Trafford Road Bridge

This is Sam Platt's pub by the side of the Manchester Ship Canal. The octagonal shaped building is an extension of the pub built on a circular concrete base above the canal.  The Pub is named after Samuel Platt who was involved with the Manchester Ship canal project. In the distance, looking under the bridge to the pub you can see the Trafford Road Bridge.

This used to be a swing bridge but since the docks closed it no longer moves. The increased volume of traffic across this bridge has meant that a second bridge was added

 on the Eastern side of the canal.

Manchester United

 Tonight I am staying in a hotel across the road from Manchester United's Ground

 Until I moved to London at the age of 18, I lived about a mile from the ground and did go to a couple of home games when it didn't cost an arm and a leg to buy a ticket. At that time these were probably the three most famous players in the team: George Best, Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton.

Trinity Buoy Wharf

Trinity Buoy Wharf is an industrial area situated at the junction of the river Lea and the River Thames opposite the O2 arena.  Between 1803 and 1988 wooden buoys and later iron buoys were made and repaired in the workshop by the river.

Some of these buoys can be seen in the street leading to the wharf.

One of the wharf's most famous features is this lighthouse, the only lighthouse in London. However this was not used for guiding ships away from the rocks but was an experimental lighthouse to develop lighting for lighthouses and lightships. It was also used to train lighthouse keepers. Originally there were two lighthouses here. The first one built in 1854 was used by Michael Faraday for experimenting on lighting to be used along the Kent coastline. That one was demolished in 1920s. This surviving lighthouse was built in 1864.

This is a reconstruction of Faraday's workshop next to the lighthouse.

An old  lightship moored alongside the wharf which has been converted into a photographic studio.





 Trinity wharf has now become container city and a centre for the arts. These old shipping containers have been converted into working/living units, offices, studios and cafes.

Sharing with 'Our World Tuesday'

Anyone for a taxi?

Spotted near Trinity Wharf on the North Bank of the River Thames.

Old Truman's Brewery

The Truman Brewery began in 1666 in the East End of London and grew to be one of the largest breweries in the UK.  In the 1980s the brewery and the pubs were sold/. However, the name can still be seen on many pubs in the area and the old Brewery has become part of the Brick Lane creative scene.

Bluebell woods

My walk this week began in Emmetts Gardens, Kent. Before reaching the woodland where I wanted to start my walk  I needed to walk through the beautiful gardens of this National Trust property. I was quite surprised that the rhododendrons were already in flower.

Once through the more formal gardens I joined the path which would take me through the woods and then up a couple of hills giving me tremendous views over the Kent countryside.

Just look at the carpet of bluebells beneath my feet.

I couldn't stop taking photos. No wonder the walk took me so long.

Following my walk a couple of weeks ago when I got lost as I didn't have a map, I made sure that I bought the appropriate map for this part of Kent but where was it? At home of course!

Which colour shall I follow today?

I decided on the red markers as they looked newer and there was more chance they were still in place. It is always interesting to follow a new path and see if there are any surprises around the next corner and I wasn't disappointed.

Here I came across the site of an old Manor House. There was an information board nearby explaining that when the owner died in 1923, his widow decided to return to live in London and the property fell into disrepair. During the bombing in WW2 it suffered a direct hit. Very little of the original brickwork remains.

 However it made the  perfect place to stop for lunch. The view from here looks out over four counties; East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Another enjoyable walk in the Spring sunshine.