My wife lived on the flats during the 50's in Nissan huts used by the council to house tenants prior to being moved into new council houses. I believe they were alongside Capel road; they used to get cows wandering into their back garden. Whenever we went past the pond on the corner of caple road and forest road my Father in law would say "Tides in".
Thanks for another nice walk John. There was a lot of activity on the Flats during the war with the area being used as a muster point for troops from both the UK and the US. My late father in law briefly stopped on the Flats driving a tank transporter en-route to France just after the Nomandy landings. Interestingly he had Italian parents who lived just down the road around Temple Mills so wonder how he felt about Italian prisoners being there. Keep well, Richard.
Loved this - my grandfather was also an Italian POW stationed at Wanstead Flats after being captured by the British after El Alamein. Fascinating to see you walking there.
My dad was at Alamein as a driver in the RASC, attached to the 8th Army. After North Africa he went to Italy and I think he fell in love with the country, although he never travelled at all after the war.
Living in Upton Park since the 1950s Wanstead flats was always a favorite place to go, I have a wartime story about the flats to, it is only anecdotal to me but it did come from my father, he had walked up to the flats from Forest Gate and reached the "round pond" when he heard a V1 doodlebug engine dronning overhead, he looked up and saw it coming down, he threw himself to the ground and hearing the engine cut out he thought his time had come, but when nothing happened, he tentatively looked up only to see the V1 by now only just above ground level gliding across the flats towards Aldersbrook road direction, eventually he heard a loud explosion and could see black smoke rising in the distance, he later found out that it had hit a Army encampment based on the other side of the flats and two soldiers had been killed, even to this day ( and I'm in my 60s now) I always think of that every time I pass this area and now this video has prompted me to think of it again.
Great video! I used to live in Forest Road, opposite the Flats at the top end of Forest Gate. We had our wedding reception in the church hall of the church behind the 'crew quarters'. When we lived in Plaistow I often played school rugby on the pitches on the Flats too!
Fantastic place to play - many great days out over there with the kids. My youngest found a massive lump of iron buried near the POW camp a few years back - always wondered if it was something to do with the war effort
Spent most of my young life over the flats I don't think there's a tree over there I haven't climbed at one time or another. That football pitch where you finished your walk was the home pitch of the Colegrave football club based at the Colegrave arms in Cann Hall road consisting of all mates who drank in the pub, I played on that pitch for years from mid 80's to late 90's, as usual John your video has brought back many happy memories, thanks.
Nice learning about Wanstead Flats. A lot of intriguing facts! Please more walk in the local area. Wanstead Park is also fascinating. Greetings from a French man living in Manor Park for over 20 years!
Fascinating new site John! I always love former war sites that are now relatively peaceful and tranquil. Almost hard to picture the barrage balloons and anti-aircraft guns now.
Great video again John and one that brought back memories of my Dad who although on reserved occupation as an engineer at Standard Telephone and Cables in New South Gate was on the anti aircraft guns as a part of his service. There’s a photo somewhere If I can find it.
John 'wherever that may be' Rogers, thanks as always. I have many fond memories of the flats through the years. I must say, I think the 30 minute long videos suite your style better, and give us 'fans' something to get our teeth into !
Thank god for good old John Rogers vids to cheer as up in such desperate times big thank you for all your hard work and making us look forward to every new vid you make take care to John and his family
The tall green shrub to the right hand-side of the path is our native Broom (Cytisus scoparis) while the prickly shrub with the yellow flowers is our native Gorse or Furze (Ulex europaeus) both are in the pea family Leguminosae. In the 1970's I used to work in Hertford with a native of Leytonstone who spoke endlessly about walking over Wanstead Flats and also about living briefly with relatives in Beaconsfield and Seer Green. Just recently I did park beside Wanstead flats while going to a gig at the Wanstead Tap. I hope this current nightmare is over soon before small businesses and music venues cease to function.
