Walking Londons Canals…. the Paddington Basin

Having created a new London Canals Walking Tour with Ye Olde England Tours I thought it was a good excuse to make good use of some of the many photos I took whilst working out my new tour. As mentioned in the previous post on canals, they were once the backbone of the economy before falling… Continue reading Walking Londons Canals…. the Paddington Basin

My first trip up Londons newest roof garden @ 120

As roof gardens go, The Garden at 120 is spectacularly high at only 15 storeys but aside from traditional old buildings which happen to have a few pots on the roof (my most memorable being the Windsor Hotel in Cairo), this was my first visit to any purpose built roof-garden. My visit took place whilst… Continue reading My first trip up Londons newest roof garden @ 120

Now and then on an old London street corner

A few years ago I did a short series of then and now photos showing how places have changed since the advent of photography I’ve seen the photo below before and still think it is very evocative. This is the junction of Fieldgate Street and Plumbers Row in Whitechapel, London. The building in front is… Continue reading Now and then on an old London street corner

Paradise Lost – Better to reign in hell than serve in paradise! – Finding the tomb of Milton.

One of the perks of doing guided tours is coming across unexpected treasures.  Many of the places I visit are off the usual tourist-track but no matter how many times I go out on walks, I find new things almost every day. A few weeks ago on one such occasion I was scouting out a… Continue reading Paradise Lost – Better to reign in hell than serve in paradise! – Finding the tomb of Milton.

The Great Explorer Captain Matthew Flinders who was lost and now is found underneath Euston Station.

Many of London railway stations are said to be built over the resting place of momentous names from times gone by.  Just like now, people in the 19th century didn’t really want big developments right next door and so train stations and train lines were often built amongst and on top of cemeteries, plague pits,… Continue reading The Great Explorer Captain Matthew Flinders who was lost and now is found underneath Euston Station.

The Endcliffe Park Memorial in Sheffield & the incredible devotion of Tony Foulds.

It isn’t often that a tale of war has anything like a happy moment but in recent weeks increasing numbers of people have become aware of a terrible accident in 1944, just one of countless up and down the country that happened in those dark years, Tony Foulds, 82, was just eight years old  when… Continue reading The Endcliffe Park Memorial in Sheffield & the incredible devotion of Tony Foulds.

Wesley’s Chapel – The Mother Church of Methodism.

Almost directly across the road from Bunhill Fields Cemetery  which I wrote about last week is Wesley’s Chapel which can be considered as the mother church of Methodism and so I thought I would take a look. I’m not a Methodist but I have an interest in most religions and notable people and there are… Continue reading Wesley’s Chapel – The Mother Church of Methodism.

Bunhill Fields – the resting place of some of the biggest names in history.

You might remember a few weeks ago I wrote about the dreadful place Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation! Whilst writing that and out and about on research, I gained the chance to visit Bunhill Fields.  Bunhill Fields was once part of the Manor of Finsbury with connections to St Pauls… Continue reading Bunhill Fields – the resting place of some of the biggest names in history.

Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation!

Everyone likes a Christmas party don’t they?  Well except me but that’s because I’m a misery guts and couldn’t think of anything worse than, except for a New Years Eve party of course. You might think that having parties at overcrowded and somewhat dodgy venues are a modern phenomena but you might be surprised to… Continue reading Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation!

When the Plague came to London

This time of year in Britain at least is known as the Flu season. Our highly changeably though at this time of year predominantly chilly and wet weather combined with some particularly overcrowded cities means that we are perhaps uniquely exposed cold and flu.  In fact last year was the first year in over 10… Continue reading When the Plague came to London