LONDON on the Ground

A blue plaque under the south side of London Bridge claims the steps are where Nancy is murdered in Dickens' Oliver Twist. This is not true, but the plaque prompts discoveries about 19th century poor laws, workhouses and the rebuilding of the bridge. The plaque does not include details of who placed it there, but it is unlikely to be either Southwark Council (the local authority), or the City of London Corporation (which is responsible for London Bridge). The blue plaque nex

A selection of drinking houses on which last orders were called long ago, but which have left a legacy in the Square Mile. The City of London still has a large number of pubs, but its history is crowded with a vast array of vanished inns, taverns, alehouses and hotels that thrived catering to the Square Mile’s once large population of residents and its numerous visitors. In the first of what could be an occasional series of posts on this theme, here is my selection of six of

A London-related anniversary with a Christmas connection for every day from 1-24 December. If you have been following my social media, you may already have seen my daily series from the start of December to Christmas Eve. This blog post draws together all 24 entries in the London On The Ground London Advent Calendar. My walking tour A Christmas Carol in the City of London looks at how Dickens' well loved story still influences the way Christmas is celebrated today and also

When Ellen ‘Nelly’ Ternan first met Charles Dickens, she lived in Islington. What was his interest in her? Dickens’ 13 year relationship...