Historical street oddities in London
Austin Friars is a street in London, just to the North East of the Bank of England. In terms of its shape it looks a bit like a wonky ‘T’ and has a couple of little alleyways shooting off from it such as Pinner’s Passage and Austin Friars Passage. You enter through an archway on […]
Thomas Cromwell And The Curious History Of Austin Friars Read More »
The South bank of the river in London is very popular for a weekend wander and for obvious reasons: the Globe, Tate Modern and Borough Market to name but a few sights. I would however also recommend the less well-trodden North bank between Tower Bridge and Blackfriars. It is usually a bit quieter and also
Queenhithe: An Anglo-Saxon Dock And A Wonderful Mosaic Read More »
By the Royal Exchange, you will find a fantastic historical leftover: an old water pump. It is very easy to miss but it has some great details on it that give insights into its history and the City more generally. A Recent Refurbishment Before I get into the history I wanted to show you what
The Cornhill Pump: An Unusual Survivor In The City Read More »
The Blitz was, of course, one of the great catastrophes in London’s history. The bombing campaign of the Luftwaffe from September 1940- May 1941 intended to destroy infrastructure involved in the war effort but also to demoralise British citizens enough for them to push the government to surrender. If anything, it had the opposite effect.
A Wonderful Blitz Survivor: The Vincent Street Fireplace Read More »
I think London’s street names are fascinating. They have often been passed down through the centuries and you can use them to read the history of the city around you. The stories behind some names are pretty obvious, for example, Milk Street was where medieval Londoners once purchased their milk. Wood Street and Bread Street
10 London Street Names That Are Not Quite What They Seem Read More »