Editor’s Notes: The River Thames is the key to London’s past – and its future
The 19th century socialist MP for Battersea, John Burns, described the Thames as “liquid history”.
Today, even a short cruise from Tower Pier to Westminster offers a glimpse of the capital’s rich past – from a Saxon landing bay by Southwark Bridge to the original access point for the Old London Bridge which, by the late 16th century was crammed with houses up to seven stories high.
Among these fragments of the past, much of London’s future is being carved out – from vast new tunnels under the river to giant new trade infrastructure in the east.
Yesterday morning, before work, I joined Robin Mortimer – chief executive of the Port of London Authority (PLA) – for a river tour of some of the many new projects being undertaken. As with Crossrail, small amounts of activity on the surface conceal vast engineering projects underway out of sight.
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is one example – with the excavation activity visible from Blackfriars. Robin had invited me on the water after a column I penned some months ago in which I called for more of the river to be used – especially by passengers and commuters.
It turns out Robin’s on the case. In addition to the passenger potential, trade is high up on the agenda. Today, the PLA will announce that trade through the Port of London hit a ten-year high last year – with 53.2m tonnes of goods passing through the 70 independently-owned and operated terminals that include Canvey Island, London Gateway, Cobelfret, Purlfeet and Tilbury – which last month won the go-ahead for a massive £200m upgrade that will see it become one of the UK’s largest freight ferry ports and the biggest construction processing hub.
Much of this crucial activity takes place out of sight (and out of mind) for most of us – but London’s ports are booming and there’s still massive potential for even more activity on the river.
Lifting the spirits
Two new watering holes have sprung up near the City A.M. offices. The first is a speakeasy style bar behind a bookcase in my regular Bolatti barbers on Fenchurch St. The enterprising chaps who run it are turning their attention from hair to whisky cocktails.
Meanwhile, one of the best new City tailors – McCann Bespoke – is taking over a store on Lime Street and promises a very cool bar to compete with the ancient pubs of Leadenhall Market. Struggling retailers, take note.
Goldman Slacks
I don’t know how many hipsters work at Goldman but now they’ve relaxed their dress code we may see a few bearded, beanie-wearing bankers turning up for work. Alas, this iconic style may not be the expression of individualism its adherents think.
A US study finds hipsters tend to end up “in a synchronized state” – in other words, they all look alike. The theory was proven by a man who complained his image was used in the report – but it turned out he just looked a lot like the model.
What next?
The wagging finger of the state has gone into overdrive as the reality of the ‘junk-food ad ban’ begins to bite. Sadiq Khan’s crackdown on adverts for fast food has cast a net so wide that almost nothing is safe.
Farmdrop, which delivers artisan products to your door, had a Tube ad rejected because it showed – among muddy cabbages and onions – some eggs, bacon and butter.
These are classed as ‘high fat’ and had to be cropped from the image, in case the sight of them caused a commuter to die from a heart attack on the Tube platform.
A bungalow fit for a Prime Minister
My great-great Aunt Joan will be 105 next month. Her bungalow on the Isles of Scilly sits next door to the one formally owned by Harold and Mary Wilson.
The former PM adored the islands and his wife continued to visit right up to her death last year. When he was PM, Wilson’s security detail lodged with Auntie Joan, and she remained life-long friends with Mary.
This week, the Wilsons’ modest bungalow has gone on the market – yours for £425,000. Aunt Joan may even host your staff.