A local piece of...

...history.

I'm sure many of us are guilty of not paying attention to what is close to home - I know I certainly am. I have travelled to London to visit "The Tower" and various palaces. I've been to Scotland and seen a Castle or two. I've also been to Yorkshire, Devon and Cheddar where I've explored caves/caverns but I don't often stop to think about things right on my door-step.

Right here in the borough where I live (Thurrock) they discovered a Woolly Mammoth (in Aveley). There were archaeological digs at Mucking (oh that was a very muddy school trip) and we have two forts on the banks of the river Thames - Tilbury Fort and Coalhouse Fort. A big chunk of the land that borders the Thames near to where I live was at one time owned by the Boleyn family in Tudor times and going further back in time to the reign of Richard II we had several leaders of the Peasant's Revolt (1381 - poll tax revolt) allegedly living in the Fobbing area.

Just across the border from Fobbing in the next borough we have Wat Tyler Park which has been designated a site of significant interest and if you take a look at the park website via the link you'll see that there has been stuff going on there since around the Bronze age.

Now I'm sure you are all wondering where I'm going with this...well...I have a few days off and as the weather was beautiful today, I went for a wander.

I haven't been to Wat Tyler park since before my niece got married and I have to say that there have been a number of changes, many of which I have snapped so that I could share them on here - get a very long cool drink because there are a load of photos...

Next to the visitor centre there is the "Village Green" which is a large grassed area surrounded by some thatched buildings that have been rescued and relocated here...

 Much of the park was marsh/wetland and what used to be muddy paths near the children's play area has duckboard walkways now...

 I'm not sure what these figures are but they are part of the sculpture trail that consists of pieces of art throughout the park...

...they could be representations of Wat Tyler and the other peasants but I couldn't get close enough to find out.
 The tide was in...

...and this map shows the route up from the Thames via Holehaven creek...

This is a "Washing Bowl" - a leftover from when there was an explosives factory on the site...

 ...the information board suggests that it was used to wash gun cotton...

 This building was originally part of the explosive works but is now a bird & wildlife discovery centre...

 A lot of work is currently going on to clear overgrown & clogged waterways - this waterfall is one of the first bits completed...

 The waterway will run into a series of ponds in the rose garden...

 ...and seating area...

 There are lots of information boards dotted all around the park...

 The park is a wonderful place to wander around...

 ...with shady wooded areas...

 ...and open grassy mounds...

 Here is another of the art pieces...

 This is one of four pill-boxes from WWII...

 ...there is another info board...

 ...and on top is a viewing platform...

 What you can see in the distance is the remains of the Coryton oil refinery...

 This pond full of water grass is quite close to the creek...

 ...and you can probably just make out a few water-lilies...

 

I spent a lovely (if hot) few hours wandering around the park and really must make the effort to pop over there more often.

 

If you stop to think about it, are there places near where you live that you often take for granted ? Why not spend some time wandering around where you live or pop into the library to find out a bit more about where you live - you might surprise yourself with what you find....................................