Back in the 50s, I was a little boy taking piano lessons from elderly Miss Fairall, who taught from her home on Cann Hall Road, which is one of those that opens on to Wanstead Flats. In those days I think Miss Fairall called herself "The Ardleigh School of Music." Her little terraced house was located on the North side of Cann Hall, between Cheyneys Road and Matcham Road, but I'm blowed if I can identify which house it was in Google Street View. Now, I went to that house twice a week for five years, but I never needed to know her actual number, not least because of her sign over the bay window, which sign was 'V'-shaped and displayed Gothic lettering both up the street and down. I would REALLY like to know which of those houses it was, so, if any visitor here lived around there when I did, and maybe was taught by that same lady, then please comment here if there is anything you can add. Thank you in advance... (and thanks to John for what he does with these super videos,)
Hello again John, My wife and i walked from Snaresbrook Station, to Wanstead George for a cracking breakfast then onto and across the Flats to the City of London Cem, amazing to see Bobby Moore,s resting place also amazed to see how many Foxes are in that area, then on to the Boleyn for a lovely drink which was on match day so a fair few West Ham guys in, then back via Manor park and Flats again to see a couple of model planes, then back on the train to Chigwell, What a day !!!
I used to live in Newham which was Stratford at the time I lived there. We left in 1962 for New Zealand. I remember Wansted Flats very well, my mother often talked about the Prison of War camp that was there. I also remember the Fairground every Summer and I often would take my siblings for a picnic in the Summer holidays. Memories !! xx
Hi John , good film. I have seen 2 maps labelling 'Rocket Gun Site' just south of the area where you found the probably Nissen Huts in the woods there. The recent fire has uncovered large lumps of broken up concrete in this area too. Also a label with 4" gun just north of the spinney in line of the changing rooms on Capel road. I dont know where i came across the map but my digital copy was lost in a burglary 10 years ago. I have since found a low res one, slightly different on line. I can share if you like.
I'm so glad I found your channel. Thank-you so much for taking us on your walks with you. Years ago, I thought I should make videos about going on simple outings to have a picnic in the parks near where I live, but then I realized I would have to upgrade my camera equipment and learn how to film and talk on camera and probably learn how to script my videos, so that it didn't sound like old lady babble....also I knew nothing of uploading, downloading, reloading or editing... so much to learn....I'm grateful to you for your videos. I posted the first one I watched on FB and my son commented how much you looked like his stepfather, and he was right You do bear a striking resemblance. His mother was from the UK, so who knows if maybe you and he were distant cousins.
Lived in John Walsh tower 3rd floor from about age 4 to 9 loved living there,loads of places to explore and play.Thank for the history,i was to young to think about it then,that brought back nostalgia and memories.
It’s a double thumbs up from me Roger 🤓👍👍....... interestingly, there were anti aircraft guns on the left hand side of the first hole (when it was a par 5 hole) on Chingford golf course, roughly opposite where the convent was.
'Use of the branches of these plants for sweeping gave rise to the term broom for sweeping tools in the 15th century, gradually replacing Old English besema' In case others like me didn't know.
thanks Douglas. Glad I got out for a walk yesterday, think we'll be in full lock down soon in London but I'll find a way to keep the videos coming. All the best
Another great 'walk with john'... I probably walked, ran or frolicked on every blade of grass on our WANSTEAD FLATS...but it's history...?...thank you once again John.
When I was in the Army there was always "talk" (AKA utter Bullsh*t)of a Regional Seat of Government (a sort of local council emergency bunker in the event that some over enthusiastic missile control room technician in Russia pressed the wrong button) underneath Wanstead Flats. Every council had them. These days most are re-used for other purposes or are boarded up and forgotton about. The London Borough of Redbridge rediscovered theirs in October 2020. The Ilford Recorder ran a story about it. Personally with all the visable Military ordanance above ground on Wanstead Flats I doubt they put a secret underground bunker there. As always a great video. They are so great to watch
Love your videos John! Would you be able to do a bit of history on Fairlop Water and that particular area? I've seen many old relics in the area behind the big lake possibly from the days it was a WW2 airfield!
Thanks Kumaran - I made this video which covers Fairlop Water a bit - not exhaustive but has some of the WW2 buildings in it ruclips.net/video/Mp1RxOLnE2Y/видео.html
By the bus stop is an underground bunker.. And on a airfield location sitecthere was supposed ti be small landing strip opposite the Aldersbrook Council Estate plus 3 hospitals and a children home which is now flats...
Besude/behind bus stop for Aldersbrook Estate in the Undergrowth there is or was large concrete plinth blocking it off... My late wife who lived in Aldersbrook remembered it as s child so mid/late fifties....
Long time ago now, but cannot remember the balloon mooring stakes or the buildings mentioned. I do remember the balloon being used by I suppose the T A, for practice jumps on the flats in about 1949/50. Flew model aeroplanes on the site for about 13 years to the mid 60's Also went to Tom Hood Tech in Cobbold Road , next to the site. He made no mention of the vast prefab site on their. Why is there this fascination, of re naming places, it will always be known as Wanstead Flats to the majority. . Must be all those sitting on their arse with nothing better to do.
