Biscuit Town: The story of Bermondsey

Biscuit Town: The story of Bermondsey

I had good fun on this walk from Bermondsey to London Bridge on the Jubilee line. There's a lot of history packed in, a visit to the seminal pie and mash shop of London - Manze's, a closer look at St Saviour's Dock at the mouth of the River Neckinger and even a Dutch-language joke (for those who care about such things).

This was also the video published when the channel had 4000 subscribers for the first time.

This is number 63 of the walks I'm doing between the stations of the London Underground.

ERRATUM: Bermondsey tube station opened in 1999 and not 2000

MUSIC: 'Autumn Sky' by Cold Cinema

Walked in April 2024

0:00 intro
0:36 Bermondsey station
1:05 Jamaica Road
4:59 Old Jamaica Road
7:43 Abbey Street
8:16 Jamaica Road
13:25 Tanner Street
16:05 Riley Road
16:50 Purbrook Street
17:20 Tower Bridge Road
21:37 Manze's
23:30 Bermondsey Street
25:52 Tyers Gate
26:40 Leathermarket Gardens
27:27 Kirby Grove
28:33 Melior Place
29:00 Melior Street
29:21 Fenning Street
30:00 St Thomas Street
30:27 London Bridge station

[Project.Womble.London]

Fantastic informative video. Thank you for sharing your tours 😊

[marthaanderson]

as a tourist visitor to London, I wish Bermondsey and Rotherhithe were more accessible. Thank you for introducing the lovely pie shop Simply fills the eye with the lovely tile work. Have never eaten in such a place and it certainly goes on the mental list for future

[jpberm-on-sea]

Enjoyed that, I Grew up near Jamaica road. I moved away from the area 12 years ago to the Norfolk coast, haven't been back for a while but it's looks a lot different in places. I like the peace and quiet of where I am now but would move back in a heartbeat if I could afford it. 🦁👍

[jackjames]

The mock Tudor building you liked is a former pub. You can find photos of that very same spot from the 1960s before the place was redeveloped and it will break your heart - the whole of Jamaica road resembled what upper street in Islington still looks like today - architecturally rich and beautiful.

Across the road from that pub directly opposite the T junction where the tower block now stands used to be a beautiful row of Victorian shops that all survived the blitz and in the middle was a stunning theatre - the star music hall - with an unusual triple arch entrance - when the nearby Rotherhithe overground station was restored they incorporated an identical triple arch entrance so you can see a small piece of how beautiful the theatre once was.

Sadly they threw the baby AND the mother out with the bath water when they redeveloped Bermondsey in the 1970s

The bland flats you commented on were built in 2013 and replaced a 1930s development of art deco flats.

Great video - fascinating 🎉🎉🎉

[eattherich]

The Peak Freans buildings are no more. I remember the smell of biscuits and the digital clock that was made up of little bulbs. Everything has been flattened now for a horrid residential development. Bermondsey Street is delightful and I have walked it many times. Thank you for the walk and taking me down the backstreets that I didn't know.

[Michael-zyhf]

I am in Bermondsey lad Thank you ever so much for this video absolutely beautiful thank you

[highpath]

If anyone wondering why so many tanneries, well at one time everything was made of leather - saddles, shoes, jackets, trousers, boots, belts, bags furniture coverings, seat coverings for cabs / stagecoaches

[chrismarsh]

I was hoping you'd gone right on St Thomas Road towards Vinegar Yard. That's were my great great great grandfather lived.

[sarahlouise]

drove along Jamaica Road many-a-time when i lived in Surrey Quays. love these videos!

[jackjames]

And you made me laugh out loud more than a couple of times which is very rare 😂😂😂🎉 bravo and keep it up

[TfL]

It is interesting that you brought up the Dickens and Bill Sykes connection, but didn't mention that directly off Jamaica Road is the Dickens Estate - of which one of the blocks is called Pickwick House lol

[DadgeCity]

Just been trying to get my head round the history of Bridge Ward Without. What with that and Clink and Horselydown, it all seems quite surreal.

[michellebell]

Fabulous. Always enjoy your walks through London. That pie n mash looked ‘andsome! Looking forward to the next one . ( dare I mention that I actually love ultra modern architecture)

[sabrinensis]

I can’t believe you missed out The Blue – the true heart of Bermondsey!

[lycian]

I remember the smell of the Sarsons factory on the left and the Peek Freens factory on the right when coming into London Bridge Station back in the early 70's. I've always known the area to the south of the libe as former glue factories and tanners from the 'retired' horses.

[shortfork]

Knew them very well indeed lived in purbrook estate and st. Saviours estate.

[garymcguire]

I noted the spelling of Tyers Gate, as I born in Tyers St Vauxhall SE11, this is the old English spelling of Tyre. Maybe be the leather industry has something to do with this, putting a leather strap on wooden wheels to give them better grip in the mills?

[WillRoberts-sdyy]

As a kid my dad had a lorry firm at black wall tunnel. He would supply the lard there. Get all my Brocken biscuits. And sherials. Free bebes. Chuck them in the lorry. I use to walk round in pep frens

[highpath]

Fish & Chips Kebab's. At least Johnny's got a correct apostrophe