The Egyptian styled Art Deco temple to journalism that was once the former home of the Daily Telegraph is located on Fleet Street, and sits over a purpose built alley with seperate entrance and exits known as Peterborough Court. In all the times I’ve walked past the building I’ve never seen these gates open. However,… Continue reading Behind Closed doors
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On Broadway
Going through my photo collection the other day, I came across a visit I made a couple of years ago to 55 Broadway. The building was designed by Charles Holden, construction started in 1927 and finished two years later. It became new headquarters for the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL), the precursor of… Continue reading On Broadway
Technotours
No history in today’s post, just a blatant piece of self promotion. As some of you who read my ramblings may know, I run a guided walking tour company specialising in tours of the City of London called A London Miscellany Tours. The Coronavirus Pandemic put pay to the running of tours during most of… Continue reading Technotours
A dog licking a cooking pot
This fine piece of street art stands just yards away from Southwark underground station in south London, but what does it mean? It is a replica of a shop sign that used to hang outside of an Ironmongers that plied it’s trade on the corner of Blackfriars Road and Union Street. It was first displayed… Continue reading A dog licking a cooking pot
Fake News
A little late I know but in true Trumpian style here’s a couple of fanciful facts bandied around as the truth. Fact: There is only one street in Britain where you drive on the right. It’s Savoy Court, the short and taxi-filled road from Strand to the front door of the Savoy Hotel. This is… Continue reading Fake News
A Room With A View
Who lives in the tallest house in the City of London? The answer to that is I don’t know, but it matters little who lives there, the more interesting part is where is it and why.Let’s just rewind. We’re looking for the tallest house, not loft apartment, penthouse or block of flats but a house… Continue reading A Room With A View
A Bedouin and his three camels
looking slightly incongruous on the old City of London thoroughfare, Eastcheap, a Bedouin and his camel train head eastward presumably towards Dover on his way back to the desert. The building was once the home of Peek & Co who were tea importers during the Victorian era. This quartet was the brand logo of the… Continue reading A Bedouin and his three camels
Eastcheap, the road to the pyramids
I was standing on the corner of Eastcheap and Lovat Lane the other day, when I happened to see a Bedouin tribesman and his three camels heading in the direction of Dover, presumably enroute for Cairo. Obviously I’m being economical with the truth, but I have seen stranger things in the area. Is a man… Continue reading Eastcheap, the road to the pyramids
Watch your step!
I recently wrote a piece titled Left High & Dry on how the River Thames has been restricted over the years by the widening of its banks. Here is another reminder of the days when the river was a lot wider than it is today.Whitehall Palace was begun by Henry VIII and by the end… Continue reading Watch your step!
Being for the benefit of Mr Kite
One of the most visited performance venues of the late eighteenth century was Astley’s Amphitheatre. It was situated close to Westminster bridge on the south side of the River Thames. Today its site is buried under the gardens of St Thomas’ Hospital. The Amphitheatre was opened by Philip & Patty Astley in 1768 and had… Continue reading Being for the benefit of Mr Kite
A LONDON MISCELLANY 