My friend bought a metal detector in 1977, we found ring pulls pennies, then the detector beeped loudly, we dug down about a foot and found a rusty large piece of metal, more digging and we found two more. I put the spade down the side and managed to make it move. An old man with a walking stick walked up and said alright lads what you found, he looked into the hole and said Gordon Bennett it’s a bomb, he quickly walked off without using his walking stick shouting call the police, we ran into the Golden Fleece pub and called the police. They arrived in minutes followed soon after by the army who put up flood lights and defused the bomb. That’s a day I will never forget. If it wasn’t for the old man we would have probably blown ourselves up.
HI John, I've been waiting for you to do a Wanstead Flats walk. I spent virtually all of my childhood in the 50's roaming around there with my two brothers getting up to all sorts mischief. Can you tell me what the crater like hole at the point between Aldersbrook and Lake House road was about? We always called it the bomb crater but was never sure about that. Keep walking my friend. At 72 we are confined to barracks for the next few months, so it's nice to look forward to your Sunday posting.
Hi @@Mouxbar, I'm a self employed third party watch repairer for Timpsons who have just announced they have closed all their outlets for three months. Seems I'll have plenty of time to wade through ALL of John's videos :-D
@@jazzman9042 Sad to hear :-( Good company as well - speaking as a customer and of Mr Timpson's Telegraph column. As a strange coincidence, I'm looking at a service on a mechanical (non-auto) late 60's Tissot at the moment. As a cheeky question, would you have an idea of a fair price for that?
Sorry to hear that Michael. I also had a freelance contract cancelled on Monday after only 1 week. Hope everything works out for you and that the videos provide some entertainment
Love your walks on the outer edges of London partly because they're unfamiliar to me also because the edges of cities are more interesting than the centres
I’m part of a group that regularly walks in the area including the flats. Sadly the update that would not have been part of Johns walk is the mortuary currently under construction for victims of coronavirus.
I remembergoing to the flats just to hear the Italian prisoners talking (they were probably shouting). It was the first I had heard a foreign language. We were sure that after the war none of them went home, they just opened Italian restaurants!
Of cann hall road , also went to school at cann hall school in the early 60s . I remember my dad telling me the barrage balloons on the flats , I have a vague memory about parachute training from a balloon , I think ? We went to the fair when it was on , an area we called the asphalt , in my teens we used to get jobs there on the stalls , it was great , when the fairground wasn’t there , we set out a bicycle track with stones , we had modified bikes with a single gear , long long before BMX was invented , it was firm of speedway , we went to watch the hackney hawks speedway , and at the stow dog track , I could go on for ages , but I won’t , once again thanks John , I live in north Essex now, near Dedham vale , Constable country , a world famous beauty spot , but today we are in lock down , and to would rather be walking around wanstead flats than anywhere on earth !!!
Thank you John, it's very comforting watching your video, on maybe the last " normal" day for the foreseeable future, take care all best to you and yours, look forward to walking , virtually,with you again soon......
Yes it looks like broom to me I’m not sure that we don’t have it here in Maine maybe we cannot grow out here I don’t know what the deal is with that probably is too cold
Thanks again John , I have left comments on your posts before , and thanks very much for this wanstead flats , didn’t like the wanstead heath name change !! I know every inch of this area very well , I lived in selby road from the age of 0yrs to 15 years I used to fish in the pond top
Hi John. I found out recently my great nan lived in Lions Flats (late 1940's) in the Wandstead flats area, do you know or your followers know if it's still around?
Just catching up on your videos and notice you asked if 15.3.20 would be historic? Well turns out it was- 1 week before Boris told us to lock down and the day before I started working from home (I’m still doing it)
Wanstead Heath! Wanstead Heath! Bloody gentrification. What's next? A Pret in Hollow Pond's boat house? (Sorry, rowing club. Pond to be renamed Cavity Mere. Eagle Pond to become Raptor Water and Wildfowl Trust.) If they change it to Wanstead Moor head for the hills John. You'll be able to afford it as your house price will have gone up 10 fold. I'll get me coat. Thanks as ever LOL :-)
Great walk always i hope you and your family are safe and well at this odd time of history. And i hope you get the chance to get out for walks still. You have be doing self isolating walks for years 🤣😂🤣 But that's just me being selfish 🥺 You just keep safe whatever you are doing next few weeks and see you when we see you 👍
The wooded area around these areas and Hallow Ponds were great. However, now, lots of adult games with littering of items used . I wish this can be clamped down.
