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We are just
outside the Southwark Tavern Public House at the junction
of Southwark Street and Stoney Street, opposite you'll
notice a rather trendy looking tapas bar called Brindisa.
What you we
will certainly smell and notice is a smell of vegetables
and stale beer, yes people love to drink outside the
Southwark Tavern but also the Wheatsheaf and the Market
Porter public houses.
On the right
hand side of Stoney street you notice the beginning
of the Borough Market, just stand back at look at the
beautiful columns which support the roof/canopy to the
market. Opposite the Market Porter public house you
notice the bright green painted iron and also a wonderful
trendy free range organic butcher called the Ginger
Pig, look up and you notice a restaurant called Roast.
For once I
won't complain about the bollards on the pavement because
lorries do park here to deliver goods late at night.
Walking further down Stoney street we come across Brew
Wharf Yard on our left and another restaurant called
Black & Blue, now blue or should I say ultra violet
blue light lights up a wonderful brick built railway
arch. All around us we are surround by brick and has
we reach the end of Stoney street you'll notice you're
walking on cobble stones. After a while walking on cobbles
do get to your feet but somehow you don't mind because
we really are walking on a piece of history.
We turn left
into Clink Street and this part of London starts to
reveal it's hidden secrets, one of torture, debt &
despair for on the left hand side is the Clink prison
museum, just look through the bars of the window &
notice the iron mask some poor fellow was forced to
wear. Walking further along we come to a huge railway
arch and suddenly you notice a large hinged bracket
upon the wall, looking up you notice you are surrounded
again by bricks. Now the viaduct was built in 1865 by
the South Eastern Railway Company carrying their trains
to Cannon Street. Part of the viaduct is a three acre
site housing a wine, beer, whiskey emporium by the name
of Vinopolis. Ancient Roman remains were discovered
at the time of construction hence the name Vinopolis.
Here at the
end of Clink Street you'll notice the a hotel but if
we turn right we reach a part of London called Bank
End and attached to the hotel is a lovely public house
called the Anchor built in 1615, in front of the pub
is a wonderful terrace offering a spectacular view of
Southwark Bridge with the Dome of St Pauls in the distance,
to the right is the modern railway bridge carrying the
many financial workers into the City of London. Just
look at the Thames and then admire the engineering that
goes into a railway bridge spanning the river.
Enough of
admiring that fine view across the Thames and let's
head back up towards Clink Street & head down Park
Street we come across Vinopolis on the left followed
by a modern office development, on the right is a housing
estate, on the left you will notice a row of Georgian
houses complete with external shutters, the brick work
is turning from yellow to a dark grey with a hint of
blue. On my right is a Street called Redcross Way which
will lead to. Southwark Street & the multicoloured
dots on the wall. Now dead ahead on Park Street it takes
a hard left turn and after looking at the beautiful
shop fronts you'll notice this place is familiar because
it was part of a scene in the film "Lock Stock
& Two Smoking Barrel's". Now though it consists
of a nice little Cafe called little Dorrit, a Neal's
Yard cheese shop, a tea room closing down which is very
sad & even a Paul Smith shop. I have to say for
South London this place is very middle class, feels
snobby but at the same time smells wonderful.
If you have
a camera handy, just look at the view of the market
from Park Street you really will get a beautiful shot
of a working, living, breathing market. Next week it's
the Borough Market part two when I'll talk a look at
a sailing ship & other secrets this part of London
holds.
John Kennedy
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