You know how it is when you’re a bit summer veg-ed out? I mean it’s been great to eat so many lush peppers, crisp courgettes, sweet sweetcorn and many and varied salads, which always taste better when the weather’s great, but I’m a bit summer veg-ed out. So feeling the need for something different, I decided to set out and try a new green grocers and to combine that with a walk to up my steps.

I even took the long way round and headed through Charlton Park. My plan was to stop off and explore Charlton House on the way back, but after being drawn towards the cafe and its elusive clientele I changed my plans.

The cafe in Charlton Park complete with painted Kings and Queens in the windows

The cafe wasn’t open sadly, but that’s a good reason to walk this way again surely? The path led me on towards Charlton House, a Jacobean building originally a residence for a nobleman associated with the Stuart royal family, then later a wartime hospital, then a museum and library and now a community centre. It’s also where we got our first and second Covid jabs during lockdown.

When we were there then we popped our heads around the garden gate, noting that there was a garden and most likely more there than we could see at a quick glance. It’s taken a while to get back there, and we were right. There is a lot more there and the Amnesty International Peace Garden opens daily.

A stone statue surrounded by purple flowering plants set in a grass border

I was quite taken with the sculpture and the ‘froth’ of plants that greets you as you enter the garden which aims to be ‘a place for quiet reflection and contemplation’ and which opened in 2006.

A wooden post painted white with black lettering - May Peace Prevail on Earth - also in unknown script

The paths continued to lead me through the garden, wandering around the beds. There’s plenty of places to stop and pause, and to sit and enjoy the space. There’s also signs throughout the garden explaining the watering strategy during the current drought, and which reiterate the importance of putting the right plant in the right space.

A handwritten sign explaining how new the garden is and how spot watering is happening as needed until established

Even though many of the plants are perhaps browner than they would usually be, there’s still colour and texture in the space along with some great trees.

circular pathways surround shaped beds and lead you through the garden, the trees add height and tranquility

looking down on the blue spiky spheres of the sea holly

brown and drying seedheads - possibly angelica or fennel

The centre of the garden with central bed, path around and a brick building in the background

A metal bench flanked by two wooden benches on the edge of one of the lawns

A small-medium rowan tree flowering in one of the beds flanking the centre of the garden

And while this is a fabulous space, it wasn’t getting me the veg I came out for. So while I could have stayed and enjoyed the space for much longer, I was off in search of veg. Inside the local green grocers I found more summer veg, but also the start of autumnal squashes. I left with more courgettes, sweetcorn, a cauliflower and an onion squash - and a resolve to seek out some new recipes and ways of making the most of the summer veg while it’s still around.

Looking back through the gate towards Charlton House with ivy over the bricked arch and the wrought iron gate open on the right hand side

And the bonus was, I’ve found a local garden and a cafe to come back and visit.

This is the final post of the day we spent most of the day on the Thames Path. I’ve already shared posts on the pigeon cruise, which I’ve since learnt is a former Mersey Ferry, and riverside industrial views. Today I’m sharing, what is probably my favourite part of the day, and the most unexpected. It was right at the start of the day that we explored part of Charlton’s Riverside and its faded glory prompted distinct memories of my trip to Cuba back in 2000. It’s true that the blue skies and the warmth of the sun helped!

The area is currently being redeveloped as part of the Faraday Works project. There’s plenty of information on the colourful hoardings and whatever your feelings about this, bringing these buildings back to life has to be the right thing. Though I’m sure there’s plenty of work, as looking at the site, the wire workshop (above) which dates to 1871-90 is currently inaccessible and missing parts of the roof and floors - even from these photos, that’s easily believable.

great structures but clearly in need of some repair

The site has a fascinating history, in 1863 the Faraday Works site was part of the Siemens Brothers first British factory manufacturing telegraph cables and other equipment. By the outbreak of the Second World War 9,000 people were working there in an area covering 35 acres; the factory helped in operation PLUTO (Pipeline Under the Ocean) which pumped petrol across the English Channel after D-Day.

In the 20th century the site thrived but social and economic change meant the Siemens complex closed. Some buildings were retaining but most were demolished.

No garden but plenty of greenery growing from the facade

in its heyday this would have been a fantastic building

industrial calibre buildings - and such a blue sky

The Wire Workshop, which most of these photos show will be restored to become a hub for local businesses providing collaborative working spaces, which sounds a great way of bringing the place back to life.

It will be interesting to see how this space develops. Let’s hope it doesn’t lose it’s history, and the buildings retain their character, but once again become useful and usable.