« All Events
InspiralLondon’s Songlines for Greenwich creates a day of polyphonic shared exploration for Black History 365 celebrations – with four interlinked walks along the InspiralLondon Trail – the first 2 parts are longer walks (10.30am – 1pm then from 1.30-3.30pm) arriving at Oxleas Woods. Here there will be a unique walk workshop led by Frances Calliste around Severndroog Castle woodland from 3.30pm -5.30pm. Before we descend via bus, across Woolwich Common to the Riverside. Then, in the early evening (6.30-8pm) join us for a final short walk event led by local artist Bonita Charles, around Woolwich Riverside
The day of explorations start from Mottingham, passing through Eltham, as the trail flows towards the River Thames. This walking event links up different parts of the Borough, to explore Black Lives – unique reclaimed stories and hidden histories – located in Greenwich’s diverse landscape. On these walking tours you will experience and celebrate unexplored Black History hidden in Greenwich’s historic building, its ghost traces, found buried in the cityscape.
We welcome all to this day of interlinked walks that celebrate Black history and cultures within Greenwich as we traverse the Borough from Motterham to Woolwich. We will stop on the way for performances, talks and celebratory retellings – with partners including Severndroog Castle, and Clockhouse Community Centre.
You can join us for 1 or more of the walks – or for full Retellings experience book for the whole day HERE – All walks are free but you must Book. Details and tickets from June 2025. Note if you cannot make the walk on day or need to cancel we are grateful if you can in form us via Eventbrite.
Retellings starts promptly at Motterham Station at 10.30 am (10.30am-1pm) to trace a ghost path along Inspirallondon trail toward Eltham station. We pass along King John’s Way to arrive at the end of this first walk exploration near to Eltham Palace. Taking time along the way to admire the views, share readings and local stories before stopping for a picnic lunch with refreshments at around 1pm.
(Image: The only known likeness of Yemmerrawanne – a silhouette profile in the Sir William Dixson collection of the State Library of New South Wales.)
Notably we visit the gravestone dedicated to ‘Imeerawanyee’, or Yemmerrawanne, a ‘slender, fine-looking youth’ and a ‘good tempered lively lad’ who soon became ‘a great favourite with us, and almost constantly lived at the governor’s house.’ On the walk we hear tell about this extraordinary story, the first encounters between the English colonisers and the native Australians of Warrane (now Sydney Harbour) – of songlines lost and found; Of the first time an Aboriginal song was performed in Europe by Bennelong and Yemmerrawanne – the printed score, the oldest known published music from Australia !
Book HERE
Now in the footsteps of Songlines, we trace our way from Eltham Station through Tudortime Eltham, to St John the Baptist Church where one of the first indigenous Australians to visit Europe was buried in 1794. Taking time reflect on the diversity of songlines that intersect among the meridian lines of Greenwich. Through Eltham, time travelling past Eltham Palace, to finally walk up to the edge of Oxleas Wood, to reach the monument of Severndroog Castle around 3.30pm for refreshments – you can then join the gentle walk workshop Severndroog Retellings – Trade, Piracy and Colonialism (3.30-5pmish) . Book HERE
Led by theatre artsist Frances Calliste
What secrets lie beneath a hill so tall, that caused leaders to rise and fall ?
Follow us on a gentle nature walk starting at Severndroog Castle, Shooters Hill, to venture into the surrounding ancient woodlands.
We will learn how this castle came to be, and reflect on the other histories mirrored in the post-colonial past. We’ll explore modern day piracy, sea shanties, flag symbolism and much more !
Strolling around Oxleas Woods with musical, poetic and thoughtful interludes. We will delve in deeper to the history behind Severndroog, making links to trade, piracy, pirate radio and much more! Through song, music and story-telling, we explore together other histories that mirror a post-colonial retelling of the past. Stay tuned for more info! Refreshments available.
We meet at Woolwich Station exit Elisabeth Line at 6.30pm to explore until Woolwich until around 8pm. Please BOOK HERE
Present, Memory and Myths is a multi-sensory exploration of Black British female writers, with readings along the River and around Old Woolwich Dockyards.
This final gentle perambulation down to the Thames and along the Thames – led by local artist Bonita Charles, culminates by the Thames in a meeting of the Female Spirits.
Note for full updated details of all walks and event please visit ticket BOOKING (from June 2025)
A Black History 365 celebration project funded by The Royal Borough of Greenwich, that seeks to uncover, then retell hidden, buried or untold stories from the Black British diaspora, through a festival of unique public walk events and performances.
also supported by soundcamp, Clockhouse Community centre, inspirallondon associate artists, The Art of the Magic Lantern, counterproductions & walking volunteers.
