No. 439: The Queens Walk, SE1
Stamford Wharf, The Queens Walk, London, SE1. Photo © Roger Dean 2011
From ‘FOUND DROWNED’:ON SUICIDES OF PROSTITUTES IN THE THAMES a post by The Victorianist on the blog The Virtual Victorian:
As we passed one dismal lane leading out of the main thoroughfare [Ratcliffe Highway], my guide asked me to come down. ‘This is Gravel Lane,’ he said; ‘at the bottom is the Dock bridge, where so many of these poor girls [prostitutes] throw themselves over. It has been found necessary in consequence to keep a policeman there from seven in the evening all night. I call it the “Bridge of Sighs”‘ he added. We went down; and, sure enough, there was the policeman at his gloomy vigil. It was a quiet nook, with the bows of two big ships looming over the moonlit water. ‘They find it very convenient,’ said the Missionary, with a touch of grim humour, ‘to come down here and drop into the water.’
[The whole of this article can be read on The Virtual Victorian by clicking here and The Victorianist can be visited by clicking here. R.D.]
Such a chilling and beautiful image. Really brings the whole scenario to life. How desperately sad.
Fills me with utter terror – even on a nice day the Thames is a brooding force and on a dingy evening (presume when this was taken) it is just so much worse…
Yes that evening the Thames looked very menacing