Nice Work

I've just started a new job down in Greenwich. A very traditional engineering company in a very traditional business, they have their factory in East Greenwich. It's got the second finest view I've ever had at work, with Canary Wharf almost opposite, the old Greenwich Naval college to the left, and the Millennium Dome to the right. It's fun to imagine just how much a view like that actually costs, yet someone is paying me to enjoy it...

So what was the best ever view? Back in the mid 1990s, I worked on the top floor of an office block just outside North London - over several years we tracked the construction of the Dome, the traffic on the Dartford Crossing bridge, and on a very good day ships coming into Tilbury. Sadly I've lost the pictures from back then - too many moves.

Archaeology in the Back Yard

I live next to and above a disused butcher's shop, which is being converted into flats.

On Friday workmen digging a trench discovered what appears to be an early 19th century well which still contains 5 feet or so of water. It has a dome shaped roof, and there was probably a hand pump fixed above it.



The only other find (so far) has been this little clay pipe, also early to mid 19th century although cheap disposable pipes similar to this one were produced up to Edwardian times.

Saxon gold or Roman coins next, please!