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A cow, an arrow and a Dame: Alice Owen’s 400 year legacy
Her legacy in Islington, the City of London and Hertfordshire has lasted more than four centuries and includes one of the country’s...
London On The Ground
Jan 12, 20256 min read
More songs with 'London' in the title
10 songs suggested by London On The Ground blog readers. Three years ago I posted my personal top 10 songs with 'London' in the title ....
London On The Ground
Dec 31, 20244 min read
The first ice skating report: London 850 years ago
William FitzStephen wrote the world’s earliest description of ice skating in around 1174. Londoners and visitors enjoying outdoor ice...
London On The Ground
Dec 21, 20245 min read
Charles Barry in Islington
The Parliament architect honed his Gothic Revival design skills on four Islington churches. Architect Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) is...
London On The Ground
Dec 14, 20246 min read
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
The Royal Agricultural Hall and Christmas past
Islington's Business Design Centre has a history of festive family fairs in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Business Design...
London On The Ground
Nov 23, 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
George Francis Train, the aptly named American behind London’s first trams
The 19th century entrepreneur and real-life Phileas Fogg who ran for US President. London’s first tram services were set up in 1861 by an...
London On The Ground
Nov 2, 20245 min read
Lost Gardens of London at the Garden Museum
Excellent new exhibition of vanished parks, squares and gardens at the museum in Lambeth. Curated by landscape architect and historian Dr...
London On The Ground
Oct 27, 20245 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
Albert Memorial: a rare look at the undercroft
Simple brick arches support one of Victorian London's most elaborate monuments. I recently joined the first ever public tour of the...
London On The Ground
Sep 29, 20246 min read
The Islington pub with a carved fireplace more than 400 years old
The Old Queen's Head, Victorian on the outside and Tudor inside. The popular North London watering hole on Essex Road appears to be like...
London On The Ground
Sep 23, 20244 min read
Red Sands Maunsell Fort: eerie relic of World War II
Thames Estuary defences likened to War of the Worlds and Star Wars. The Maunsell Forts were off-shore anti-aircraft defences constructed...
London On The Ground
Sep 14, 20244 min read
Then and now: John Thomas Smith's London
Ancient London buildings depicted in the 18th century and today. In June, I posted some of John Thomas Smith's engravings of London,...
London On The Ground
Sep 6, 20241 min read
Eltham Palace: Medieval meets Art Deco
From ruined royal residence to magnificent modern mansion. A 15th century gothic great hall, a stunning 20th century Art Deco...
London On The Ground
Aug 26, 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
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