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My London

156K views 632 replies 52 participants last post by  yansa 
#1 · (Edited)
In this thread I will post photos I've taken in London, where I've lived since 2005.

Occasionally I (re)visit tourist hotspots but most photos in here will be from lesser known suburbs; having "seen the sights" on childhood visits here, I've not been very interested in photographing them since I moved here. I'll try and show typical streets and areas where people live, work, shop and relax, although I particularly tend to focus on various things including the tube, trains, and mass transport; parks, woodlands, etc and wildlife; rivers and canals, boats and bridges; churches, temples, mosques etc; and historically or visually interesting buildings of any kind. And, given the forum we're on, skyscrapers and construction/development, obviously.

Hat tip to SE9's marvellous thread London: A World Capital for inspiration - I will loosely copy his pattern of posting a handful of shots per 'location', with snippets of wikipedia info for context, but with a rather slower pace, and lower quality threshold, and the addition of personal ramblings.

Alphabetical index of areas covered so far:

Code:
Battersea  - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=113346032#post113346032"]page 4[/URL], 5, 6
    [COLOR=SeaGreen]Battersea Park[/COLOR]   - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=114184157#post114184157"]page 7[/URL]
    Battersea Power Station  - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=114320660#post114320660"]page 8[/URL]
Berrylands - - - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=135697623#post135697623]page 24[/url]
[COLOR=DarkRed]Blackfriars[/color]  - - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=135591289#post135591289]page 24[/url]
Canbury (North Kingston) - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=130704403#post130704403"]page 18[/URL]
[COLOR=DarkRed]Clapham Junction[/COLOR] - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=113331932#post113331932"]page 4[/URL]
Coombe - - - - - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=136097372#post136097372]page 26[/url]
Ham & Petersham  - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=144469598#post144469598]page 28[/url], 29
Kingston - - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=128788265#post128788265"]page 15[/URL], 16, 17
New Malden - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=133059452#post133059452"]page 19[/URL]
Norbiton - - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=132950074#post132950074"]page 18[/URL], 19
Putney - - - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=110627815#post110627815"]page 1[/URL], 2
Putney Vale  - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=127418166#post127418166"]page 13[/URL]
Raynes Park  - - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=146922391#post146922391]page 31[/url]
Richmond - - - - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=141919402#post141919402]page 26[/url], 27, 28
    [COLOR=SeaGreen]Richmond Park[/COLOR]  - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=144517499#post144517499"]page 29[/URL], 30
[color=blue]River Hogsmill[/color] - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=135697289#post135697289]page 24[/url]
Roehampton - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=127446928#post127446928"]page 14[/URL]
South Bank - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=135396974#post135396974"]page 22[/URL], 23
Southfields  - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=115857599#post115857599"]page 9[/URL]
Spitalfields - - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=146950885#post146950885]page 31[/url], 32
Surbiton - - - - - - - - - - - - [url=http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=135927826#post135927826]page 25[/url], 26
Wandsworth Town  - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=111043676#post111043676"]page 2[/URL], 3
[COLOR=DarkRed]Waterloo[/COLOR] - - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=133365533#post133365533"]page 20[/URL], 21
Wimbledon
    [COLOR=SeaGreen]Wimbledon Common[/COLOR] - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=126063030#post126063030"]page 13[/URL]
    Wimbledon Park - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=125491025#post125491025"]page 11[/URL]  
    Tennis Championships - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=115964428#post115964428"]page 10[/URL], 11
    Town - - - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=125568677#post125568677"]page 11[/URL], 12
    Village  - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=125674540#post125674540"]page 12[/URL]
    Windmill - - - - - - - - - - [URL="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=126220390#post126220390"]page 13[/URL]
 
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#2 · (Edited)
PUTNEY
• LONDON BOROUGH OF WANDSWORTH • SW15 • ZONE 2/3
• 5.1 MILES (8.2 KM) SW OF CHARING CROSS
PUTNEY ON WIKIPEDIA


Where better to start than at home, which in my case is Putney.




City and Canary Wharf from East Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Putney, from Wikipedia, "is a district in south-west London, UK, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth." It is situated on south bank of the Thames, opposite Fulham.

