bridge to Fyfield, It’s a cracking walk and culminates in lovely pub ... the Queens Head in Queen Street Fyfield! You’ll really enjoy it ... so beautiful and peaceful. You can go even further and it gets more remote and exciting. Best regards Nick and Gabby

this is how I'm surviving (locked-down since 10th March!) Not going that far but very much 'on the edge', estates gradually eating the land, industrialist's big houses and follies, streams disappearing underground and then discovering them rising again. Many little paths leading through crisscross spaces, with expected, and very unexpected destinations! Enjoyed your film and music very much (2nd one I've seen) it was like being with a friend, thank you.

Wonderful video John, brought back happy times of bus rides from Stratford, to fish the Eagle pond in Snaresbrook, back in the sixties, it looks completely unchanged. Some wonderful examples of art deco in this area, and it always brings to mind one of my favorite authors Agather Christie, and her creation, Hercule poirot. Having just found your channel I am having a wonderful time watching your films John,, thank you, Terry.

Your knowledge and your thirst for knowledge never ceases to amaze me and I always eagerly await your next video.Thank You and stay safe.

‘Taking a walk with you’ is so uplifting and magical! You make everything look lovely. Details like the water trickling along the drain of the subway are made interesting! I Subways are exciting, I used to love the warren like size of the one at Elephant & Castle way back in the 80’s! Beautiful buildings along the walk.

Thank you John for this tour of where I liv and previously worked at Sanaresbrook Crown Court. I've painted a few watercolours of the surrounding area and have shared your video to my Facebook feed to my painterly friends worldwide. I have also learnt a lit of history from your other videos that help me to understand 3hy I love this place where I live.

Very much appreciate the effort you put into these videos, thank you for making them.

Thank you for your very informative video . I believe the new development at Charlie Browns was a Dairy up until a few years ago . I was born and raised in Forest gate close to the Wanstead flats. I remember the "Band stand" on the corner of Capel Rd , The circle of trees still remains and within there was a 3 tiered wooden circular seating area , many local churches held services there on Summer Sundays . I was informed that close by there ,on the corner of Capel Road was where the actual Toll gate stood defining the entry into "Forest Gate " ..Thank you again for a glimpse back into local History .. Terry.

A lovely walk with lovely music , that just lends itself to the ambiance of the place...I wish I knew more about this area... I was a child in Hale end road ,-Highams Park , and left when I was twelve... I walked a lot too... My sense of direction is not good...Its plagued me all my life... Walking helped me sense where I was...With the peace of places that I remember, and the the forest that I love... I can remember the prefabs around Highams Park lake.., In fact I have an old photo of my dad with my mum, he was home on leave from the atlantic convoys...You can see the prefabs behind him..... So far away now...I feel sometimes that the forest remembers me and wishes I could come back home..Too far away in Canada to ever contemplate this happening... I left too long ago and England has grown without me... a stranger in my own land... Your videos help me to penetrate through the mists of time... Thank you ..xx

Great as ever. I found that green space too recently... I think it's where the motorway from Essex would have run in towards London, the M11 link road being a scaled down version of that plan if that can be believed. There's a flyover going over nothing much which is the giveaway

Bit late to the party this week John - waiting for rainy days to watch at lunch, a break from the laptop. The new flats on Chigwell Road used to be a base for milk floats back in my day, Unigate from memory. This may have changed though over the last 20 years or so. Some real gems here. The mock tudor semis were mainly built in the 1930's - there is a huge swathe of them going all the way out to Barkingside. Massive expansion of the area at that time. That was the urban future of the area, commute into London on the tube from your new modern home. I used to have an advert for them when they were just built. About £350 from memory. Now there's a ghost of a future past for you...

Fantastic video, I lived in Hermitage Court- a wonderful Art Deco building!

Thanks John I love watching your videos. I grew up in Wanstead and as a kid used to explore all around the areas you walk. I now live in Australia so it's great to watch your videos and remember my childhood and the areas that I still love. Thanks

Thank you John, another thoroughly enjoyable walk and filled with delightful information and the introduction (to me) of the concept of ‘Hauntology’.

Its so interesting to hear of Snaresbrook being 'lost'. I always thought of it having a distinct identity separate to South Woodford. I had childhood friends that live in the housing complex opposite the Eagles Pond, so I spent lots of time there as a child. It was also so interesting when it froze over in the winter. and yes, Snaresbrook Crown Court is magnificent to look at.

Thank you for that lovely walk - so great to have witnessed the discovery of a new bit of magical land. That dark lane looked so inviting. Congratulations on reaching 10k (actually now more!) subscribers. You have a real gaggle of us lot following along with you now ☺️

Love that you brought hermitage court up for me a masterpiece of art deco architecture which is quite befitting as most of the houses on the neighbouring street, eagle lane came up in and around the 1920's and 1930's which was the when art deco ruled the world in the architectural sense. My paternal grandmother and my aunt + uncle live in Stanmore and their houses were built around the same time as mine around the late 1920's and 1930's but is completely art deco while elmcroft is a mixture of arts and crafts, mock Tudor and faint hints of art deco.

