The old and the new - a theme I love!

Yesterday I posted an image of the old and the new in the City. Today this is the old and the new as seen from Limehouse Basin. The Xylonite is a Thames barge built in 1926. You may have seen it in the 2017 film ‘Dunkirk’. Limehouse Basin is chock full of interesting old boats. By contrast it’s overlooked in the distance by the new buildings of Canary Wharf. The most recent in this photo is the Newfoundland Building which is residential and soon to be completed. That’s the tallest one with the trellis shaped facade.

The lives of these two sets of inhabitants could hardly be more different. One set living on the water, with a sense of community, their wood and coal fired stoves, unique houseboats and yachts and even in some cases a nomadic, adventurous lifestyle. The others will move into plush uniform apartments with fabulous views in many cases. I suffer very easily from seasickness so life on the water, even in a sheltered basin, wouldn’t be for me but I can’t say that it doesn’t appeal and I know some people who absolutely love it.

There’s such a mix in this photo including the older buildings which were built to fit in with the traditional style when ‘London Docklands’ was first being developed. And now the newest buildings which have moved totally away from that concept and are true skyscrapers pushing ever higher.

Let me know which you’d prefer!