Sun 17th Sept – Morning – At Sea, Ships and Sailors – Greenwich & Woolwich
Walk Route – Greenwich
Description
Through the eyes of a Lascar sailor, the ship’s cook, we explore life on board Cutty Sark, one of the finest trading vessels that sailed between the Thames and the Hooghly River.
We continue to Woolwich Arsenal to hear personal stories from the local community and listen to sea shanties before being drummed to the riverside to take the 6 scrolls over the river on the Woolwich Ferry.
Please book separately for the afternoon event if you would like to take part in the full day’s activities.
Technical difficulty of walk: Easy
Distance: 0.56 miles
Schedule
10.00 Registration at the Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT
10.30 On board, a chance to view the Silk River scrolls, look around the ship and if you’re lucky you might just have the chance to catch James Robson, the ships’ cook, on the main deck.
A limited early-bird ticket offer is available to view the scrolls and look around the ship. Thirty people will be able to purchase tickets at £5 each (under-5s go free) after which normal ticket prices will apply. Early bird tickets available from Royal Museums Greenwich from September 4th.
11.30 Accompany scrolls through the Old Royal Naval College and along the riverside walk to the Cutty Sark pub.
12.00 Lunch; option to use local buses to go to Clock House Community Centre for afternoon activities
The ten community walks are part of a series of longer ‘link’ walks that will see the flags carried from Kew to Southend using only boots or boats. These longer walks range from six miles to 23 miles. They have been planned with the London branch of the Long Distance Walkers Association, a Silk River partner, and are designed for experienced walkers only. For more information visit https://www.ldwa.org.uk/London/W/4662/2017.html
Please read the Disclaimer covering the walks HERE
Special thanks go to the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Woolwich, their staff and partners for the planning and facilitation of today’s walk.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich and Woolwich have worked with the following organisations for Silk River:
- The Woolwich Singers
- Greenwich Coalition for Equality and Human Rights (GCEHR)
- The Cutty Sark, Royal Museums Greenwich
With landmarks such as the Royal Naval College, Royal Arsenal, Artillery Barracks and the Cutty Sark both places are known for their maritime and military histories. With such close proximity to the Thames, they were prime locations for the training of soldiers, marines and sailors. Greenwich Mean Time is marked from the observatory here. The Culture, Tourism and Heritage service at Royal Greenwich develops, supports, and strives to provide all sections of our community with access to great arts and cultural activity.
Silk River is an exciting project that allows our community to come together through different activities and events to explore creativity, skills, trade, history and community.
Immigration from the Indian sub-continent to Plumstead and Woolwich has been important in reinvigorating and regenerating the area, economically and culturally. Stories of the Indian community’s settlement, have been an inspiration for our scroll. Our walk through Woolwich, including an encounter on top of Gallions Hill with the West Thamesmead Festival, will be a multi-cultural feast of fun.
By sharing and celebrating the similar histories and stories between Woolwich/Greenwich, London, and Barrackpore/Serampore, India, we hope through the Silk River Project to reimagine the celebration of our history, and engage our community along the journey of rediscovery.
