Hidden Infrastructure: Discover London’s lost waterways and industrial past by bike
Join Open City for a ‘ride out’ exploring the footprint, route and present legacy of south east London’s long-lost Grand Surrey Canal
Led by architectural designer and artist Cameron Bray, this socially-distanced bicycle tour traces the path of the historic Grand Surrey Canal which fell victim to the expanding city in the 1970s. Passing waste incinerators, modernist housing estates, community centres and public libraries — the tour reveals the extraordinary past and present infrastructure hidden on the back streets of south east London.
Providing a safe and fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city in our post- pandemic era, this special cycle tour supported by Thames Water is part of a new series celebrating places of industry and production across the capital and responding to the core themes of the Open House festival.
Using live audio and image sharing, participants will use their smart phones to discover the extraordinary stories of the Grand Surrey Canal. Starting in Rotherhithe and finishing off in Peckham, this special tour with a focus on water and sanitary heritage also explores themes of industry in the city, housing, waste, public space and redevelopment. It offers an insight into the past, present and possible futures of this corner of south east London.
Highlights include the Stirling Prize-winning Peckham Library, the celebrated Pepys Estate, Rotherhithe’s last docks, Stave Hill Ecological Park, the incredible murals of the North Peckham Civic Centre, and the thriving industrial spaces of Surrey Canal Road.
Meet: Outside the Salt Quay Pub, 163 Rotherhithe Street, London SE16 5QU. Duration 2-3 hours. Tour ends at the Western end of Burgess Park.
Ticket cost £5, with support from Thames Water.
Route: This is a fairly easy ride which we will take at a gentle pace. It’s mostly on bicycle paths with the occasional road section, and busy intersections will be tackled on foot. Participants must be competent riders; bring their own bicycle, a fully charged smart phone with internet connection, downloaded Zoom in advance of the tour, bring headphones; and remember to stay at least two metres apart from each other where required. Zoom joining info will be sent out to all bookers the week before the tour. Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
If you have already attended the Docklands cycle tour led by Aidan Hall and Rosalind Peebles there is some overlap with this one so you may not wish to book this.
Meet the tour guide…
Cameron Bray is an architectural designer and artist with a passion for industry, waste and production. He co-founded Civic Soup collective ( civicsoup.co.uk ) in 2016, and alongside this is currently is working with Public Works and JA Projects. He previously led architecture tours of Edinburgh and joined the Open House tours team in Autumn 2020.