From Hong Kong and now settled in London, have been enjoying your video. Fresh to remember there are beautiful places here.

The car that was waiting to go through those iron gates near Woodford Green was the site of the old Harts Hospital.

We get everything in this splendid video- pylons, an interesting subway, a Central Line train, lots of fascinating buildings and a tiny brook. We also get some lovely countryside towards the end. I enjoyed every second of it.

“a ghost that never arrived”what a beautiful line. I’ve often thought about the ghosts traveled across the Pangea stretch. To Vermont as the woods are very much connected with that part you’re part of the country and the Pangaea fit together and then was separated. Those ghosts are reticent here but they’re here and I have devoted a lifetime to carving and painting my screens for them

Snaresbrook Crown Court used to be a school (Wanstead, I believe), where my father taught for a short time in the early 1950s. During a later time in a professional career, I visited the Crown Court on several occasions. On my first visit, the building was instantly recognisable from my childhood, so I did a little research...

another one bites the dust. but can always be viewed again.. I'm finding that for me a good time to view your vids is when I'm having a meal... soooo relaxing. thank you

Thank you, John! I live on Chigwell Road just after Charlie Browns. I also had no idea of that open space!

Lovely walk John most relaxing. Love the music as always. Hope you well. 😁

Just discovered your walking videos. They are really good. Thank you.

Thoroughly enjoyed this walk. Thanks mate.

Thanks John, wonderful film.

I was born in Wanstead hospital, it's also features in the tv series Doctor in the house.

Another awesome video. Great to see so much "waste" ground in the edgelands that the developers have not disfigured with their ugly blocks of flats.

What a great Sunday Morning to have a video from you.

Lost futures. What an amazing enclosure for the sad feelings we have when the promise never materializes. Walking and talking is such an amazing way to learn.

Well who knew?..... not me, an avid walker yet you’ve introduced me to gems I’ve driven past and lived by that I never knew. Can’t thank you enough.

Hey John, I always love your film making skills and the ability to transport me away, where ever I am in the world. The cocktail you create with, film music, history and views delivered in your meditative tones is always a delight to behold. As a Snaresbrookite, Snarsebrookien, Sayers Brook tenant, (someone who now lives in Wanstead, as Snaresbrook is now not even a voting area let alone a postal address) this video is close to home. I live in the old Wanstead hospital site and a slightly further walk in and you would of seen some great delights, including the old Nurses quarters for the Hospital, a victorian delight(Where I live), i cant believe if this was a weekend filming you would of been 100 mtrs away...ha. I love the history of the site after being built in 1861 as The Royal Merchant Seaman Orphanage Asylum (having moved from Bow and the last building That Prince Albert was to be Patron of) it became a hub of industry in the area with Artistan craftsmen in residence behind the old chapel, selling their wears to the site owners and local residence, it was a weekend tourist attraction for the rich when the Train station first opened linking it to Liverpool St. The Orphanage moved to Hampshire around the turn of the century as the ornate Venitanian style brick work cost too much to keep up. It briefly became a Nunnery, with a couple of famous Nuns in residence. It was then bought by Essex County Council to become a hospital, in the first world war the wonderful building at the back of the site was a Contagious and Tropical disease Centre for Southern England. The year it was due to open as a full hospital, Nye Bevan created the NHS and it became one of the first NHS hospitals in the country, with him opening it. (also on the Credits of Doctor in the House in the 60's) It finally closed as hospital site in the late 80's, (it had the highest Infant mortality rate in the UK and strange stories of several doctors jumping from the tower) everything moving to Whipps Cross save for a blood test unit at the back. Then in 1996 it became a Public/Private housing development, (to some protest) with still some housing association tenants mixed in the Million pound plus apartments. I do waffle on ha....One thing that I know will interest you is the first "new" bit of wilderness you stumbled upon(behind the tennis courts) is actually the site of the old course of the mighty River Roding, it meandered from just after Charlie Browns, up to where the housing is near that playground and across to the tennis courts and rejoining the river along the path of the underpass, leading to near where the Orchard and Pump house is..(this only changed when the road was built) In fact the first part of wilderness and slightly higher area would have been a key peninsula on the river and with that in mind that edgeland wilderness between housing and the North circular would have been a very old settlement or fishing/docking area, the reason why the rest of the area around the higher parts at Wanstead and Hermon Hill were latterly settled...amazing to think a viewed as non piece of land now, could have been so important and held such merit! Anyway keep up the good work, would love a walk and talk (and pint) after the lockdown, my passion is the local history of the Epping Forest strip, it has so many great tales to tell in the most beautiful contrasting landscape. Stay well O Lard Of the EdgeLand. thanks, Darren

Nice walk snaresbrook looks quite nice.

