We have a new winner in the "I can't believe how long that footpath took to reopen" local championships.
The Long Wall Path between Three Mills and the Greenway closed for 9 years 7 months. The Greenway between Stratford High Street and Marshgate Lane closed for 10 years 2 months. But the Three Mills Island Towpath wins hands down by having closed for 14 years 5 months. It was sealed off on 20th March 2007 so that British Waterways could build a new lock on the Prescott Channel. It has just reopened. Never give up hope.
This is an atmospheric little path, only 400 metres long but packed with interest. It skirts around three sides of Three Mills Studios, where who knows what might currently be in production, and overlooks tidal creek all the way. I am delighted to be able to walk it again.
The towpath begins on the cobbles outside the pedestrian entrance to the studios, which is where the contestants on Celebrity Masterchef do their walk for the opening titles, although I have yet to see anyone famous passing through reception. The finebuilding on the corner with the conical slate roofs is the Clock Mill, one of Three Mills' eponymous trio. It was first used for Lea-driven grinding in 1817, remained in operation until 1952 and these days is occupied by a free school because needs must. Look out for the weatherbeaten stones marking the (somewhat scary) heights of the floods in February 1904 and January 1928. And then walk through to the brand-newly-reopened bit.
They've been working here on and off for several years, shoring up the walls around the island to protect the studios within. Some of the work's only been possible via boats or scaffolding at low tide. The end result is a pristine path with gently curved railings, where previously was a puddle-strewn track with a low brick wall. Across the creek can be seen Tracey Emin's flock of birds on poles, beyond that the Lea Navigation and behind that Tesco's car park. As for the enormous wall inland this shields Stage 7, Three Mills' largest studio space, where such classics as Attack the Block, The Great and Inbetweeners 2 have been filmed.
As the newly-opened footpath is a product of the 2020s it displays copious safety signage at over-frequent intervals. Beware the adjacent deep water hazard, do not climb on the railings, children must be accompanied and yes, your every move is being watched by CCTV. The path soon bends round to follow the end of the Channelsea River. Here the view opens out to reveal the fabulous Bromley-by-Bowgasholders, all seven of them, described by the Victorian Society as "unmatched anywhere else in the world". You also get a good view of the District line and c2c trains passing by, indeed if you've ever stared out of the window between Bromley-by-Bow and West Ham you'll have seen this graffitied footpath suspended above the water.
The third side of the island follows the Prescott Channel, which is where the dismantled stones of the Euston Arch were summarily dumped. Just around the final bend is the site of Davina'sBridge, as crossed by Friday night evictees during the first two series of Big Brother, but alas removed without trace during construction of Three MillsLock. It's finally possible here to see through to Three Mills Studios, because railings replace brick, although all you get to see are the back of Stage 9, the Maintenance Yard and some tables where studio staff may be grabbing a snack. It looked like porridge and Red Bull yesterday morning.
This is also the spot where the eastern end of the footpath has just been unblocked, because the lockside ahead has long been accessible. This leads to the back of Three Mills Green, recently churned up by a series of raucous dance festivals and due for several more before autumn hits. And although I was expecting to have the newly-opened towpath entirely to myself I was impressed that two parents with pushchairs and a dogwalker were already using it, as if it had been open forever and not hermetically sealed for 14 years. It was great to (finally) be back.
