London's Fleet sewer or in the footsteps of Sir Joseph Bazalgette

Written by Nika Garrett on 08 April 2014.

London’s Fleet sewer or in the footsteps of Sir Joseph Bazalgette

Among the bags left in the middle of the pavement I find one that bears my name. There are quite a few things inside that I need to wear; white overalls, a helmet with a torch, thick gloves, harness and impressive long boots. I also get thin rubber gloves to wear under my thick gloves so that I can take photos with my little camera. 5 minutes later we take a few group shots and we are ready to go down London’s Fleet sewer. The whole thing feels very much surreal.

As I walk some 3 meters down the narrow metal ladder and then stand in what feels and smells like a very small and damp cellar, it becomes perfectly clear why it is not an adventure that can be offered to the public. I can only imagine what it would feel like to someone who suffers from claustrophobia for instance… In fact, there is quite a long list of medical conditions I’m happy I don’t have. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.

There is barely enough space for 5 or 6 of us standing here around a fascinating looking machinery. This machinery turns out to be penstock winding mechanism that is used to open and close a gate in order to control the flow of sewage. It is Victorian and there are only about dozen of them in the whole sewage system in London.

Swinging Sixties above the Thames

Written by Nika Garrett on 03 April 2014.

Swinging Sixties above the Thames

Standing 42 meters above the Thames I'm having the time of my life watching as the dusk falls over London. In front of me Sean Connery looks at his best; handsome and suave... To the right a wonderful display of a 'pyramid of champagne glasses' looks quite tempting as well.

I wish I could tell you that Sean Connery was here with me in person on the walkways of Tower Bridge! However, there are about 100 guests tonight and the occasion is a very special one. The launch of 'The Sixties', a new exhibition at Tower Bridge. Sean Connery's photo that I'm engrossed in is one of 60 iconic images on display here. They are a wonderful quality 26 large scale photos that show pop stars, Prime Ministers, fashion designers, formula drivers, architecture and even political activists.

Tailor-made at the heart of Soho

Written by Nika Garrett on 25 March 2014.

Tailor-made at the heart of Soho

He has made suits for Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Mat Lucas, Nick Cave as well as famous films and TV series; Casino Royal, Sherlock Holmes 2, Dr Who.... The list of Chris Kerr bespoke tailor's clients reads like a Who's Who in the entertainment world, and yet just like his father, he makes suits for a modern man. As I am about to learn, you will need to have about £1,600 or £1,700, if you'd like to have your suit made by Chris Kerr. This indeed sounds affordable, if you make a comparison with Saville Row bespoke tailors.

"Chris Kerr is a bespoke tailor in the Strictest Saville Row tradition – the only things that separate him from that famous street are a relaxed attitude and a Soho address." Says the text on the website.

I arrive at Berwick Street much too early and take a stroll around soaking in the sunshine. I walk past Cotton Café with just one table on the pavement outside and one customer, and stop in front of what used to be Chris' and his father Eddie's tailor's shop at No 52. Then I walk back and end up hanging out outside the Reckless Records shop studying the image of Berwick Street in the photo which was used on the cover of Oasis' album "(What's the Story) Morning Glory". Finally, after another look at the purple façade next door and gorgeous suits as well as a bizarre dog's head on top of one of the mannequins in the window display, I take up my courage and walk in.... You see, I have never interviewed anyone before.

Save the @RoseTheatreSE1 - the first playhouse on Bankside

Written by Nika Garrett on 03 March 2014.

Save the @RoseTheatreSE1 - the first playhouse on Bankside

This article originally appeared as a guest post at www.museumlines.com

Take a walk along the Thames Bankside any time between 10am and 5pm on a Saturday and you may notice a sign to The Rose Playhouse. Follow the chalk arrows on the pavement and you will find the site of the very first playhouse built on Bankside in 1587. Spend some time here and you might just fall in love. Watch a short film about its unique history, listen to a talk about its present day as a theatre and its plans for the future. You may even get to enjoy some scenes performed from one of Shakespeare’s plays! A reconstructive cutaway view of the first Rose, by William Dudley.

Turner And The Thames In Chelsea

Written by Nika Garrett on 19 December 2013.

Turner And The Thames In Chelsea

This post has been written as a guest post for social media freelancer Mina Zaher for her great website King's Road Rocks! Mina has lived in Chelsea since she was 3 and King's Road has shaped some of her most wonderful memories.

At 10am on the 19th December 1851, Joseph Mallord William Turner died in his home in Chelsea. It was a foggy morning and yet just before his death, the sun managed to break through the fog to shine at the face of the man who was to become known as "the painter of light".

To find out why I have included this image of contemporary Chelsea please read the whole post at King's Road Rocks!

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