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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


St Bartholomew's: happy 900th to church and hospital!
Bart's Hospital and the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great were both founded in 1123. This post celebrates the 900th anniversary...

London On The Ground
Mar 22, 20235 min read


Tim Crawley's City of London stone sculptures
The City of London boasts fine examples of work by Tim Crawley, one of the UK's foremost sculptors of stone. Tim Crawley describes...

London On The Ground
Mar 10, 20234 min read


Ludgate, London, Lud and legend
Lud, a pre-Roman ancient Briton, founded London, according to legend. There is a very old legend that a king called Lud ruled in ancient...

London On The Ground
Feb 24, 20235 min read


Old Tom, the Christmas goose that wasn't cooked
Before turkey's popularity, goose was the Yuletide meal of choice. One goose escaped the pot. Today, Leadenhall Market houses a number of...

London On The Ground
Dec 9, 20224 min read


The City of London's only modern sculpture of school children
Andrew F Brown's bronze on Newgate Street immortalises the 470 year old 'Bluecoat school'. The sculpture commemorates Christ's Hospital,...

London On The Ground
Nov 25, 20224 min read


Lord Mayor's State Coach still dazzles after 265 years
The Lord Mayor of London's State Coach is the world's oldest ceremonial vehicle in regular use. The Lord Mayor of London's 265 year old...

London On The Ground
Oct 28, 20225 min read


See London from the steeple of St Mary's Islington
Compare the view today with how it appeared in 1789. St Mary's Church on Upper Street in Islington is offering a rare opportunity to tour...

London On The Ground
Sep 22, 20222 min read


City of London proclaims the new King
I took my camera to an occasion resplendent with ceremony, pageantry and symbolism. The Royal Accession Proclamation took place on the...

London On The Ground
Sep 16, 20225 min read


Old Dr Butler's Head: City pub named for James I's physician
The pub is named after a self-proclaimed specialist in nervous disorders, who had no medical degree. According to its website a pub was...

London On The Ground
Aug 19, 20223 min read


The delicate terracotta Cutlers
An exquisitely shaped frieze depicting skilled craftsmen adorns a red brick Victorian building in the City of London. The building is...

London On The Ground
Aug 12, 20223 min read


Seven Ages of Man: Shakespeare, BT & brutalism
Shakespeare's 'All the world's a stage' inspired a 22ft sculpture at BT's brutalist City of London building. The statue, entitled 'Seven...

London On The Ground
Feb 11, 20222 min read
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