Category: Heritage

The Fig Tree Tomb of Watford

Last week whilst on a little diversion in my local town, I took the time to visit the beautiful and ancient St Marys Church.  It is the oldest building in Watford and in truth following decades of wanton destruction by the local authorities, one of only a handful of interesting buildings in town. Whilst walking… Continue reading The Fig Tree Tomb of Watford

Quotable Tennyson

Last week I posted on the birthday of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.  It is little known but this Poet Laureate is actually the ninth most quoted literary figure.   Whilst not in the same league as Shakespeare  or perhaps as entertaining as Dr. Johnson, it is likely we all are familiar with at least some of… Continue reading Quotable Tennyson

Remembering Alfred, Lord Tennyson on bis birthday

This morning as I write this, or yesterday when this is posted, I was giving an all day tour to a family from New York and we went inside the incredible Westminster Abbey.  As we were there 15 minutes before opening time, despite 60 or 70 people being ahead of us, there were hundreds behind… Continue reading Remembering Alfred, Lord Tennyson on bis birthday

Looking for and finding Waxwell, a Holy Well in Pinner (London)

Fresh from my success of finding a possible Neolithic burial mound in the middle of densely populated Watford, I was on the lookout for the second in the triumverate of off-beat and ancient sites and it lay just a few miles away, part on foot and part on the Metropolitan Line to the old village… Continue reading Looking for and finding Waxwell, a Holy Well in Pinner (London)

John Donne – A forgotten poet and his discovered manuscript.

In the long and rich history of English literature, John Donne is almost forgotten about by many today but in his time he was pioneering.  Born into a Catholic family at a time when it was illegal to practice the religion in England, Donne wrote often biting satire on legal corruption, mediocre writers, pig-headed officials… Continue reading John Donne – A forgotten poet and his discovered manuscript.

Alexander Parkes – The man who changed and poisoned the world

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 in East London may give something of a clue that Alexander Parkes is the man… Continue reading Alexander Parkes – The man who changed and poisoned the world

The secret underground road right in the heart of London

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 used by anyone these days save for those of us who know London like the… Continue reading The secret underground road right in the heart of London

The Thameside Lions that guard against flooding

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 the Victoria Embankment and peer over the wall without falling into the river below then… Continue reading The Thameside Lions that guard against flooding

Walking Londons Canals at Camden Lock

For our next stage of walking the canals of London we leave behind the picturesque Primrose Hill and Regents Park and continue east towards the a part of London that couldn’t be more different, Camden Lock Market. As we get underway though take a look at the photo below.  Does it look a little strange… Continue reading Walking Londons Canals at Camden Lock