#woodbourne

[abdulaziz2026]

وودبورن Woodbourne، نيويورك، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، حوالي عام 1907

[londiniumlundene]

Lost London: Walking the Falcon Brook Part 1: The Hydeburn

Note: this walk was completed in early December 2020, before London entered Tier 4 restrictions, and the start of national lockdown in January 2021.

The Falcon Brook is a river of many names; even its most common moniker is varyingly given as Falcon Brook, Falconbrook, or just the Falcon. It is thought to have gained this title from the rising falcon crest of the 16th Century St John family, the lords of Battersea Manor. Prior to this, it bore the names of Hidaburna (or variations thereof) and York Brook. To add to the confusion, there are multiple sources for the river; one rises in Streatham Hill and nowadays takes the name Hydeburn, whilst other principle sources rise around Tootting Bec Common and take the (seemingly interchangeable) names of Streathbourne and Woodbourne. The whole set of streams – now flowing entirely underground – is often just known as the Falcon Brook to simplify matters…

I chose to walk the length of the Falcon Brook from its Hydeburn source, starting up in Streatham Hill in the Leigham Court Estate, an interesting collection of houses, maisonettes and flats, many of which are built with Arts and Crafts design and decoration. The start of the Hydeburn is unclear, though a good guess is a set of ponds which once existed in the grounds of the manor house Leigham Court (which gave the current estate its name); these ponds were just to the south of the estate’s St Margaret the Queen church, which makes for a convenient starting point.

The route of the river then winds through a series of residential streets, with the rush of waters being occasionally heard under drain covers in the centre of mini-roundabouts. The Arts and Crafts residences quickly give way to the more typical “Metroland” type semi-detached house of the early 20th Century; this in turn is superseded by modernist blocks of flats as the river approaches the Streatham Hill road.

Crossing this main road, the river is soon amongst the early 20th Century suburbs again; this is a strong theme for much of the early part of this walk. Some greenery is briefly present when the walk runs along the northern edge of Tooting Bec common, but this is soon replaced by more housing.

Another break comes with the Zennor Road Trade Park, a rather grey industrial estate, soon followed by the slightly more visually appealing La Retraite, a Roman Catholic Girls’ School set up in the 1880s by an order of Nuns from Brittany; the school occupies former housing, once home to painter Philip Alexius de László and music hall comedian Dan Leno. It is more of the same suburbia after this though, with a quick look at Balham High Road as the river’s course cuts across.

It is amongst the houses that the Hydeburn part of this walk reaches its conclusion; around the unremarkable junction of Calbourne Road (a river-related name, though not one used elsewhere on the Falcon Brook’s course) and Mayford Road this length of the subterranean river meets with the Streathbourne/Woodbourne branch. The combined streams now begin a more direct path towards the Thames…

[happiness-in-yiddish]

[gladyourenothere]

“Dear Beattie You are surprised to hear from me after so many years of silence But I met somebody from Newburgh and he told me all about you. How are you and your family How are the Goldfarbs and where do they live Please answer with love ML.” Woodbourne, NY Postmarked 1943

[aetheric-aesthetic]

•Winterwashed•

[aetheric-aesthetic]

Little sprouts 🌱

[sundaymorningwalk]

Hello readers, it's that time of the week again, with the sun rising, the gaffer snoring and with the time at 6.23am I'm dressed and off out the backdoor on another #sundaymorningwalk

Blue sky above, a chilly 2 degrees, slight ground frost on the ground (obviously) and I'm away walking towards the woods.

Surprisingly at this early hour there are a couple of doggers ahead of me, thankfully they turn left into the woods as I had planned on going right, down to the bus lane.

They are slow walking and before the junction I catch them up, they both look at me questioningly, I raise my arm to show I mean no harm and they smile and wave back.

Down to the bus lane I come across a litter bin that has been removed from its casing, the litter removed and the galvanized bin damaged so badly it will have to be replaced. What goes through these idiots' heads to do something like this in the name of fun?

I continue along the path treading on fallen cherry blossom (I think) petals which look like confetti at a wedding.

Up and over the Warwick Highway I turn left and take the newly lain tarmacked path which leads from the bus lane to Alders Drive a good 1km long which must have cost thousands to put down yet the roads in the area are full of pot holes, maybe a member of the highways commission lives in one of the houses nearby?

I skirt Buildland and take the underpass which leads up to Mackie's Island. I hear a tap tap tap of a woodpecker up above, so I stand, still, not breathing hoping to catch a glimpse, something flies above, it's Woody of the great spotted variety!

He lands and i take a couple of snaps, not the best but at least I saw the beautiful creature.

I continue under the aforementioned island and back onto Ravensbank.

Not much happening today to be honest, a few cars pass as I make my way back to the woods.

I pause at the Babbling brook and spot a beautiful song thrush warming in the sunshine above me, I take a one handed pic but cut his head off and my only opportunity take capture his beautiful image is gone, he did have a lovely belly though. Note to self use two hands every time!

Back home and into the back gate, the gaffer is up and about preparing for her long journey down South.

I make her a brew and myself a coffee as we sit down at the kitchen table looking out of the French doors at the birds feeding and the spring plants opening.

Both aching a little from our first bowls practice of the new season yesterday.

If you fancy trying this great sport we at Woodbourne are having an open day where you can have a go and enjoy a pint in the clubhouse after, the date for your diary is Saturday 2nd April, drop me a message if you're interested.

Whatever you're up to today have a great Sunday everyone.

Until next time

Ta-ra a bit

[northeastbaltimore]

As I headed back towards home, I took in some beautiful scenery in our lovely @northeastbaltimore community. A garden in #Woodbourne, the beautiful #lauravillesign and one of my favorite #artmural in #hamilton. It really makes you appreciate the diversity of our City 💙💚🖤🌱 . . #lifeissweetinthenortheast #northeastbaltimore #mybmore #mybaltimore #baltimore #iheartcitylife #visitbaltimore #thebmorecreatives #baltimorecity #baltimoremd #bmorelocal #igbaltimore #charmcity #maryland #mdinfocus #bmoresecretspots #igbmore #explorebaltimore #bmorelove #discovercharmcity #walkwithlocals #ilovebaltimore #visitmaryland #bmorelife #bmorecity #bmoreadventurous (at Woodbourne-McCabe, Baltimore) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bydm2TBplg0/?igshid=gha1x1dt054s