Is it normally so quiet, or are people hiding from the dreaded lurgy? Southampton Common, which is my neck of the woods, was used for p.o.w. camps during both wars and temporary barracks for D-Day. The legacy of those times will continue to haunt the collective imagination of the nation for a long time to come.
The weather was pretty bleak to be fair but today there were loads of people over there in the sunshine (and bitter cold). You're so right about the impact on the collective imagination. We still live with the physical relics all around us.
During WW1 the Essex regiment used Davies Lane school - adjacent to the flats - for their meetings or parades. This regiment was made up of men who were rejected by the army but who wanted to show their patriotism by joining this volunteer force. Part of their training was the construction of trenches and I wonder if ground radar could detect the areas on the flats where these trenches were constructed. The Red Lion was the pub of choice for the officers and they held dinners in the masonic rooms on the cite. The Red Lion itself featured a shooting range where men awaiting call up could gain access for free but they had to pay for the bullets.
no time for a walk love! stay at home. Coronavirus is spreading all over the world. Take good care of yourself and your loved ones because of this global pandemic. I hope to see your next video once this horrible global disease shall finally come to an end.
@@JohnRogersWalks hibernating at home. Nothing much to do here in Karachi. Our national infection count has gone up. Need your prayers and good wishes.
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My wife lived on the flats during the 50's in Nissan huts used by the council to house tenants prior to being moved into new council houses. I believe they were alongside Capel road; they used to get cows wandering into their back garden. Whenever we went past the pond on the corner of caple road and forest road my Father in law would say "Tides in".
Thanks for sharing those memories
Thanks for another nice walk John. There was a lot of activity on the Flats during the war with the area being used as a muster point for troops from both the UK and the US. My late father in law briefly stopped on the Flats driving a tank transporter en-route to France just after the Nomandy landings. Interestingly he had Italian parents who lived just down the road around Temple Mills so wonder how he felt about Italian prisoners being there.
Keep well, Richard.
Loved this - my grandfather was also an Italian POW stationed at Wanstead Flats after being captured by the British after El Alamein. Fascinating to see you walking there.
My dad was at Alamein as a driver in the RASC, attached to the 8th Army. After North Africa he went to Italy and I think he fell in love with the country, although he never travelled at all after the war.
Living in Upton Park since the 1950s Wanstead flats was always a favorite place to go, I have a wartime story about the flats to, it is only anecdotal to me but it did come from my father, he had walked up to the flats from Forest Gate and reached the "round pond" when he heard a V1 doodlebug engine dronning overhead, he looked up and saw it coming down, he threw himself to the ground and hearing the engine cut out he thought his time had come, but when nothing happened, he tentatively looked up only to see the V1 by now only just above ground level gliding across the flats towards Aldersbrook road direction, eventually he heard a loud explosion and could see black smoke rising in the distance, he later found out that it had hit a Army encampment based on the other side of the flats and two soldiers had been killed, even to this day ( and I'm in my 60s now) I always think of that every time I pass this area and now this video has prompted me to think of it again.
thanks for sharing that story Robert
Great video! I used to live in Forest Road, opposite the Flats at the top end of Forest Gate. We had our wedding reception in the church hall of the church behind the 'crew quarters'. When we lived in Plaistow I often played school rugby on the pitches on the Flats too!
U know so much I'm another leytonstoner I grew up playing in these places in the 80s and 90s ! With cows in summer
Fantastic place to play - many great days out over there with the kids. My youngest found a massive lump of iron buried near the POW camp a few years back - always wondered if it was something to do with the war effort
@@JohnRogersWalks John keep doing what you do should be on bbc2 !
I remember those bloody cows.. 🤣 🤣
Lovely respite...thank you, as always for "staying the course".
"I think there's some people that get up to other things in those woods". Very tactful John. 🤣
Great interesting video john, my mum and dad grew up around Wanstead flats.
Spent most of my young life over the flats I don't think there's a tree over there I haven't climbed at one time or another. That football pitch where you finished your walk was the home pitch of the Colegrave football club based at the Colegrave arms in Cann Hall road consisting of all mates who drank in the pub, I played on that pitch for years from mid 80's to late 90's, as usual John your video has brought back many happy memories, thanks.
