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 post-war church with 17th century origins has a remarkable set of 20th century secular stained glass windows. The current church, the third on the site, is a 1950s brick-clad building of modest (although not unimaginative) external appearance. However, the church’s most engaging feature is inside, where its exceptional windows celebrate the history of the church and the surrounding area, particularly in the second half of the 20th century. They depict both ordinary lives a

A range of non-religious stained glass windows telling London stories. Very often associated with saints and scenes from the Bible, stained glass is an art form that also portrays secular history. My eclectic selection illustrates aviation, pioneering women, printing, the law, civic governance, actors, artists and writers. It is only a fraction of the wonderful secular stained glass in - and about - London. Walks available for booking For a schedule of forthcoming London On T

Five buildings have successively replaced St Paul’s as the capital’s tallest. St Paul's Cathedral and The Shard Sir Christopher Wren’s St...

The social housing scheme in Southwark was founded in 1887 by Octavia Hill, a social reformer and housing pioneer. Red Cross Cottages,...

Engravings of London of more than 200 years ago. John Thomas Smith was an artist, engraver and writer who captured London in the late...

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