3 questions about Greenwich Park

[Falkor]

I realise I'm taking the Mickey here, since Greenwich Park is outside even the Lewisham Borough, but considering the size of the universe.... plus I'm sure many of you will be somewhat familiar with this localish tourist attraction.

Does Greenwich have their own discussion forum? I know you guys feel safe in Sydenham, but my patch is the whole of South East England.

Here goes...
1) Which part of the park did Time Team find the Roman Temple?
2) Which part of the park did Watling Street run through? Any overlays out there or anything?
3) Finally, what on earth is this building?

[will greenwood]

Conduit House or Standard Reservoir

This dark red brick building dates back to 1710-11. It was one of many conduit heads built under the dir-ection of architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, then deputy surveyor for the Royal Naval Hospital. Inside is a room 24.3m (80ft) in diameter. Water was piped from here to the Hospital from a large cistern into which all the conduits on the west side of the Park drained. Part of Hawksmoor’s job when deputy surveyor for the Hospital was to survey the conduits and to enlarge and vault them for maintenance.

The conduit head above the Children’s Playground dates from around 1708 and marks the entrance to another of the old water tunnels. Brick built conduits were used from at least the 13th century to bring water from the local springs to the former Greenwich Palace and to houses on the river front. East Lane Conduit House, on the north-east edge of the park near the Boating Pond, was originally one of the water storage units for the Tudor Palace and dates back to around 1515.


http://www.friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk/map.html

[Falkor]

Nice one, Will! You're on the ball tonight. That's been bugging me all day... thanks for clearing up the mystery! Never thought it would be that old... it's almost as old as Sydenham's oldest building!

[leenewham]

Isn't it amazing that a simple thing like this building years ago was made to look appealing.

If only we could do this today.

[will greenwood]

that is so true, isnt it?

[Steve Grindlay]

It does help if it is somewhere privileged, like a Royal Park. Or Dulwich Village, where they were able to insist on far more attractive bus shelters that the rest of us have. Or Blackheath Village, where the barrier stopping motorists driving onto the railway line is almost pleasing compared with the ugly concrete structure we have.

[leenewham]

I"m sure that if we looked hard enough we could find or even design a bus shelter that was nicer and cheaper than what the council/tfl or whoever is responsible for them could do if we were allowed.

I worked in a design company where we designed everything from petrol stations to train stations (we did hammersmith and the Oval) to shops, interiors, machinery and branding.

It's not such a mystery and it really shouldn't cost the earth.

[will greenwood]

his is the original conduit building, c.1835

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/224 ... f48a_o.gif