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Smithfield Market to turn lights out on a millennium of history
An 850 year old document describes a livestock market for swine, cows, oxen and woolly flocks at Smithfield. Smithfield meat market, the...
London On The Ground
Dec 2, 20245 min read
King’s College London’s Maughan Library reveals its secrets
The site’s 800 year history includes housing Jews converted to Christianity, and legal and national records. During London Open House...
London On The Ground
Nov 16, 20244 min read
City of London Street names: a dozen of the best
The Square Mile has a wealth of unusual, colourful and deceptive street names. Many of London's most curious and unlikely street names...
London On The Ground
Nov 10, 20244 min read
The Monument, the relief and its meaning
The sculpture on the Monument to the Great Fire of London is rich with symbolism . It illustrates the catastrophe that destroyed...
London On The Ground
Oct 20, 20247 min read
How the 'Cheesegrater' got its wedge shape
The City of London office block, Richard Rogers and Sir Christopher Wren. Officially 122 Leadenhall Street, or the Leadenhall Building,...
London On The Ground
Aug 18, 20245 min read
St Bartholomew's Hospital: see conservators at work in the 18th century North Wing
See paintings by William Hogarth and climb the scaffolding to admire the Great Hall's stucco ceiling. The 18th century North Wing of St...
London On The Ground
Aug 10, 20246 min read
Queenhithe: one of London's oldest landmarks
A mosaic at the ancient harbour illustrates London's history since Roman times. Queenhithe is the only remaining inlet of the Thames in...
London On The Ground
Aug 5, 20244 min read
Serenity in the City: Karin Jonzen's sculptures
Four works by the 20th century sculptor in the City of London. One of the pleasures of walking around the Square Mile is the wide variety...
London On The Ground
Jul 28, 20245 min read
Walking in Geoffrey Fletcher's London: Islington and the City
See some of the London that the artist and writer feared was disappearing in the 1960s and 1970s. Welsh Dairy, Carter Lane by Geoffrey...
London On The Ground
Jun 3, 20244 min read
Fire, Air, Water and Earth: stone relief for Lloyd's
Fire, Air, Water and Earth: stone relief for Lloyd's. The carving, in a hidden City of London alleyway, represents the Four Elements.
London On The Ground
May 27, 20243 min read
The Royal Exchange frieze: a freeze frame of history
Sculptures on the Victorian building tell of the City of London's past It is easy to miss the sculpted details on the the Royal Exchange,...
London On The Ground
Feb 24, 20246 min read
Ward Lock's City of London 1929
A 95 year old illustrated guide book shows many recognisable views. Ward, Lock & Co began publishing a series of illustrated guide books...
London On The Ground
Feb 17, 20243 min read
Temple Bar Memorial: Victorian delights you may not have noticed
The fearsome dragon is impressive, but the plinth contains hidden treasures. Temple Bar Memorial, where The Strand becomes Fleet Street,...
London On The Ground
Feb 2, 20246 min read
Holy Trinity, a Priory in an office block
A medieval stone arch in a modern building in the City of London. The combination encapsulates much about the history of the City, now...
London On The Ground
Oct 14, 20233 min read
The Cornhill Pump, The Royal Exchange, Fire and Insurance
The 224 year old pump links the City of London, fire, insurance and the Royal Exchange. The water pump on Cornhill features helpful signs...
London On The Ground
Jul 3, 20234 min read
Caledonian Park Clock Tower: one of London's best viewing points
Tours of the little known Islington clock tower offer fabulous views. It may not be one of London's better known attractions, but it is...
London On The Ground
Jun 23, 20234 min read
Sanctuary, Naomi Blake's sculpture for victims of oppression
A moving sculpted art work sits alone outside St Botolph Aldgate in the City of London. Walks and tours available for booking The London...
London On The Ground
Jun 10, 20234 min read
City of London Police Boxes: Which is Your Favourite?
The City Police call posts: history, pictures and my personal ranking. Eight cast-iron 20th century police boxes occupy prime historic...
London On The Ground
May 21, 20235 min read
Shakespeare, the First Folio and the City of London
The first ever collection of William Shakespeare's plays was published 400 years ago this year. Known as the First Folio, it was...
London On The Ground
Apr 14, 20236 min read
Emily Young's serene stone angels near St Paul's need to be seen
See the angel heads by Britain's "greatest living stone sculptor" on public display next to St Paul's. Five angel heads by Emily Young,...
London On The Ground
Apr 7, 20235 min read
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