UPMINSTER and UPMINSTER BRIDGE District Line
A windmill!




These two stations are so close together that it seems sensible to treat them as one. Start at Upminster and walk down Station Road to the main street, St. Mary’s Lane. Cross to St. Laurence’s which has a very old tower (c 1200) with a short broach spire. Apart from being interesting in its own right, it was here that in the early eighteenth century William Derham, the rector and a respected scholar, measured the speed of sound. This was done by engaging trustworthy friends at various distances to fire shotguns at predetermined moments, and timing the results.


Further down the road comes a treat for everyone – a complete windmill! This smock mill dates back to 1803 and is well looked after. The mill is open to the pubic on two weekends a month April to September.

After leaving the mill, continue down the road to Bridge Avenue which leads to the Hornchurch Stadium. Go to the carpark and on the left there is a swing gate which takes you to Gaynes Parkway. This is a narrow swathe of woodland that follows the river Ingrebourne as it winds its way to Rainham. Go right at the little bridge, signed London Loop, cross Hacton Bridge at the road, and you can continue as far as you like towards Hornchurch Country Park.

To get to Upminster Bridge Tube Station for the journey home, retrace your steps and at the top of Bridge Avenue turn left.


MAP

Upminster is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and whacky buildings to be found, even in the most unpromising areas covered by the Greater London Underground stations. Usually the places listed are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk to see the other destinations explored . You'll be amazed at what's out there!

© DR2007