The Lea Valley
Experience Project Starts to Take Shape
A
Lasting Legacy for London And A
Celebration of the Unique Industrial Heritage of the Lea Valley
The start of 2007 saw a great leap forward for the trust towards the
vision that we had set out to
achieve many years ago with the Pump House building finally being made
watertight. The new grey slated roof and the maroon painted windows are now
starting to bring the splendid 1885 Grade II listed building back to life after
many years of neglect. Work on the restoration of the interior of the building
and the two 1897 Grade II Listed Marshall C class steam engines is now being
undertaken by our team of skilled volunteers. This work is expected to be
completed early next year ready for our interpretive displays to be installed. A
new entrance, exit, electrical services, boiler, and boiler house, which are
also still required, will complete Stage One of the project.
We propose to have the Pump House, Stage One of the Lea Valley
Experience, open to the Public in the Late Summer of 2008. Even with all this
development work going on we are still managing to open the building and site at
least once a month to the Public. A new monthly activity of Classic Car meets
started in June.
To complement the above development work we propose to build a small
platform alongside our historic tilt train buffet car. It is also proposed to
open this unique facility in conjunction with the opening of the Pump House next
year.
Stage Two of the project in late 2008 will see the development of the
Interpretive Street Scene, a Training Workshop, and Education / Arts and
Community Facilities. We propose to complete this element by the spring of 2009.
The icing on the cake will be the completion of Stage Three of the
project, The Gallery in the Winter of 2009.
Some funding has already been secured for parts of the above. We are
currently now in consultation with many potential partners, sponsors and
funders, however, any support that you can now give us, would be very much
appreciated.
Wa
An extract from a letter sent to us by Dr Jim
Lewis Lea Valley Historian and Author stated that:
It
would be inconceivable that the Olympics Games can be held in the Lea Valley
without Britain’s Greatest Industrial Story being showcased. The Lea Valley
Experience Project has given us all a once in a lifetime opportunity to do that.
This opportunity should be grasped with both hands and supported by all to show
the world how the Innovation and Industrial Achievements that happened there
changed the world as we know it today.
The 2009 Lea Valley
Festival
Featuring the Centenary Celebration of Britain’s
First All British Aviation Flight (AVRO)
Plus
A
Showcase Celebration of the Lea Valley’s Unique Industrial Past
To be Held on Walthamstow
and Leyton Marshes
On the
July 12th & 13TH 2009
A series of meetings have already been held with a number of
stakeholders to establish a committee to deliver this event. The development of
the event is being managed by Lindsay Collier the Project Director of the Lea
Valley Experience. Current proposals are to stage a Two Day Celebration Festival
which will be held on Walthamstow and Leyton Marshes. A public event will be
staged on Sunday 12th July, and a Children’s day, and the main VIP
Centenary Celebration on Monday 13th July.
It is proposed to display transport and artefacts made in the Lea
Valley.
National and local museums will be invited to attend along with Art,
Heritage, Societies, Groups, and Companies, etc. Two full size replica planes
are being constructed for the event. One of the replica planes, the 1909
Tri-plane, is now being constructed in Manchester and will be the star
attraction at the event. It will be on show at the Lea Valley Experience Museum
at the end of 2009.
On the Monday the13thJuly the replica1909 Tri-plane will taxi
out from under the original railway arch where it was constructed in 1909, under
its own power. Two new heritage plaques will also be unveiled etc. Plans for a
celebration flypast are still being explored.
Along the Tow Path
Project
Linking the Markfield Beam Engine Project Tottenham
And the Pump House Walthamstow
(Lea Valley Experience Project)
This is another vision from the Project Director of the Lea Valley
Experience which is in its early stages of development. The Heritage Walk will
connect six listed historic buildings. The walk will pass Spring Field Marina
and the historic Copper Mill that might also become a heritage attraction in the
future. The Copper Mill is also situated close to the historic AVRO site on
Walthamstow Marshes. Each anchor attraction is also situated a bus ride away
from other local museums, e.g. Bruce Castle, Vestry House and finally the
William Morris Gallery, an exciting North London Heritage Trail. When fully
developed both the Markfield and the Lea Experience Project could also become
part of the European Heritage Trail.
If you would like to contact us about any of the above projects, please
call, Lindsay Collier on 07930 662252 or email me at. l.collier418@btinternet.com
