The Middlesex Hospital started life in the 1740’s and set up base in two terraced houses that were leased from the local landowner, Mr Goodge who is now remembered forever by the nearby tube station Goodge Street. The houses were soon later converted to accommodate 15 beds. The Middlesex was founded as a charity for… Continue reading The Fitzrovia Chapel
Category: Architecture
Posts predominantly related to architecture
The Newcastle – Gateshead High Level Bridge
There are so many good bridges in Newcastle, it’s almost a city defined by its bridges and certainly its most famous one is a symbol of the city. I wrote last year on another pioneering bridge across the Tyne in the link below but my favourite bridge here is actually the one I;m writing about… Continue reading The Newcastle – Gateshead High Level Bridge
Mansion House – The official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London
Originally the Lord Mayor of the City of London would use their own home or livery hall in their elected position deafening up the City’s governmental, judicial and civic functions. After the Great Fire of London, the idea arose that the Lord Mayors should have their very own official home. It took almost a century… Continue reading Mansion House – The official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London
St Stephen Walbrook Church – Prototype for that famous dome
Last week in a rather cool and stormy London, I arrived early for an appointment as I often do. This time I was attending a function at Mansion House so I decided to visit the neighbouring old Church, St Stephen Walbrook. I’m sure you’ll agree St Stephen is a fine name for a church, particularly… Continue reading St Stephen Walbrook Church – Prototype for that famous dome
Nosing around the Ukranian Cathedral in London
There is a lady on the tube seat opposite me who has a laugh that sounds like a heavy wooden chair being scraped on a wooden floor. Every time a new person gets on the train they are alarmed by her laugh! She’s busy chatting away to her boyfriend who is very somber and serious.… Continue reading Nosing around the Ukranian Cathedral in London
The ancient Clattern Bridge in Kingston Upon Thames
Just a very short walk away from the Coronation Stone in Kingston is a remarkable old bridge, the Clattern Bridge which crosses over the Hoggsmill Rover. The current bridge was built in 1175AD and replaced a much older Anglo-Saxon bridge which was then known as the Clatrung Bridge. The bridge has had several similarly unusual… Continue reading The ancient Clattern Bridge in Kingston Upon Thames
The Newcastle-Gateshead Swing Bridge
Last week to get away for a change of scene, I went to spend a few days in my childhood city of Newcastle Upon Tyne, to meet an old friend and some new ones who made an epic 12 hour return car journey to drop off food for me during the height of Covid and… Continue reading The Newcastle-Gateshead Swing Bridge
St Mary le Strand – The finest 18th century church in London
St Mary le Strand is a justly celebrated architectural gem and a widely recognised landmark building. It has a grand and dignified worship space which makes it a sanctuary and place of peace in the heart of the district. After the Great Fire and the subsequent rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral, the City Commissioners proposed a… Continue reading St Mary le Strand – The finest 18th century church in London
A new look for Aldwych
On Saturday whilst giving a James Bond Walking Tour, I had a brief opportunity to see the changes at Aldwych in Central London. Aldwych has always been funny kind of place. Neither here nor there really. A gateway to Covent Garden, except it’s not. Roads leading down to the river, Fleet Street and the City… Continue reading A new look for Aldwych
A valentine to St Paul’s Cathedral
I love St Pauls Cathedral. I remember when the first Covid lockdown ended and having no-one else, went to hug one of the great columns on the front of the building in gratitude for making it through the pandemic to that stage. Like Big Ben and various other church bells, St Pauls seems to be… Continue reading A valentine to St Paul’s Cathedral
Stephen Liddell 