The Thames has meandered its way passing by the great and good of central London. The Houses of Parliament, the Tate Modern, the glittering glass and steel of the City crowd the shores of this celebrated body of water. As the river slips by and starts to broaden the spectators on the shores are not quite so well heeled, the overlooking eyes not quite so well situated. The forgotten shores of old Deptford and Bermondsey watch reproachfully from the south bank. The river hurries, eager to reach the wide horizons beckoning it beyond. At low tide on Deptford beach amidst the rounded chunks of old bricks and pebbles, artefacts of lives lived not too long ago surface in the ancient mud.