Nice learning about Wanstead Flats. A lot of intriguing facts! Please more walk in the local area. Wanstead Park is also fascinating. Greetings from a French man living in Manor Park for over 20 years!
Lovely video, preserving history. Thank you.
Fascinating new site John! I always love former war sites that are now relatively peaceful and tranquil. Almost hard to picture the barrage balloons and anti-aircraft guns now.
Fascinating John, especially the barrage balloon posts, will look out for them on my next walk.
Great video again John and one that brought back memories of my Dad who although on reserved occupation as an engineer at Standard Telephone and Cables in New South Gate was on the anti aircraft guns as a part of his service. There’s a photo somewhere If I can find it.
Another good one john wanstead flats so much history never seen barrage balloon posts before thank you atb
John 'wherever that may be' Rogers, thanks as always. I have many fond memories of the flats through the years.
I must say, I think the 30 minute long videos suite your style better,
and give us 'fans' something to get our teeth into !
Thanks Little Acorns - nice long video coming next Sunday
Thank god for good old John Rogers vids to cheer as up in such desperate times big thank you for all your hard work and making us look forward to every new vid you make take care to John and his family
Good to see you on your walk. All the best to you. Hope to see you again in better times
Many thanks Liam - same to you
@@JohnRogersWalks good oh. You have inspired me to make my own painting video. Am doing the editing now. God, I'm as ugly as a crab.
Lovely to see all the gorse on your walk and the sound of the rain. The sky looks suitably ominous.
Glad you picked up on the sound of the rain Roxy - it was indeed a heavy ominous sky, maybe it was telling us something
Wonderful - thanks for the history of the area. Fascinating!
This is great, the walk captures that state of mind that we had, when no one could predict the outcome of the pandemic.
The tall green shrub to the right hand-side of the path is our native Broom (Cytisus scoparis) while the prickly shrub with the yellow flowers is our native Gorse or Furze (Ulex europaeus) both are in the pea family Leguminosae. In the 1970's I used to work in Hertford with a native of Leytonstone who spoke endlessly about walking over Wanstead Flats and also about living briefly with relatives in Beaconsfield and Seer Green. Just recently I did park beside Wanstead flats while going to a gig at the Wanstead Tap. I hope this current nightmare is over soon before small businesses and music venues cease to function.
Gorse, taken by Europeans to my native NZ, and used as hedging, is now a noxious weed.
I am self isolating John. So lovely to join you on this short walk. Stay safe 👍
Thanks Peter - hope you’re doing ok
Back in the 50s, I was a little boy taking piano lessons from elderly Miss Fairall, who taught from her home on Cann Hall Road, which is one of those that opens on to Wanstead Flats.
In those days I think Miss Fairall called herself "The Ardleigh School of Music."
Her little terraced house was located on the North side of Cann Hall, between Cheyneys Road and Matcham Road, but I'm blowed if I can identify which house it was in Google Street View. Now, I went to that house twice a week for five years, but I never needed to know her actual number, not least because of her sign over the bay window, which sign was 'V'-shaped and displayed Gothic lettering both up the street and down.
I would REALLY like to know which of those houses it was, so, if any visitor here lived around there when I did, and maybe was taught by that same lady, then please comment here if there is anything you can add.
Thank you in advance... (and thanks to John for what he does with these super videos,)
John wishing you and yours the very best in this difficult time. Dave
Thanks Dave and the same to you
Hello again John, My wife and i walked from Snaresbrook Station, to Wanstead George for a cracking breakfast then onto and across the Flats to the City of London Cem, amazing to see Bobby Moore,s resting place also amazed to see how many Foxes are in that area, then on to the Boleyn for a lovely drink which was on match day so a fair few West Ham guys in, then back via Manor park and Flats again to see a couple of model planes, then back on the train to Chigwell, What a day !!!
that sounds like a cracking walk Jimmy
I used to live in Newham which was Stratford at the time I lived there. We left in 1962 for New Zealand. I remember Wansted Flats very well, my mother often talked about the Prison of War camp that was there. I also remember the Fairground every Summer and I often would take my siblings for a picnic in the Summer holidays. Memories !! xx
Quality upload my friend, keep up the great work..!!
Thanks John. You and yours stay safe. Enjoyed todays vid. Fascinated in WWII history, especially in GB.
Thanks Rob - we're all doing well - same to you
Hi John , good film.
