Walk: Whitechapel Women

Today, Mandy from London Herstory Walks was doing Whitechapel Women - I signed up, paying in advance for once, supposing that it wouldn't clash with whatever my friends were doing! Mind you, this morning, my friend messaged to say they were on a Golden Tours bus (Red Route), if I wanted to join them.. huh? I mean, where did they get on, how long was the tour, and were they staying on, or hopping on and off, as designed? They could literally have been anywhere. So I made for my walking tour, as planned.

Not that that was easy, either - my bus wasn't appearing on the bus stop display at all. Google Maps still seemed to think it'd be along shortly - but when it wasn't, I refreshed the display - and now it agreed with the bus stop display: which finally said it'd be there in half an hour or so, as it'd been delayed. Now, this was going to make me slightly late - but there wasn't really a magical alternative I could take - woe is me, where I'm living now, every journey has at least to start with a bus. I'm beginning to question my wisdom in moving down here at all. Well, Mandy is good, anyway - she waits for people, and when I messaged, she said she'd wait for me.

So, after watching bus after bus with other route numbers stop for passengers, my bus finally rocked up - 35 minutes late - and then was diverted. The driver seemed to give contradictory messages about what stops we'd be missing - so I didn't get off where I should have. We eventually drove over by the Tower, and I was praying she'd stop at some bus stop - any bus stop - which she finally did. I knew I could take a Tube from there - which I duly did, arriving about 10 minutes late. Having started off half an hour early. Well, as promised, Mandy and the group were waiting outside.

First up was a rather impressive drinking fountain, dedicated to Edward VII:

After a fascinating description of how involved Princess Alexandra, and other women, were in the life of Joseph Merrick, we heard a lot about The Salvation Army. This was a very deprived area - lots of drinking:

And so, William and Catherine Booth set up The Sally Army - right in front of The Blind Beggar pub. Can't have gone down well with everyone.. but they endured, and are commemorated to this day:

We also saw an attractive old seaman's refuge:

..and the intriguing sight of the little store that endured, as the bigger store was forced to build around it:

I'd always wondered where the Genesis Cinema was - apparently, it was a great club venue, where many celebrities made their names:

The area is full of attractive old buildings, and side streets:

..not to mention great views of the City:

We passed the Whitechapel Bell Foundry - do you know, the Liberty Bell was made here, and Big Ben was recast here?!

Altab Ali Park, which I've passed so often, was named for the victim of a racist attack:

..and around the side is the last remnant of the church that gave Whitechapel its name:

On another note entirely, we spent some time talking about - and browsing in - the Freedom Anarchist Bookshop - as Mandy pointed out, revolutions tend to start in less privileged areas:

We had a small rest on a bench in front of Toynbee Hall:

And so to Brick Lane:

We finished up, as on Thursday, around Princelet Street:

And so to Christ Church Spitalfields:

Afterwards, to an old Huguenot house for elderflower cordials and, in my case, a muffin. Which were very welcome. A walk packed with information - and indeed, Mandy said she had easily enough for more walks in the area! She had to rush off, sadly - she had a trip organised to see Barbie, with her other group - Buddies on a Budget in London (BoB). Back at the Genesis. Hope they enjoyed it!

Well, I was just on the bus home - and my friend messaged to say they were in the area. So I ended up in The Minories with them, watching the Chelsea-Liverpool match (her younger son is a Liverpool fan). Where we shared one of their sharing plates - nachos, chicken goujons, chicken wings, onion rings, and garlic bread - which was very moreish. I tell you though, service was with a scowl - and reluctant at best. But it was great to see my friend and her family - it'll probably be a while before I see them again.

Tomorrow, Up in the Cheap Seats is off to Laurel and Chaplin: The Feud, at the Cambridge Theatre. Which I've now booked for. Mind you, I got a cheaper ticket on CT..

The rest of the week is all about cheap tickets. For the next two days, I'm on TAC walks - on Tuesday, it's the Southwark Walk.

On Wednesday, it's the Fulham Road Back in the Day Walk. As also advertised - slightly more expensively - with the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners.

And on Thursday, I'm with CT, who have slightly cheaper tickets for the Backyard Comedy Club. First time I'll have been there in years! I always remember them being good, though. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.