David Fathers presents a unique and richly illustrated guide to
the London section of the Thames Path, which runs along both banks of
the river from Putney Bridge to the Thames Barrier. Together, the two
paths make up a panoramic 40-mile walk through 2000 years of London's
history.
- From the old docks and wharves that primed the
Industrial Revolution, through the heart of British Government, Monarchy
and Church to the City of London that took its very existence from the
river.
- From the site of the Putney Debates at St Mary's Church to Wren's mighty baroque cathedral of St Paul's.
- From
the great Victorian engineering works of Sir Joseph Bazalgette and his
attempts to clean up a polluted London and the river to the Thames
Barrier seeking to protect huge parts of London from rising sea levels.
- From London Bridge, site of the oldest crossing point, to the Millennium Bridge, the Thames' newest crossing.
This
book explains the panorama we see today, what came before and how the
changes came about. Each double page shows the distance covered so you
can plan your own tour of the river.
A Review from Andrew McCloy of the Ramblers Association -
London-based walker and artist David Fathers has produced a beautifully
illustrated guide to the Thames Path between Putney Bridge and the
Thames Barrier, a 40-mile waterside walk tracing 2,000 years of the
capital’s history.
The pocket sized book is packed full of interesting
detail, anecdotes and asides, from frost fairs and Victorian sewers to
the history of the bridges and the building of The Shard.
The walking
route follows both banks and is traced across colourful sketch maps and
delightful drawings, which also show public transport connections and
steps, but it’s easy to follow and will appeal to ramblers and casual
visitors alike.
