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St Olaf House: an Art Deco classic at Hay's Wharf
Striking 1930s entrance hall and staircase, sculpted river front panels and other fine architectural details. I recently took some...

London On The Ground
Mar 4, 20245 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


The Old Operating Theatre, Europe's oldest surviving surgery room
Head and abdominal surgery and amputations took place without anaesthetics or antiseptics. The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb...

London On The Ground
Feb 11, 20246 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


St George the Martyr Southwark, London's first St George church
Its 900 years feature Henry V, Dickens, Livery Companies - and what a ceiling! The foundation stone of today's church of St George the...

London On The Ground
Jan 27, 20244 min read


Would Elizabeth I recognise Clerkenwell today?
A drawing of Clerkenwell in 1560, two years into the reign of Elizabeth I, shows some features still visible today, sort of. Published in...

London On The Ground
Jan 19, 20248 min read


Frederic Leighton's art at Leighton House
An excellent collection of 19th century paintings and sculpture by Frederic Leighton. The painter, draughtsman and sculptor was one of...

London On The Ground
Jan 14, 20244 min read


The London Christmas Quiz 2023: Answers
Thanks to all who sent in answers. The highest scoring entry was from Nicola Stanhope, with 13½ out of 25. Congratulations to Nicola, who...

London On The Ground
Jan 2, 20244 min read


1 January: New Year's Days from London's history
Pepys, Amazing Grace, The Times, Frankenstein, Joe Orton, The Beatles, mobile phones and more. To celebrate New Year's Day 2024, here is...

London On The Ground
Dec 31, 20234 min read


The London Christmas Quiz 2023
Test your knowledge of London and Christmas with another challenging quiz. The London On the Ground London Christmas quiz is back for a...

London On The Ground
Dec 23, 20234 min read


Angel Wings sculpture: not just for Christmas
Angel Wings is a year-round 'Christmas decoration' on an epic scale, a play on the Angel Islington's name and link to the Nativity story.

London On The Ground
Nov 24, 20233 min read


The Hitchcock mosaics of Leytonstone station
Vibrant tiled images celebrate the life and work of film director Alfred Hitchcock. The passageway into and out of the Central line...

London On The Ground
Nov 11, 20232 min read


Shakespeare in Shoreditch: a statue and The Stage
A statue and visitor centre for The Theatre and The Curtain playhouse sites. The Theatre and The Curtain, both in Shoreditch, were...

London On The Ground
Nov 5, 20237 min read


Wigmore Hall: acoustic and visual delights - and a repeating history
Intimate early 20th century music venue boasts a striking 'Soul of Music' mural by Gerald Moira. Wigmore Hall opened in 1901, at 36...

London On The Ground
Oct 27, 20234 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


Chelsea Physic Garden, Happy 350th birthday!
The garden of edible, medicinal and useful plants is London's oldest botanic garden. Chelsea Physic Garden is 350 years old on 9 October,...

London On The Ground
Oct 6, 20235 min read


The Victorian Splendour of the Hop Exchange in Southwark
The Victorian building is a striking link to Southwark's brewing and trading past. Built in 1867 to the design of architect RH Moore was...

London On The Ground
Sep 24, 20233 min read


A quartet of carved clergy: the Bishops' Tree at Fulham Palace
Four wooden Bishops await visitors to the gardens of Fulham Palace.
Environmental sculptor Andrew Frost carved them from a dead cedar tree

London On The Ground
Sep 15, 20233 min read


All Saints Margaret Street, a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture
One of Britain's best examples of Victorian Gothic, the church is a rich celebration of colours and geometric shapes. For a full schedule...

London On The Ground
Sep 8, 20232 min read
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