On the borders of TfL zone 2/3, Putney is a fairly affluent suburb. In a nutshell, I would guess it is mostly percieved by Londoners as "pleasant but quiet" (arguably boring), and having lived and worked here for years I couldn't really disagree. It's not somewhere with cutting-edge nightlife, modern architecture or exciting attractions - you're rather unlikely to visit as a tourist.

However, it does nonetheless have some nice buildings, streetscapes, parks and associated historical trivia/claims to fame.

So let's have a look around...
 
#3 ·
As mentioned above, Putney sits on the Thames, and two bridges cross to Fulham here.


Rippled clouds over Putney Bridge by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

On the left, Putney Bridge (road), on the right, Fulham Railway Bridge.

Putney Bridge was the second bridge to be built across the Thames in London (after London Bridge), finished in 1729. Various theories abound as to its construction being due to royal or notables being inconvenienced by the ferry when returning from Kingston or hunting in Richmond Park.

Damaged by the collision of a river barge in 1870, the bridge was replaced with the current structure designed by civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette as a five-span structure, built of stone and Cornish granite (Bazalgette also designed London's sewerage system, and the bridge forms part of this system). It opened in 1886.


Putney Bridge by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Bridge with Osiers Road u/c by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Pedestrian on Putney Bridge #2 by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Fulham Railway Bridge opened in 1889 and carries the Underground's District Line (Wimbledon Branch) between Putney Bridge station (actually in Fulham) and East Putney station.

It also has a footpath, thus being the only bridge in London shared between tube trains and pedestrians.


Langham Sq u/c from Fulham Railway Bridge by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#4 ·
Next to Putney Bridge is Putney Pier.

Mostly private/pleasure boats are moored here, though commuter riverboat services run from here to the City during the week.



Late evening Putney Pier by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

It looks nice at sunset.


Sunset from Putney Bridge by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

The dominant use of the Thames at Putney Embankment, though, is rowing. More than twenty rowing clubs are based here, and the famous (Oxford vs Cambridge) University Boat Race has started from just upstream of Putney Bridge since 1845.

Not shown here: the Boat Race. I have watched that from the riverbank, but they flash past in seconds; as someone with no great skills in sports/action photography, it's more suitable as a drinking occasion than a photographic one.

I have no idea what occasion or event this was.


Rowing en masse, Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Rowing en masse, Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Rowing en masse, Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Rowing en masse, Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Rowing en masse, Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#5 ·
#6 · (Edited)
Putney Bridge is allegedly the only bridge in Britain with a church at both ends.

Seen on the left in the photo below, All Saints Church, Fulham sits on the north side. To the right, St Mary's, Putney.

In 1647, St Mary's was the site of the Putney Debates during the English Civil War, discussing the future constitution of England.


Putney High Street by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Here are some other churches from around Putney.


Putney Baptist Church by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Methodist Church by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Polish RC church, Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


All Saints Church, Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


st. margarets church by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#7 · (Edited)
Some typical residential streets in East Putney, showing the mix of prewar houses with newer blocks of flats.

My current flat is actually visible somewhere in this lot :)


Disraeli Road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Rayner's Road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Mercier Road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Rose Garden, Heath Ride - before by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Snowy Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Snowy Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Snowy Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Lytton Grove by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#8 · (Edited)
Putney High Street isn't great, to be honest. The shops are the usual range of chain stores, and it's always clogged with traffic.

Change is afoot, though. The main shopping centre is getting rebuilt and extended, and the council is planting trees, changing the road layout and so on to try and improve things. I hope it works.

Putney Exchange as it was:


Putney Exchange - before development by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Knock it all down:


Putney Exchange demo by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Putney Exchange demo by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Build it back up:


Putney Exchange redevelopment by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Exchange redevelopment by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Putney Exchange by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#9 ·
Putney High Street is the main road running North-South, and it meets Upper Richmond Road running East-West in a crossroads with Putney Hill.

The Upper Richmond Road isn't a contender to win anyone's "Favourite Street" award, either, being lined with architecturally unlovely office blocks in the 60s. Again though, change is underway, more dramatically, as most of these blocks are being knocked down and replaced with office/resi midrises. Although not architecturally mindblowing, they are generally better than their predecessors, and taller, so the feeling of this street will change a lot in the next few years. I have a thread about it in the London forums if anyone's really interested.


