Petts Wood to Hayes via West Wickham - urban walk (part two)
The urban walk gang take in a south London stroll!
(Photos/words © urban75, 15th-16th May, 2009)
We continue our leisurely stroll.
Ice cream and tea!
Interesting local architecture.
The magnificent Holwood House in Keston, near Hayes.
Designed by Decimus Burton and built between 1823 and 1826, the Greek Revival house is now a Grade I listed building.
I seem to have passed Wilberforce's seat on a multitude of walks, so I'll recycle the caption from the walk in 2005.
 On the same path we came along Wilberforce's seat and oak.
The inscription on the seat reads: "From Mr Wilberforce's diary, 1788, 'At length, I well remember after a conversation with Mr Pitt in the open air at the root of an old tree at Holwood, just above the steep descent into the vale of Keston, I resolved to give notice on a fit occasion in the House of Commons of my intention to bring forward the abolition of the slave trade.'"
We looked around a bit for the 'root of the old tree', but we were buggered if we were going to start diving into thick undergrowth to a bit of ancient wood. But it's in there somewhere, apparently.
Time for a snack.
The first signs of Autumn as we head towards the Keston Ponds.
The spring source for Ravensbourne River which eventually flows into the Thames.
There didn't seem much business for the ice cream van today.
Aw. I wonder how long this has been here?
The Greyhound Inn, Commonside, Keston, Kent.
Oh yes! A well deserved pint of Harveys is downed.
Heading towards Hayes, Kent.
The terminus station at Hayes.
One tired doggie!
Ladywell station at night.
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