TWISTS & TRANSFORMATION: Dicken’s London Borough

This is a walk through the streets of Old Borough and London Bridge following the ‘Twists and Transformations’ of Dickens’ early childhood. 

This walk revisits the highways and byways of early Victorian London encountering the traumatic twists in Dicken’s early years as he took his first tentative steps into this new city of opportunity starting with the debtors prison of Marshalsea and in the places Dickens frequented: the quiet graveyard of St George the Martyr, the bustling fruit and veg market, Old London Bridge. 

These places were  where his imagination grew, fed by the energy and incident of this rapidly growing city. We become aware of his acquaintance with Victorian ‘low life’, and with the twists in life, the unexpected hardships. These grand themes and encounters that he later transforms into some of the most vivid characters and plots in London’s celebrated literature: Little Dorrit, Oliver Twist, Nancy, Bill Sykes. By exploring these concealed aspects of Victorian London we come face to face with the inspirational back stories that gave birth to Dickens’ extraordinary fiction.

This free guided walks reveals something of his restless spirit, manifest in his compulsive night-walking and his feelings of ‘houselessness’.

Meet: Borough Tube (finish near London Bridge station)
Walk: Free
Date: Saturday 13 February
Time: 11am –1pm

Part of Southwark Hidden Stories Walks with CoolWalks.

CoolTan Arts CoolWalk Blue Anchor Library - Fun, Fresh Air & Picnics

CoolWalk's Southwark Library tour contines.

Hot on the heels of two successful Canada Water Library walks, CoolWalks moves from the Docks to nearby Blue Anchor Library & Bermondsey. 

Having explored the industrial history of Canada Water, we explore Bermondsey, an area that contained many factories that turned the raw ingredients land at Canada Water's quays into our family stock cupboard favourites. 

Walk with us to learn new things, have fun and get in a bit of exercise whilst together we discover which jams, biscuits, chocolates, custards, pickles and much, much more besides, helped make Bermondsey the pantry of London; the pantry of the UK and almost each and every corner of the globe.  

We take in the site of the chocolatier's swimming pool, try not to get in a pickle about pickles and discover the cracking story of the of the great egg-stink of World War 1. 

Together we'll go on a walk of fun, fresh air and picnics. Hopefully, we'll not get too hungry.

Starts inside Blue Anchor Library at 12:30pm and finishes around 3pm.

Dates:
·         Saturday 13th, June 2015
·         Thursday 25th, June 2015


The walk is approximately 3 miles and we would ask participants to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing.  Participants can leave at any time.

Blue Anchor Library, Market Place, Southwark Park Road, SE16 3UQ
Bus: 1, P12, 381
Tube: Bermondsey

Many smells!
A Poem by Leslie Davidson

Smells that vary with the weather,

Smell of hops and smell of leather,

Smell of jams and smell of glue,

Smell of chocolate at the Blue,

Smell of frying fish and chips,

Smell of heavy oil that drips,

Smell of stale ice left to trickle,

Smell of vinegar and pickle,

Smell of foreign bales and bags,

Smell of damp and steaming rags,

Smell of sweat and smell of dirt,

Smell of many an unwashed shirt,

Smell of humanity

In Bermondsey.

CoolTan CoolWalks – Architecture & Industry

CoolTan Arts CoolWalks invites you to join us on a free guided stroll along the canals, docks, warehouses and old and new streets of Canada Water and Rotherhithe as we:

Meet the deal porters. 
Walk London's longest street. 
Search for dolphins.
The first tunnel under the Thames.
Discover where the New World began. 
And much more besides!

Together we'll explore the area's history, it's industry and architecture -  past and present - that have shaped and made modern Canada Water.

Learn new things, share your knowledge, make friends, get fit and have fun.

Starts at Canada Water Library reception at 12:30pm and finishes at Canada Water station.

Dates:

• Saturday 9th, May 2015
• Thursday 28th, May 2015 

Tube: Canada Water, Surrey Quays 
Train: South Bermondsey 
Bus: 1, 47, 188, 199, 225, 381, C10, P12

The walk is approximately 5 miles and we would ask participants to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing.  Participants can leave at any-time, but we hope to enjoy your company along our entire journey. There will be a stop for a snack.

If you have any queries or would like any further information, please contact Robert on 020 7701 2696, via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or tweet @CoolWalks.

Peckham: Art, Literature & SE15's Green Spaces

CoolTan Arts CoolWalks welcomes you along on our free guided journey through Peckham's hidden rural and literary history and to discover SE15's amazing number of green and open spaces.  

Learn new things, make friends, get fit and have fun.

We start in Peckham Library at 12:30pm and finish at Cafe on the Rye, Peckham Rye around 3:00pm.

Dates:

• Saturday 11th, April 2015
• Thursday 30th, April 2015

No need to book - just turn up.  The walk is approximately 3 miles and is suitable and accessible for all walkers.  We ask participants to bring a bottle of water and to wear sensible walking footwear and weather appropriate clothing.

Peckham Library, 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR
Bus: 12, 36, 37, 63, 78, 136, 171, 177, 197, 343, 345, 363, 381, 436, P12, P13  
Rail: Train to Peckham Rye

If you have any queries or would like any further information Robert on 020 7701 2696, or via email coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or tweet @CoolWalks.

May CoolWalks:- Architecture & Industry
Saturday, 9th May & Thursday, 28th May
Start 12:30pm Canada Water Library