Monthly Archives: May 2019

The Great Beer Flood of London

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Like many ancient cities, London has suffered its fair share of disasters, perhaps unduly so but whilst history is full of fires, wars, pestilence and biblical downpours, few places in the world can have suffered what is known as The … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The statue of Peace in Smithfield with its secret sign of fidelity.

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

As I mentioned in passing on my post on Smithfield Market the area hasn’t just got a millennia long relationship with animal markets and executions.  It was also a place where men in Victorian times would bring their unwanted wives to … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Alexander Parkes – The man who changed and poisoned the world

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Alexander Parkes is another one of those people from the Victorian Age that is forgotten despite him changing the world and his story is being told in a new exhibition in Bow, East London. The fact the the exhibition is … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Himba Baby Song

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

I was thinking today of the famous quote by David M. Eagleman that each person suffers three deaths. The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is … Continue reading →

Posted in geography, Heritage, Life | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

The fake Number 10 Downing Street

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

It’s perhaps the most famous doorway in the world, number 10 Downing Street.  For centuries home of the British Prime Minister and I’m standing in front of it.  Except it isn’t and I’m not. Though until just the 1990’s, one … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Politics, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The secret underground road right in the heart of London

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

It’s hard to believe that just a few minutes walk from the iconic Trafalgar Square or the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, there is an almost forgotten and entirely buried street in the very centre of London. It’s rarely … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

York Watergate – The ceremonial gateway to the River Thames, out of sight of water.

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Following on from Mondays post on the Lions of the River Thames, not to far away is one of the last remnants of an era of grandeur on the Thames that has largely been swept away.  The York Water Gate. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Thameside Lions that guard against flooding

Posted on May 6, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

There is always something to look out for in London, even in the most unlikely places.  One might not know that you’re seeing but there are points of interest all over the place. Should you happen to to be near … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Smithfield Market on the moo-ve after 900 years

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

One of my favourite less-visited parts of London is the area known as Smithfield.  Like many an ancient city in the Middle-East, India or elsewhere, London had and to an extent still has, districts that would specialise in certain produces … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments