Tired of London, Tired of Life - A website about things to do in London

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10 February 2011

Wander on Hackney Marshes

Famous for having more than 60 marked football pitches, which provide the venue for up to 70 amateur football matches each week, Hackney Marshes is an area of grassland - formerly a marsh - which is part of areas of similar grassland which stretch along the River Lee, forming the Lee Valley Park.


Originally drained during Medieval times, the site became a dumping ground for rubble from buildings destroyed during the Blitz. Nowadays, it exists in the shadow of the Olympic site, and the East Marsh is set to close for football in May 2011, when it is being tarmacked over to become a temporary coach park for the Games.

For now, though, it remains the venue for amateur football and nice walks by the river, and should be taken advantage of. God knows how long it will take them to reinstate it, and what state it will be in, after the Olympics.

For more information, see http://www.hackney.gov.uk/cp-hackneymarsh.htm

3 comments:

  1. I used to play Sunday morning foorball there years ago. There were often over 100 matches played in one day.
    Did you know that the Romans built a road across it?
    Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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  2. I did not know that. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Talk of Hackney Marshes makes me think of the old music hall song If It Wasn't for the 'Ouses In Between. Please excuse me for quoting a verse here:

    Oh it really is a wery pretty garden
    And Chingford to the eastward could be seen;
    'Wiv a ladder and some glasses,
    You could see to 'Ackney Marshes,
    If it wasn't for the 'ouses in between.

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