Most enjoyable. I love Deco architecture , so simple and yet so beautiful. There a stunning example on the Barking Road, all painted white with a green tiled roof. Ever expanding edge lands, like a very slow ripple on a gigantic pond. The strange thing is, if you look at how the rundown inner areas of London have been redeveloped , it appears as a ripple making it's way out from the centre . Islington used to be so down at heel but now it super expensive. Walthamstow was plain and simple working class, but now it''s moving up as was shown in your recent video. Maybe these ripples have been continually rolling out from the centre of town for centuries. Top marks Mr Rogers. A+

Just discovered your films. Hope to watch more. I love the secret magic of ordinary places.

Another great walk John and very atmospheric with the looming clouds...always a pleasure to follow your walks and your chain of thoughts as you take us along with you

wonderful as always, I love your enthusiasm

So neat to look back at the isolation periods at the beginning of the pandemic. Great discovery of that meadow, pylons, infant orphans' homes, suburbs

Snaresbrook Crown Court is my old school. I attended the Royal Wanstead School from 1966 until it closed in 1970. It was a boarding school for boys from broken homes, service brats and a few, I among them, a scholarship boy. Every two years or so we have a school reunion at the Court and in December we have a Carol Concert in the old school chapel. I am rather proud to be an Old Wansteadian

Another wonderful walk, thanks John, looking forward to see your next venture

Just catching up on this video, great to see Mark Fisher referenced. I've always thought he would be one of your touchstones. London is definitely a city of lost futures.

INCREDIBLE JOHN

Just what I needed after a stressful day. Glad to see you John

This is the second video of yours I've seen of where I was brought up it's good to look back especially as I've been living in Adelaide Australia for over 30 years look forward to more videos 👍👍👍👍

Your video never fails to bring smile to my face 😄. Thank you.

You were really in your element on this one, John. I thoroughly enjoyed watching that. Thank you.

As a kid in the 80s our school in Stepney used the playing fields in Fairlop. It seems miles away and in the middle of nowhere. Now everything around that area seems joined up by the A12 extension and doesn’t seem so adventurous as it was back in the day.

Fun walk. No doubt you'll be poring over the maps to see what that new pathway was in distant time. Hope you'll update us on that area next week. Thanks, John.

How refreshing was that, from art deco buildings to dark subways to emerge at semi detached suburban Mr James houses, then on to fields carrying the national grid then on with a mix of Victorian architecture and building's from our past . Keep up the good work John it's very interesting where you go and end up👍

Great film again - thank you! Rented a flat in Hermitage Court for a few years right at the start of the millennium. Beautiful on the outside, a bit less so on the inside to be honest. Very happy memories all the same.

Great walk again. Absolutely love your videos. Can’t wait until I can visit London again to experience some of them first hand.

when i was a kid in the early 60s we use to camp at eagle pond with the cubs and get a number 10 bus along mileend road to chigwell,chalk farm.

Hi John. I think that i was there a couple of weeks ago when you were under the A406 in the grassy area. Not far from there are the redbridge lakes where you can go fishing. It is off roding lane and has many cycle paths. Thanks for the video. Bob.

Fascinating as always . Look forward to your next walk 😁

superb John. lovely buildings nd countryside. thank you

John Roger's in suburbia 😎 loving the architecture and the hidden gems ( that tin shed) my Sunday is now complete 👍

At one point I think you said ‘the real Eastenders’ which made me remember there is a (Prince) Albert Square nearby where you were walking. I used to visit friends in Snaresbrook years ago and used to pass by that road en route.

What a marvellous building in your closing shot. Thanks for yet another smashing video. Cheers 👍🏼

Another fantastic video very informative with brilliant facts just wonderful to watch John Rogers excellent I am hooked on your channel

Thanks John brilliant video to watch as always !

hi john have just stumbled on your videos on utube and I think they are great coming from manor park and seeing your walks around newham makes me see east London in another light thanks

You at my neck of the woods John. You've walked down streets and paths I've walked down many a time , whether on a trek, or walking to South Woodford Stn going through the backs streets on my commute, like Granville Road, Woodville Road. Another brilliant video!!

Loved this. Your walks are wonderful! Thank you for helping keep us sane. Love your work!

Lovely to see some original 1920's/30's Crittall windows preserved at Hermitage Court. My Grandad was a production foreman after returning from the Second World War. Crittall Windows used to be huge in my home town, and there are some gorgeous [quite well known] Deco houses in Silver End nearby with original windows, that were built for the workers.

Great stuff John, as a relatively new subscriber I have been watching some of your earlier videos throughout the week but I always eagerly await your latest one. I should know what was originally on the site of the new flats in Chigwell Road having driven past the area many times over the years but sadly I can't. Cheers John stay safe.

