We’re looking forward to the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3rd. It will feature 1,000 boats and be watched by over a million spectators, as it travels down the river between Putney and Tower Bridge.

Taking about 90 minutes to pass any given point, the flotilla will be over seven miles long and – including mustering, dispersal and the avenue of sail – will include some 25 miles of Thames river bank and pass under 14 bridges.

Applications from boat-owners were three times oversubscribed, but we’re delighted that HCM’s Maxime will be part of the pageant – the full list of invited boats is here.

We are running a Cafe and Christmas Market on the moorings from Saturday 3rd to Sunday 11th December. We will be open from 10am-4pm and late night on Wednesday until 7pm. (we wont be open on Friday 9th).

NB: cash only

(photos: Gavin Starks)

On the weekend (17,18) we are also part of Open House London.

There are also several special events over the week:

Friday 9th September

7pm: Poetry night at Hermitage. Come and hear poets perform work about history, memory, and rivers; or even read some work yourself! Booking recommended.

Saturday 10th September

11am onwards – drop-in bunting-making workshop for adults and kids. Make a bunting flag that shows what the river means to you!

2pm Local history walk with Ray Newton. Meet at Hermitage, and join us on a ramble around Wapping’s hidden history.

Sunday 11th September.

1pm: Local history bike ride with Alan Ball. Leaving from Hermitage. Own bike needed, and booking required.

Tuesday 13th September

2pm: Local history walk with Ray Newton. Meet at Hermitage.

7pm: Madge Darby talks about her latest book, “Piety and Piracy”, a history of Wapping.

Friday 16th September

10am: Mudlarking event on the foreshore. Meet at Hermitage – wear wellies! Booking recommended.

7pm: Music evening with Nigel of Bermondsey singing new ballads about Wapping, followed by an open session and sing-around. Bring your voice, your instruments, and join in. Booking recommended.

Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September

London Open House weekend comes to Hermitage again. Come and see the historic boats, explore the A Sense of Place exhibition, and watch video art created by the project. No booking needed to visit the moorings; but check on the door for film screening times.

Events include Wapping Olympics, riverboat cruises, history walks, live music, homemade food and clothes stalls. The Children’s Parade will be crowned by Shaun Austin, the Pearly King of Wapping who has now been found.

(NB: there was no substantial impact on the tides)

(photo: Gavin Starks)

Click here for directions

HCM is featured again this year in Open House London Weekend – the capital’s greatest architectural showcase.

Please feel free to come along between 10am and 4pm on either day of 18 & 19 September – address and maps here.

Find out more about this year’s OHLW highlights, including;

1. Neighbourhood walks looking at the spaces in-between buildings, suburban transformation and pockets of housing in our local communities
2. Architects’ homes and groundbreaking housing developments
3. Eco and zero carbon buildings, sometimes with Energy Saving Trust advisors on site
4. The future city – tours of the Olympic Park, Barking Riverside, Tate Modern Extension and other major regeneration projects
5. Planners, architects and engineers talks on how they create successful cities
6. Public art and space, including the first opportunity to hear from the Olympic Delivery Authority about integrated art for the Olympic Park
7. An app for iphone – ‘Flook’ will tell visitors which Open House building is nearby to visit next
8. Competition for a tour by iconic Routemaster with Arriva London Heritage Fleet, starting at BT Tower
9. Competition to win an overnight stay at 5* Grosvenor House Hotel
10. Photography competition ‘Design that makes a difference’, supported by Architect’s Journal
11. Science and Sustainability panel discussion at the Royal Society on Monday 13 September
12. Opportunity to see Open House architecture by night and raise money for Maggies Centres on the
13. London Night Hike on Friday 17 September

Victoria Thornton, Director of Open House comments “Experiencing architecture in the flesh helps everyone become more knowledgeable, engage in dialogue and make informed judgments on the buildings, places and neighbourhoods where we all live, work and play. 73% of our visitors say Open House made them feel differently about London’s architecture.”

Aside from the usual stunning views of Tower Bridge and a collection of beautiful historic vessels, we’ll be holding a boat jumble sale - with all proceeds to our resident charity (Hermitage River Projects) – and serving tea and cakes.

Hope to see you here! (click here for directions)

Update: Steam Ship Vic56, an eighty-five foot steam ship, built in 1945 as part of the wartime shipbuilding program,  will also be on-site during the weekend.

He is berthing at HCM on 24th (from about noon) and 25th and maybe 26th.