All text copyright Stephen Coates 2006 - 2015

CHILD ROWLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME

This sinister object is a Victorian water tower in the back streets of Kennington.  It is one of the few remains of The Lambeth Workhouse where children were "taught to read but not write" and where Charlie Chaplin spent part of his childhood.  The childen would have seen it from a window in their dormitory.

It also appeared in the strange short film "The Black Tower' where a tower seems to follow the narrator around London.

I think I know that feeling.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Now that's an ominous view -- I wonder if they saw it in their dreams?

ArtSparker said...

Have to say I am reminded of the "Bleeding C of E" marching down the street in the Monty Python routine.

clerkenwell kid said...

That is a great thought!

ArtSparker said...

Oh yeah, and the tower of "In Bruges"

Unknown said...

Also!

Sometimes a Victorian water tower is just a Victorian water tower...unless you're in Ypsilanti, MI. Then it's something completely different.

(...Say no more!)

clerkenwell kid said...

Well! I am sure that appears in dreams..

Unknown said...

Without a doubt!