Why Is There A Bell From East London In Manhattan’s Oldest Church?

st paul's chapel new york

Towards the bottom of Broadway in Manhattan, not far from Wall Street, you will find St Paul’s Chapel, the oldest surviving church building in in New York City. Duck inside and you will discover a rare little corner of calm amongst the frenetic energy of Manhattan.  St Paul’s has a fascinating history, its story inextricably

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Pulling back The Curtain On The Extraordinary Story Of The Lyceum Theatre

the lyceum theatre

The Lyceum Theatre on Wellington Street is well known today as having been home to Disney’s The Lion King musical since 1999. It does, however, have a history that stretches back much further.  It is a tale that involves waxworks, a ‘stupendous ostrich’ , a Victorian star of the stage and a world famous author. 

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From Doulton To Mrs Beeton: Exploring The Amazing West Norwood Cemetery

west norwood cemetery history

West Norwood Cemetery is one of the famous ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries in London. Others I have written about previously include Highgate, here and Abney Park here. They are all fascinating, sombre, atmospheric places to wander around, bursting with stories but also spaces of peace, solitude and nature. West Norwood is the resting place for a

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A Visit To Paddington’s Jewel: St Mary Magdalene Church

st mary magdalene paddington history

Sitting proudly next to the Grand Union Canal, today in its own grassy enclave, you can find the jewel of Paddington: St Mary Magdalene Church.  It is a Gothic Revival masterpiece and filled with beautiful details, including a breathtaking treasure in the crypt. For me, it was very much a ‘why have I not been here

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Tracing The Peasants’ Revolt Through London’s Streets

peasants revolt in london

The Peasants’ Revolt, or the ‘Great Uprising’ of 1381, was one of the great defining and dramatic events of medieval England. That summer, rebellion erupted across parts of Southern and Eastern England. Thousands of ordinary people arrived at the gates of London and, for a brief moment, threatened the established order of English society. They

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