At the end of the video there are some flats built on Chigwell Road near Charlie Browns. If you haven't already been told then it's the site of the old dairy. You can also fit a Metro car in the subway that runs under the Central Line between Eagle Lane and Falcon Way. Chased a few stolen cars down there in the 90's

Drive around there.. used to live in Leytonstone before moving to Redbridge and love the forest.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH DEAR JOHNATTAN

Hi John, back in 1990 I did jury service in the Snaresbrook court. It was supposed two be the two weeks before Christmas, but the judge on the last cast dismissed us. So had 3 extra days with my first born.

The large orphanage building used to be Wanstead/Hermon Hill hospital when I was sixteen I had an operation there in the 1950's. Charley Browns brought back memories for me the TED's transport cafe was right next to the roundabout me and my mates used to pop in for egg and chips after a night out in the sixties.

I've lived in Wanstead and Pinner and there are indeed similar green roofed buildings in the two.

Hi John Nice to See you again, thank you for these videos, much appreciated, all best wishes to you and your family, stay safe and well Bye....

Very nice and brilliant video.

Thank you for another interesting video John. Lets hope the house builders dont find that open space anytime soon. Around my town nearly every spare patch of green has been gobbled up by housing. None of the places I used to play and explore as a child are left. I suspect its the same in every now now.

Another wonderful video. Thank you very much John.

A Unigate dairy used to be on the site of the new flats on Chigwell Road, by Charlie Brown's Roundabout. My mate Dave worked out of there in the 1980s (He started off at the one in Hainault Road, Leyton would you believe!). Just before that part of the video, I thought that it won't be long until they build on all that other land, alongside the River Roding. Probably by the same builders building all around Barking at the moment. It's such a shame. The shameful expansion of London, that will result with the loss of so much of the countryside. Money talks and our future generations will end up living in a dysfunctional concrete jungle. Such a shame.

Shades of metroland almost in the suburbs and grouping of homes . Very familiar area of my life growing up in Waltham Forest and nearby Redbridge and wanstead .stay safe John , regards , Richard .

I always use the greenspace around Redbridge and Charlie Brown’s Roundabout to describe what the greenbelt is. A gorgeous bit of forest and fields all taken over by a mad series of freeways.

Great walk john ,thanks for that. Cheers

Holy Trinity Church - I went to cubs in that hall! Roding Valley Park at the end of Elmcroft Avenue, was my playground growing up, egdelands indeed and featured on Karl Hyde's (of Underworld) "Edgeland" album cover. Lastly if you like Hermitage Court, you should check out Art Deco Estate The Shrubberies on Grosvnenor Road, off Wanstead High Street. Love your videos

Superb walk John, at one point I thought you were going to knock on my door! I live near elmcroft Ave 😂. The Mark Fisher stuff was cool.

Love the video John! quite a particular atmosphere you got in here. Will look more into hauntology concept. Have a nice week, looking forward to seeing the city when the shops start to open again.

Spots on the chestnut tree leaves behind you while you are describing the name change from Sayersbrook to Snaresbrook indicate moisture bliht

A stream or spring ran under the council estate you mentioned and caused a lot damp in the 50s

I well remember the Subway at the end of Eagle Lane.... I used to walk it regulary in the late 50'S - 60's to visit my school friend who live on the other side.... I certainly remember the trickle of water and the smell... I also remember the pungent smell of the Eagle pond as the water stagnated in the corner near the road... its funny how these things can come back to you.. But if you wanted a real 'Whiff' it was always the wet patch at the bottom of South Woodford Undergound Subway, linking Gorge lane North and George Lane South... I dont know what is was was but it always smelt of rotten eggs... I wonder if it's still there ??

Great self portrait pylon shot at 13.10, John. Fantastic framing ! And where exactly was the entrance to that subway? I can't say I've ever come across it on my many random wanderings around that way. What an irresistibly atmospheric subway...great scene for a scary movie.

On the site of those flats near Charlie browns roundabout was a Unigate Dairy Depot for many years

my granny talked about boating. maybe eagle lake...

hi John really enjoying your vids especially as my sister lives out your way. Im in jordans, so love your hometown walks. Just finished your book, so looking forward to a follow up. mark

Great vid looks like fun.

I think it was the milk depot before the flats was built the a bit further towards Charlie Browns was Teds café and truck parking.

Talking of ghosts of lost future, there is a town that never got built just north of Scarborough called Ravenscar. It has the echoes of streets and a town square that were not completed. It really is a ghost town that never was.

Very interesting, thank you, although I confess I struggle to think of concrete flyovers as "cathedral-like"! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thanks again for the insights.

New flats on Chigwell road use to be Dairy Crest buildings until it was set on fire, surprise surprise!!!