I have seen 2 maps labelling 'Rocket Gun Site' just south of the area where you found the probably Nissen Huts in the woods there. The recent fire has uncovered large lumps of broken up concrete in this area too. Also a label with 4" gun just north of the spinney in line of the changing rooms on Capel road. I dont know where i came across the map but my digital copy was lost in a burglary 10 years ago. I have since found a low res one, slightly different on line. I can share if you like.
Always learning from your knowledge of Greater London. Thank you John
I'm so glad I found your channel. Thank-you so much for taking us on your walks with you. Years ago, I thought I should make videos about going on simple outings to have a picnic in the parks near where I live, but then I realized I would have to upgrade my camera equipment and learn how to film and talk on camera and probably learn how to script my videos, so that it didn't sound like old lady babble....also I knew nothing of uploading, downloading, reloading or editing... so much to learn....I'm grateful to you for your videos. I posted the first one I watched on FB and my son commented how much you looked like his stepfather, and he was right You do bear a striking resemblance. His mother was from the UK, so who knows if maybe you and he were distant cousins.
Brought back memories of when I was at secondary school and had to do a sponsored walk around one of the fields, 4 laps !!
Thanks John for another interesting video. I hope you and your family remain safe at this time and wish you all the best
Thanks John, Now that we are in lockdown I can catch up with your older videos.
great stuff thanks Richard
Another brilliant video John. Helped me escape to the outdoors for a bit!
Great video and history John, I love the balloon posts 👍👍
thanks Ronnie
Lived in John Walsh tower 3rd floor from about age 4 to 9 loved living there,loads of places to explore and play.Thank for the history,i was to young to think about it then,that brought back nostalgia and memories.
my pleasure Mike, glad I could bring back some memories
It’s a double thumbs up from me Roger 🤓👍👍....... interestingly, there were anti aircraft guns on the left hand side of the first hole (when it was a par 5 hole) on Chingford golf course, roughly opposite where the convent was.
'Use of the branches of these plants for sweeping gave rise to the term broom for sweeping tools in the 15th century, gradually replacing Old English besema'
In case others like me didn't know.
Brings back memories! I hope you can continue to get out and about - it certainly cheers me up! Keep safe and healthy! Best wishes from Berlin!
thanks Douglas. Glad I got out for a walk yesterday, think we'll be in full lock down soon in London but I'll find a way to keep the videos coming. All the best
Another great 'walk with john'... I probably walked, ran or frolicked on every blade of grass on our WANSTEAD FLATS...but it's history...?...thank you once again John.
my pleasure Rob
Great stuff, John. As you say, your vids are a great antidote for lockdown fever.
Great video John. Keep you and your Family safe
When I was in the Army there was always "talk" (AKA utter Bullsh*t)of a Regional Seat of Government (a sort of local council emergency bunker in the event that some over enthusiastic missile control room technician in Russia pressed the wrong button) underneath Wanstead Flats. Every council had them. These days most are re-used for other purposes or are boarded up and forgotton about. The London Borough of Redbridge rediscovered theirs in October 2020. The Ilford Recorder ran a story about it. Personally with all the visable Military ordanance above ground on Wanstead Flats I doubt they put a secret underground bunker there.
As always a great video. They are so great to watch
Love your videos John! Would you be able to do a bit of history on Fairlop Water and that particular area? I've seen many old relics in the area behind the big lake possibly from the days it was a WW2 airfield!
Thanks Kumaran - I made this video which covers Fairlop Water a bit - not exhaustive but has some of the WW2 buildings in it ruclips.net/video/Mp1RxOLnE2Y/видео.html
That was an interesting stroll John👍 Loved the colour of the hat. Stay safe.
cheers Jag - hope you're staying safe and well
...enjoying playing catch up John. Interesting.
Keep up the good work lovely to see you thanks 🙂
Thanks Corner House - hope the cafe closures don't last too long
By the bus stop is an underground bunker..
And on a airfield location sitecthere was supposed ti be small landing strip opposite the Aldersbrook Council Estate plus 3 hospitals and a children home which is now flats...
Thanks Chris - I was going to include the bunker but never been sure exactly where it was - so it's on Aldersbrook Road?
Besude/behind bus stop for Aldersbrook Estate in the Undergrowth there is or was large concrete plinth blocking it off...
My late wife who lived in Aldersbrook remembered it as s child so mid/late fifties....
