During the 1970s John had an interest in the River Lee and The Marshes and was involved with the Tottenham Marsh Study Group who were concerned about inappropriate developments of the Tottenham Marsh by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. Later he supported the aspirations of the Lee Valley Association to protect the whole valley from a desire for commercial development of the open space. His paintings recall a period of change as industrial buildings were closing and the transport of timber and copper by barge would soon cease. At Edmonton the area to the west of the river is now occupied by Ikea, Wickes etc. The name Lee or Lea are likely to be seen and both spellings are used. There is the use of Lee in Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and one of the barges in a painting is Leeside. Maps show Lea.
Dicker Mill at Hertford Courtesy: Private Collection
Glaxosmithkline, Ware By John Godden
Glaxo Smith Kline Priory Street Ware By John Godden
The modern offices of Glaxo Smith Kline located Priory Street Ware viewed across the river Lea at Ware.
Courtesy Private Collection
Meridian Waters Development Area 2019.
Many of the locations John chose for his paintings were at Edmonton adjacent to the River Lee including the former gas works and other Lee side buildings. By 2019 most have now been demolished.
A major £6 Billion 20 year development will see 2,300 homes that according to the developer will provide "mixed uses and animated streets with park life on the doorstep" The location of Johns gas works paintings will see 250 affordable homes at Leeside Road "earmarked for makers & creators" that will use new work-space on the lower floors. The paintings below are a record of a past use of the Lee.
The canal paintings shown on this page are grouped together revealing the demolition of the gas works buildings.
Willoughby Lane Gas Works by John Godden
Willoughby Lane Gas Works by John Godden
A painting by John Godden showing the gas works at Willoughby Lane Tottenham adjacent to the River Lee near to bridge No 27 the Chalk Bridge showing logs in a barge before being unloaded to the Hahn wood yard.
Courtesy :Private collection
Barges on the Lee
By John Godden
Another painting by John Godden that shows the gas works adjacent to the River Lee, near to bridge No 27 the Chalk Bridge showing logs in a barge before being unloaded to the Hahn wood yard. The green tarpaulin is in this painting to the centre.
Courtesy :Private collection
"Lent Lily" by John Godden
"Lent Lily" on the Lea north of chalk bridge By John Godden
"Lent Lily" B&W Photograph of painting 23" x 14" around 1972 River Lea barge Lent Lily moored on east bank of River Lea just north of Chalk Bridge and looking west towards the redundant gas works. The moored craft were at that time serving the Hahn timber yard that was still being used in 1972
"Demolition of Gasworks" by John Godden.
"Demolition of Gasworks" by John Godden.
Demolition of the Willoughby Lane Gas Works 89.8cm x 57.3cm It is from the same viewpoint as Lent Lily in this series of paintings that chart the disappearance of the storage tanks and gas-holders that once dominated this area to the north of the Tottenham Marsh. Courtesy:Bruce Castle Museum (Haringey Culture, Libraries and Learning)
"Leeside" By John Goddden
Lee Navigation "Leeside"
By John Godden
Leeside - Its one of Johns larger paintings measuring 48" x 29" Acrylic on MDF showing barges Leeside & Vanessa. These appear to be empty barges moored near to the Hahn timber yard. In earlier years they were pulled up and down river by tugs but in the 60s motorised tractors were used when horses were replaced. Timber to Edmonton and copper going to the rolling mills at Enfield were the main goods transported and these paintings have captured an era of river transport along the Lee that has now ceased.
Private Collection
"The Containers" by John Godden
"The Containers" By John Godden
Tottenham Gas Works 18" x 23" Acrylic on board Looking west in 1971 before tanks were removed. The gasholder in the background centre was adjacent to Leeside Road and one of the last structures to disappear.
Courtesy: Private collection GH
"The Gasometer" by John Godden
"The Gasometer" By John Godden
Another painting of Tottenham Gas Works with almost all the gas works buildings now demolished. Bridge No 27 Chalk Bridge is to the left. One gasholder remains at the end of Leeside Road has now been demolished as Meridian Waters development gets underway.
Courtesy: Private collection GH
"The Brick Pillar" Eley's Estate by John Godden
"The Brick Pillar" by John Godden
Eley's Industrial Estate adjacent to the Lee Navigation at Edmonton in the Lee Valley provided a number of subjects for John Godden and "Brick Pillar" Eley's Estate is typical of the subjects he painted
Courtesy: Private Collection
"Under Cover" by John Godden
"Under Cover" by John Godden
"Under Cover" Industrial Estate The Lea Tottenham dated May 1975. Acrylic on board 26.5" x 21.5"
Courtesy: Private collection
Timber Yard by John Godden
"Timber Yard" By John Godden
Timber Yard B&W Photograph of painting 26" x 30" River Lee south of the North Circular Road The other two images below are along the same stretch of the River Lee navigation to the south of the 1930s road bridge with its towers (now demolished). The view is from the towing path side of the navigation and records the buildings, all demolished.
