Royal Weddings – Emily’s Book

Emily is far too modest to use this space to publicise her recently-published book: Royal Weddings. It examines the history of some notable regal nuptials. Available from Amazon and all good bookshops. And maybe some bad ones too, who knows. It is clearly selling strongly, quite right too.

Read Full Post »

Restoration Wheeler-Dealers: Nicholas Barbon and Thomas Neale

To Wren the plaudits. His restoration of London’s churches and monuments along with able input of Hawksmoor, Hooke, Gibbons and others are remembered in all the history books and guides. But what of the more mundane? The shops, houses, factories? They didn’t build themselves. Less glamorous these projects may be, but some of their begetters [...]

Read Full Post »

The Temple Church

The Temple Church is one of London’s oldest, dating from 1185. Henry II is believed to have been at the consecration. The original building – the Nave - is circular, the favoured design in contemporary Templar churches throughout Europe, following the Temple in Jerusalem. The main section - the Chancel - was added in the mid 13C. When in 1307 the Knights [...]

Read Full Post »

The Ludicrous London Stone: Is This the Best We Can Do?

I can’t say I wasn’t warned. Russ Willey of this parish told me, quoting Dr Johnson (I think), “worth seeing but not worth going to see”. A fabulous piece of pith, which I can see myself recycling in the future. Well, Russ was only half right: it’s not even worth seeing. Or, to be precise, you [...]

Read Full Post »

Best of Recent Blogs #14

Ealing Curiosities by SilverTiger Monkey Suckers and Mr Harriott by Songs from the Howling Sea John Newton – Goebbels, Star Trek and the Slave Trade by Songs from the Howling Sea She Did Witch unto Death Agnes Radcleife by Dainty Ballerina Catherine Howard – The Material Girl? by the Anne Boleyn Files The Coronation of [...]

Read Full Post »

Remembering the Cato Street Conspiracy

Peregrinations yesterday prevented me from writing this up. So, 24 hours late, we remember the arrest, on 23 February 1820, of the Cato Street conspirators, a rag-tag assemblage of radical malcontents who planned to assassinate all of His Majesty’s loyal Cabinet and to take over the government.  George IV had been on the throne a [...]

Read Full Post »

Fleet Street and St Bride’s

I popped into town yesterday to meet some friends with their small daughters (four and five years old), and seized an opportunity also to do some history touristing. We all went to the new London Street Photography exhibition at the Museum of London. Being half term, the place was packed. So I shan’t do a proper review now, except [...]

Read Full Post »

Living in the Past: The Geffrye Museum

Yesterday I made my first visit to the Geffrye Museum. Entrance is free. One of the dozens of excellent specialist museums around town, the Geffrye is based in Hackney, about 10 minutes’ walk to the north of Shoreditch High Street. In a tightly built-up area that has enjoyed a more prosperous past and apparently brighter [...]

Read Full Post »

The Cleveland Street Scandal, Rent Boys and the GPO

Regular readers will be aware of the campaign to save the Cleveland Street Workhouse. But back in 1889, Cleveland Street became notorious for a scandal that involved the very upper echelons of Victorian Society, including – according to some - the strange-looking prince, Albert Victor, a man who would certainly have become king had his life [...]

Read Full Post »

Les Très Riches Heures de Mrs Mole

This new exhibition at the Cartoon Museum opens today. It runs for just one month until 20 March. Les Très Riches Heures de Mrs Mole features a series of 47 pen, ink and watercolour illustrations by legendary British cartoonist Ronald Searle, now in his 90s.  Last year the museum held a superb Searle retrospective featuring [...]

Read Full Post »