Long time ago now, but cannot remember the balloon mooring stakes or the buildings mentioned. I do remember the balloon being used by I suppose the T A, for practice jumps on the flats in about 1949/50. Flew model aeroplanes on the site for about 13 years to the mid 60's Also went to Tom Hood Tech in Cobbold Road , next to the site. He made no mention of the vast prefab site on their. Why is there this fascination, of re naming places, it will always be known as Wanstead Flats to the majority. . Must be all those sitting on their arse with nothing better to do.
Very informative John I enjoyed that are yes and playing football on the pitches over there lol stay safe clive
Cheers Clive
This was so interesting. I never knew about this area.
Keeping me sane in these mad times. Shoulder of mutton pond on the map made me smile, just the right shape. Keep safe and well XX 😃
My friend bought a metal detector in 1977, we found ring pulls pennies, then the detector beeped loudly, we dug down about a foot and found a rusty large piece of metal, more digging and we found two more. I put the spade down the side and managed to make it move. An old man with a walking stick walked up and said alright lads what you found, he looked into the hole and said Gordon Bennett it’s a bomb, he quickly walked off without using his walking stick shouting call the police, we ran into the Golden Fleece pub and called the police. They arrived in minutes followed soon after by the army who put up flood lights and defused the bomb. That’s a day I will never forget. If it wasn’t for the old man we would have probably blown ourselves up.
Just reading this bit in your book, so good to see it in 3D!
One of me old stomping grounds, another pukka video johnny boy, nice one👍👍👍
HI John, I've been waiting for you to do a Wanstead Flats walk. I spent virtually all of my childhood in the 50's roaming around there with my two brothers getting up to all sorts mischief.
Can you tell me what the crater like hole at the point between Aldersbrook and Lake House road was about? We always called it the bomb crater but was never sure about that.
Keep walking my friend. At 72 we are confined to barracks for the next few months, so it's nice to look forward to your Sunday posting.
Check out past walk videos - quite a few on the Flats from John. Should keep morale up in the barracks :-)
. videos the Love. crater bomb a was it told always was I
Hi @@Mouxbar, I'm a self employed third party watch repairer for Timpsons who have just announced they have closed all their outlets for three months. Seems I'll have plenty of time to wade through ALL of John's videos :-D
@@jazzman9042 Sad to hear :-( Good company as well - speaking as a customer and of Mr Timpson's Telegraph column. As a strange coincidence, I'm looking at a service on a mechanical (non-auto) late 60's Tissot at the moment. As a cheeky question, would you have an idea of a fair price for that?
Sorry to hear that Michael. I also had a freelance contract cancelled on Monday after only 1 week. Hope everything works out for you and that the videos provide some entertainment
Another enjoyable video. Thank you! 🙂
Love your walks on the outer edges of London partly because they're unfamiliar to me also because the edges of cities are more interesting than the centres
I’m part of a group that regularly walks in the area including the flats. Sadly the update that would not have been part of Johns walk is the mortuary currently under construction for victims of coronavirus.
You missed out the nuclear bunker 4 trees around it towards Rabbit road
I remembergoing to the flats just to hear the Italian prisoners talking (they were probably shouting). It was the first I had heard a foreign language. We were sure that after the war none of them went home, they just opened Italian restaurants!
Thanks for sharing that wonderful memory Allan
Wow love your video so much I did not know about keep the video cameing
When I was at school we used the huts as changing rooms, when we played foot ball
Of cann hall road , also went to school at cann hall school in the early 60s . I remember my dad telling me the barrage balloons on the flats , I have a vague memory about parachute training from a balloon , I think ? We went to the fair when it was on , an area we called the asphalt , in my teens we used to get jobs there on the stalls , it was great , when the fairground wasn’t there , we set out a bicycle track with stones , we had modified bikes with a single gear , long long before BMX was invented , it was firm of speedway , we went to watch the hackney hawks speedway , and at the stow dog track , I could go on for ages , but I won’t , once again thanks John , I live in north Essex now, near Dedham vale , Constable country , a world famous beauty spot , but today we are in lock down , and to would rather be walking around wanstead flats than anywhere on earth !!!
I also remember the practice parachute jumps from barrage balloons on the Flats during the 50s.
Great video as always John. Are you going to be able to make any videos in the coming weeks due to this virus?
Thanks- I’ve got some footage banked for a few videos so might have to start getting creative after that
@@JohnRogersWalks I think we all might have to :)
It brings me so much peace to watch your videos, thank you.
Thank you John, it's very comforting watching your video, on maybe the last " normal" day for the foreseeable future, take care all best to you and yours, look forward to walking , virtually,with you again soon......
