Giant gull

Part of 50th anniversary of Festival of Britain.
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Heartfield

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Inlet

Walking home encountered this.

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I'm a wreck

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In Claridge's loo

I took this picture of myself in Claridge's Hotel loo.

Glistening St Paul's Cathedral

It just rained - what my English grandfather would have called a "clearing shower" - the sun came out immediately afterwards.

This is Southwark Bridge, approaching from the east -- it was taken before the one of St Paul's and it's still raining. The water is really choppy. The bridge was a brilliant green, but it doesn't show in this picture.

There is a rainbow in the picture above. It's just difficult to see, but it arcs over Southwark Bridge. Maybe it is easier to see if you click on the image. The sun appeared while it was pouring with rain.

Ferryman's Seat on the South Bank on the side of The Real Greek restaurant between the Millennium and Southwark Bridges. Until 1750, wherrymen ferried people across the Thames because London Bridge was the only other way to cross.

I must have walked by it hundreds of times, but didn't know about it until I read about it this week in "Secret London: An Unusual Guide", a book given to me by a friend.

The picture above and the ones below are in the Secret Garden. I love it there.

South Bank and Thames foreshore

I walked along the South Bank on my way home today after a visit to the Garden Museum in Lambeth. These are some of the things I witnessed. This woman was drawing in the sand with her umbrella. It was a very strange day weatherwise. Sometimes it was pouring with rain and cold, at others it was sunny and hot. So some of the pictures are a little dark.

 

Palace of Westminster

Thames boats from Lambeth

View of Westminster Abbey, Westminster Palace, boats, on the North bank of the Thames from Lambeth on the South bank.
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Cap'n William Bligh's resting place

This tomb is in the knot garden in the old 16th century churchyard of St Mary-at-Lambeth, which was converted into a museum in 1980. It is inscribed on one side sacred to the memory of William Bligh, vice admiral of the Blue, also a navigator, who died Dec 7 1817. Bligh was also captain of the Bounty, famous for its 1789 mutiny. The other panels have inscriptions to his wife and family whose remains are also in the tomb. The tomb of plant-hunter and gardener, John Tradescant the Elder (c.1570-1638) and the Younger (1608-1662), are also buried in the garden.

The knot garden and its surrounds are planted with species introduced by the Tradescants, according to the Garden Museum website.

On my way to the Church I passed Bligh's former residence on Lambeth Road.

... and also the Imperial War Museum.

This picture taken on Union Street shows how rainy it was today.

Miro's Majesties

King, queen, prince
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In flight

In Gambia Street in the shadow of Mary Wollstonecraft's old place.
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Exploring Roman London

I walked for six hours around London on Sunday. These are some of the things I saw.

Discovered my bicycle was damaged. Some driver again, I suppose. Last time the gears were damaged and I had to have it converted to a single speed bike.

I observed a few fair weather mudlarks on the Thames foreshore today. I often go out on the foreshore in the winter when there is no one else around.

One of the most popular views of London for tourists, looking at St Paul's Cathedral north from the Millennium Bridge.

Musicians on the North Bank.


St Paul's Cathedral from New Change.


Caught napping from the Museum of London.

Parts of the old Roman Wall.

Caught napping from outside the museum.

Some parts of the wall were discovered after World War Two bomb damage. The picture below shows the Barbican in the distance, a post-war utopian housing structure containing an arts centre and theatres.

Part of the wall is being repaired due to some crumbling stone at the base. Those Romans should have done a better job!

Cats in the Churchyard of St John Zachary, belonging to the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.

A fountain without water in Fountain Square

St Botolphe in the Wall


The Bank of England

Ye Olde Watling Pub and St Paul's on Watling Street, an old Roman Road

Memorial to the Bard's mates

John Heminge and Henry Condell, fellow actors and friends of playwright William Shakespeare, published the First Folio of his plays in 1603.

Heminge and Condell are buried in Aldermanbury Park, behind the London Police Station in the old City.
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Fourth estate: on this dark day #notw

Explorations led me to the "Three Printers" (Wilfred Dudeney, c. 1957) sculpture.

I was looking for this sculpture on this dark day for journalism -- the final day of publication of London's "News of the World" newspaper after scandalous revelations.

The Portland stone sculpture is Britain's only public monument to newspapers, according to the plaque beside it, representing aspects of newspaper-making, a newsboy, a printer and an editor.

It was originally in New Street Square, commissioned by Westminster Press Group, moved in 2009 by the Goldsmith's Company, freeholders of New Street Square, and placed in the Company's garden on Gresham Street, following redevelopment of the square.