Looking toward Brentford over roofs of Upper Richmond road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Upper Richmond Road looking east - "before" by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


113 Upper Richmond Road "before" by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


113 URR - scaffolding up by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Plaza - before by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Langham Square by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


113 Upper Richmond Road demo by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Demolition complete by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Tower crane removal from Langham Square by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Tower crane removal from Langham Square by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Tower crane removal from Langham Square by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#10 ·
I used to work in one of these office blocks, and enjoyed a pretty awesome view towards central london. I could see the City, Shard and Canary Wharf, London Eye, Houses of Parliament (with a zoom lens, at least), Battersea Power Station, Wembley Stadium...


london panorama by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


london panorama (city) by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Crane recovery at St George Tower (distant) by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Looking North-West-ish to Wembley by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


London skyline on a cold Febuary night by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#11 · (Edited)
#12 ·
#13 ·
#18 ·
Putney is served by both the Underground (District Line) and national rail services to/from Waterloo: these services, it should be said, are not usually steam trains.


Steam train / tube train by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#383 ·
I discovered your thread about London - a fabulous city, with unsurpassed role for the History of Urban Planning - just today, this afternoon (in Brazil), and hope to visit it al the time.

This photo is wonderful: my vision about England has always a train nearby (Cinema has a role about my memory of a place I never went before).

Thanks for sharing with us your knowledge and impressions.
 
#19 ·
In 2012 Putney station was the 32nd busiest in the uk with 10.8m passengers, more than Newcastle, York, Sheffield or Nottingham.

The station is currently being enlarged, with the addition of lifts to platforms.

Putney is between Barnes and Wandsworth Town stations. Services to Waterloo take 15-20 minutes via Clapham Junction & Vauxhall.


Snowy Putney Station by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Mystery ramp at Putney station by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Station - the lines west by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Station rebuilding by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney station redevelopment by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Plaza - before by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Railway through west Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Railway through west Putney by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#20 · (Edited)
After crossing the Thames, the District line cuts through East Putney on an embankment with a series of bridges, arriving at East Putney station on Upper Richmond Road.


Deodar Road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Bridge Road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Bridge Road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Upper Richmond Road by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Golden hour #2 by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Langham Square above East Putney tube by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

From the platforms of East Putney station, you can just make out the Leadenhall building and the Gherkin.


Putney Plaza - before by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Leadenhall building from East Putney tube platform by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

South of the station, the line enters a short tunnel under West Hill on its way towards Southfields.


District Line at dusk by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#21 ·
West Hill forks from the Upper Richmond Road between Putney and Wandsworth.


Sunrise over West Hill by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

The most imposing building on West Hill is the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.


Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, Wandsworth by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr

Towards the top of the hill, the road broadens to 4 lanes, becoming the main A-road to Portsmouth.


SLOWSLOWSLOW by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


West Hill Subway by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


A3 at Tibbet's Corner by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#22 ·
At the top of West Hill and Putney Hill lies Putney Heath.

Putney Heath has a somewhat violent history, being a popular site for duels, and a gathering place for highwaymen, one of whom was executed then publically displayed here.

Nowadays it is probably the most expensive part of Putney, and is like a pocket of rural England inside London. There probably aren't many places in London where the road signs warn of deer, but this one of them.


Putney Heath by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Deer road sign by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


The Telegraph by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


cricket by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
#23 ·
#24 ·
#25 ·
#26 · (Edited)
Where Lower Richmond Road meets the High Street and Putney Bridge, St Mary's Church is overshadowed by the riverside midrise Putney Wharf. Chelsea footballer David Luiz has a penthouse flat here. (Stamford Bridge is only about a mile away. My ex-flatmate claims to have also seen Mourinho driving down Putney High Street and Oscar buying Christmas presents in Putney's branch of Boots, but I've never seen anyone personally...)


St Mary's / Putney Wharf by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Bridge from Bishop's Park by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr


Putney Wharf by stevekeiretsu, on Flickr
 
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