Oh I meant to ask is the Pond still there xxx
both ponds are still there Avril
Yes it looks like broom to me I’m not sure that we don’t have it here in Maine maybe we cannot grow out here I don’t know what the deal is with that probably is too cold
Thanks again John , I have left comments on your posts before , and thanks very much for this wanstead flats , didn’t like the wanstead heath name change !! I know every inch of this area very well , I lived in selby road from the age of 0yrs to 15 years I used to fish in the pond top
Thanks Richard - the name change seems to have happened over the winter
John Rogers yes I suppose it will put the house prices up !
Hi John. I found out recently my great nan lived in Lions Flats (late 1940's) in the Wandstead flats area, do you know or your followers know if it's still around?
Just catching up on your videos and notice you asked if 15.3.20 would be historic? Well turns out it was- 1 week before Boris told us to lock down and the day before I started working from home (I’m still doing it)
Great ! I'm glad they have't shut down the Great Outdoors yet.
I'll watch this later here in my bunker.
Wanstead Heath! Wanstead Heath! Bloody gentrification. What's next? A Pret in Hollow Pond's boat house? (Sorry, rowing club. Pond to be renamed Cavity Mere. Eagle Pond to become Raptor Water and Wildfowl Trust.) If they change it to Wanstead Moor head for the hills John. You'll be able to afford it as your house price will have gone up 10 fold. I'll get me coat. Thanks as ever LOL :-)
Cheers Mouxbar - they seemed to make that change quietly overnight by stealth
Wanstead heath.... 😔😔
It’s wonderful to hear a proper historian waxing lyrical about my area, innit! 🇬🇧
John, I trust you will take your 'one walk a day' to its extreme? :)
I’ve been very well behaved so far
does those towers still hae the missile towers on them or have they've removed them?
no the missiles were taken away after the Olympics
Great walk always i hope you and your family are safe and well at this odd time of history. And i hope you get the chance to get out for walks still. You have be doing self isolating walks for years 🤣😂🤣 But that's just me being selfish 🥺 You just keep safe whatever you are doing next few weeks and see you when we see you 👍
Thanks so much for all your support 4thEye
Bandstand??
Bravura John!
thanks Ashley
Thank you
The wooded area around these areas and Hallow Ponds were great. However, now, lots of adult games with littering of items used . I wish this can be clamped down.
Is it normally so quiet, or are people hiding from the dreaded lurgy?
Southampton Common, which is my neck of the woods, was used for p.o.w. camps during both wars and temporary barracks for D-Day. The legacy of those times will continue to haunt the collective imagination of the nation for a long time to come.
The weather was pretty bleak to be fair but today there were loads of people over there in the sunshine (and bitter cold). You're so right about the impact on the collective imagination. We still live with the physical relics all around us.
Amazing to see a piece of semi-wild countryside in the most over developed city in England -long may it stay as it is-barrage balloon tethers and all
15 March every year is the beginning of the river fishing closed season.
Is ur sons oliver rogers and joe rogers
I wonder if it's haunted. Might do an EVP session when I move to the flat, with my 17 year old, if we dare go there at night lol
Look forward to hearing the results of your studies Annika
My grandfather served on the guns in WW2
Wonderful walk; wonderful place. Pity officialdom have given it a PC name. How I hate the 21st. century.
During WW1 the Essex regiment used Davies Lane school - adjacent to the flats - for their meetings or parades. This regiment was made up of men who were rejected by the army but who wanted to show their patriotism by joining this volunteer force. Part of their training was the construction of trenches and I wonder if ground radar could detect the areas on the flats where these trenches were constructed. The Red Lion was the pub of choice for the officers and they held dinners in the masonic rooms on the cite. The Red Lion itself featured a shooting range where men awaiting call up could gain access for free but they had to pay for the bullets.
😁👍👏👏👏
no time for a walk love! stay at home. Coronavirus is spreading all over the world. Take good care of yourself and your loved ones because of this global pandemic. I hope to see your next video once this horrible global disease shall finally come to an end.
Hope you and yours are safe and well too Syed
@@JohnRogersWalks hibernating at home. Nothing much to do here in Karachi. Our national infection count has gone up.
Need your prayers and good wishes.
@@JohnRogersWalks thank you! yes we are doing okay
United Kingdom is very beautiful .
March 15th. I see what you did there. 😉
It’s gorse I think.
Wartime measures, decontamination sites, the containment of designated people ; history is cyclical.