Two fortunes to be found in Wanstead


An amazing photo of Wanstead from Adam Lewis (see more of his pictures here on Flickr), spotted after heavy rain earlier this month. A moment to treasure, but, as Adam points out, probably not as much as this fella, whose reaction is a bit more California than E11.

Reviews of Wanstead’s new steakhouse welcome

Queen’s British Steakhouse and Grill, in the former British Queen pub on New Wanstead, was due to open on Saturday. Expectations are high – so as is our tradition at Wansteadium, reviews are welcome. Please add comments below or e-mail at wansteadium[at]gmail.com.

PS. It looks like the first tenant is about to move in to the renovated Cuckfield Garage – a thoroughly smartened piece of Wanstead which has preserved some of the feeling of the original. But there will be disappointment for those hoping for an increase the diversity of Wanstead shops – first in will be a beautician.

Wanstead news roundup, 18.9.10; Festival time (with extra special added Art)

• The Wanstead Festival is taking place on Sunday from 11am until 5pm on Christchurch Green as usual. Attractions include classic cars, bands throughout the day, local stalls, children’s theatre, climbing wall. The weather forecast – at the time of writing – is fine. (BBC 5-day forecast for E11 is here.) And if you want to make a day of it, there’s the Open House weekend running, details of Wanstead attactions here.

• And the really big attraction is the launch of the Wanstead Art Trail week. Download a map here from the Wanstead Society.

• The Wanstead and Snaresbrook under 15s team national champions for the fourth time – will be honoured on Friday at the Oval.

• Wanstead’s Gabrielle Collard is still going on her mammoth cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats. She’s reached Scotland. You can follow her on Twitter at @dollycreative, and sponsor her here.

Open House day in Wanstead

There are a number of buildings in Wanstead taking part in the Open House Day on Saturday and Sunday. Take your pick – and feel free to submit photos if you do visit (either at wansteadium[at]gmail.com or tag them “Wansteadium” on Flickr).

Quaker Meeting House (more details)

Modernist building based on four hexagons within an Epping Forest setting. Contains a sunny meeting room for Quaker worship facing onto a wooded burial ground of simple headstones, including that of Elizabeth Fry.

St Mary’s Wanstead (more details)

Grade I listed, fine example of a small Georgian church with original box pews, next door to the now vanished Wanstead House. One of London’s best Baroque monuments (to Sir Josiah Child of the East India Company) in chancel.

Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue, pictured above (more details)

Red-brick, Grade II listed with sumptuous interior and stained glass windows above ark. Originally the Merchant Seaman’s Orphan Asylum Chapel, acquired by the synagogue in 1995 and restored with Heritage Lottery Fund grant

Christ Church (more details)

Grade II* listed church with ragstone tower, spire, good stained glass by Kempe and newly restored William Hill organ. A characteristic work of Scott. Diocesan Architectural Committee Award Winner 2009 for the reordering of the nave and chancel.