Veneer Mill by John Godden
"Veneer Mill" By John Godden
Veneer Mill B&W Photograph of painting 20" x 25" West side of the River Lee south of North Circular Road Now on the site near to a Wickes store and TGI Friday is further south. These warehouses were on the opposite side of the river to Towpath and Hawley Road.
Boys Fishing By John Godden
"Boys Fishing" By John Godden
From a greetings card - Fishing - Acrylic on cardboard 6" x 4" The River Lea south of the North Circular Road a few yards from the Veneer Mill above.
By the Lea By John Godden
By the the Lea By John Godden
This painting of boys on the riverbank is the real River Lea that does not have locks and shows the embankment of the southern end of the Banbury reservoir and the houses at Waterhall Close and Travers Close with the pylons. Other paintings have used the Lea navigation where Stonebridge lock is to the south. COURTESY Private Collection
Canoes on the Lee,Hertford By John Godden
Canoes on the River Lee By John Godden
Many of the paintings by John feature the industry and buildings of the river but here one of the leisure activities of the river is captured,
By the Lea at Tottenham By John Godden
Tottenham Marsh looking towards Edmonton By John Godden
Greetings card by John Godden Tottenham Marshes from the Lee navigation above Stonebridge Lock - Acrylic on cardboard "6 x 4" Looking northwest towards the north section of Tottenham Marsh with tower block housing at Edmonton on the skyline. John supported the activities of the Tottenham Marsh Study Group and the Lee Valley Association that wanted the Lee to be retained as open space and not developed as a location for buildings and football stadiums.
Tottenham Marshes By John Godden
Tottenham Marsh By John Godden
Tottenham Marshes - Acrylic on cardboard "6 x 4" River Lee looking north at Tottenham Marsh from the towpath between the channels of the River Lee navigation and the river Lee.
Tottenham Marsh By John Godden
Tottenham Marsh for the LVA by John Godden
This image is one of several that John produced to help raise funds for the Tottenham Marsh Study Group and the Lee Valley Association. The images were reproduced by the Inkwell Company of 713 Seven Sisters Road N15 and sold in aid of the campaign to ensure that the Tottenham Marshes & Lee Valley were not exploited for commercial purposes.
North of Tottenham Lock By John Godden
Lee navigation north of Tottenham Lock By John Godden
This image was sent as a greetings card A5 size showing a stretch of the River Lee north of Tottenham Lock (see below) with the Pymmes Brook below the fence on the left and the chimney of Deephams waste incinerator in the far distance releasing a trail of steam. The bulky building in centre is an electricity transformer and switch now next to the new highway.
Winter by Tottenham Lock by John Godden
"Tottenham lock"
By John Godden
Winter by Tottenham Lock by John Godden Shown to the left and below are two paintings by John of Tottenham Lock No 17 on the River Lee. Behind is bridge 24 Ferry Lane road bridge The image to the left includes the electricity pylons and slight differences to the buildings on the right. The image below from the collection of Godden paintings held by Haringey Council does not include any pylons. Courtesy: Private collection BH
Winter at Tottenham Lock (HBC )by John Godden
Winter at Lock 17 Tottenham Lock 34.2cm x 42 cm 1970. This painting shows the western lock,the eastern lock is out of view on the right.
Courtesy:Bruce Castle Museum (Haringey Culture, Libraries and Learning)
Wood Factory at Eley's Estate
"Wood Factory" By John Godden
Another of Johns larger paintings 35" x 45" Acrylic on board it is of a factory on the Eley's industrial estate adjacent to the Lee navigation at Edmonton. The images below show in detail sections of the main painting. The painting is signed by John and dated August 1975.
Courtesy:Private collection BH
"From Greenwich" by John Godden
Isle of dogs from Greenwich By John Godden
"From Greenwich"- The painting shows the view from Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs across the Thames with the spire of Christ Church Manchester Road / Glenafferic Avenue. The red brick building to the left of the church is the Watermans Arms public house with a slipway in front down to the river Thames. Courtesy: Private collection
"The Red Box" by John Godden
"The Red Box" by the Lee at Edmonton By John Godden
. "The Red Box" is the original title of this painting and is of the side of the building built in the early 1970s that stood just south of the North Circular Road at Edmonton adjacent to the River Lee Navigation. Now recently demolished with the site waiting development for Troubadour Studios where in phases 120,350 sq ft of studio are under construction to be completed in 2023.
Courtesy: Private collection
"The Thames Millwall" - by John Godden
"The Thames Millwall" By John Godden
The Thames towards Millwall.
Acrylic on board
Courtesy: Private collection
"The Lock" at Hartham By John Godden
Hertford Lock No 1 on the River Lee at Hartham Common Hertford By John Godden
This watercolour is called "The Lock" and is of Hertford Lock No 1 at Hartham Common on the River Lee. Size 32" x 19" and dated April 1992