Memorials and Monuments

London’s memorials and monuments- the history behind them and the people they honour

A Wren Spire Hidden In A South London Housing Estate

st antholin's church spire history

Hidden away in a 1960s housing estate in Forest Hill, South London, you will find something that looks very out of place: the top of a City of London church spire. Not only that, but one designed by none other than Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London. But how did a 340 […]

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St Stephen Walbrook: Wren’s Other Masterpiece

st stephen walbrook history

Approaching St Stephen Walbrook from the North, it looks relatively ordinary with its fairly typical tower and unadorned exterior. From the East or West you may spot a large green dome: a clue to what lies behind the facade. Go inside however and you will be blown away: St Stephen Walbrook is widely considered Wren’s

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The Fascinating Story Behind London’s Bluecoat Statues

bluecoat sculptures history

One of my favourite oddities to spot around London are ‘bluecoat’ statues. You will occasionally see them, most often in a pair, a girl and a boy, on the front of buildings. They are usually there because the building was once what was known as a ‘bluecoat’ school. Bluecoat, sometimes spelt ‘blewcoat’, schools were charitable

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What Is The Oldest Statue In London?

the oldest statue in london

With any question starting with ‘what is the oldest x’ in London, whether that is the oldest pub, church or sculpture, the answer is always more complicated than you would think. Today, I thought I would tackle one of those: the oldest statue. This only includes outdoor statues, otherwise museums would come into play. There

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9 Secrets Of St Bartholomew The Great Church

st bartholomew the great church history

St Bartholomew the Great, London’s oldest parish church, is hands down one my favourite historical spots in London. The history here is palpable. I was lucky enough to be shown round by Marcus Walker, the rector and so in this post are my favourite stories and secrets of the church.  But first, a quick introduction

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