"Gentle Brent, I used to know you, Wandering Wembley-wards at will, Now what change your waters show you In the meadowlands you fill!"...John Betjeman.
Entering the river via an alley between industrial warehouse buildings, the river is wider than expected. With large trees and shrubbery along the banks the river can look pretty idyllic from certain views. You then pass through a set of tunnels. According to local folklore a goat headed man wanders this section of the river. He sounds similar to a certain Pan character in D.H. Lawrence's 'The Last Laugh', perhaps he found his way up the road to the river from Hampstead Heath.
A flag pole from one of the old Wembley stadium twin towers sits just to the side of the river on a grass area of the St.Raphs estate. Memories of going to the FA cup at the old Wembley flood back. The river also flows along behind the Ace Cafe, the well known biker, rocker and petrolhead hangout, an institution in this part of London.
Having watched Patrick Keller's 'Stonebridge Park' numerous times, it's interesting to see how the area has changed since his 1981 film. The walkways over the north circular and the council blocks have all since been demolished. New Ballardian towers are shooting up on previous industrial land at a very fast pace, some directly backing onto the river.
Well worth a walk if you want somewhere different in London to explore. I'm looking forward to following the river in other directions soon.
As usual with most my topographical wanders, a simple souvenir style T-Shirt of the River Brent is available on the website.