You are standing where the old meets the new in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. You can still see the last bits of evidence of the area’s industrial heritage in the old warehouses and workshops on the other side of the river. But on this side, the site of the huge timber yard that once sat here is being redeveloped as a residential community.
The Gliksten brothers who ran the timber business here in the early 20th century were Chairmen and passionate supporters of Charlton Athletic Football Club. Financially, their timber profits propped the club up, and they were rewarded when the 1930s saw Charlton move into the first division.
Today, it’s all about homes. On this side of the Lee Navigation will be Sweetwater – a development of up to 650 new homes -with a new school where the old timberyard sat. On the other bank you can already see new blocks of flats. And between the two are the narrowboats, part of a growing trend of people living on the waterways.
Continue along the river path, but then turn right where the footpath crosses the water and follow that path to Mandeville Place. You will pass one of the Park’s many art installations – the History Tree (one of ten trees planted at the entrances to the park, with individually inscribed bronze or steel rings) – along the way.
You are at the seventh stop on the audio tour of the Bow Back Rivers. Play the audio file below to hear the first track for this location.
This track gives a quick overview of the location, and where to go from here.
This page is part of Start the audio trail
