West Smithfield is one of my very favourite parts of London and I’ve written about it countless times despite it being an area little larger than a football field. As the western worlds oldest hospital, St Bartholomew’s and its neighbouring and magnificent neighbour St Bartholomew The Great Church both prepare for their 900th birthday party… Continue reading The return of the Bartholomew Fair
Tag: Barts Hospital
The Henry VIII Gatehouse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital
For such a dominating historical figure, there are pretty few statues of King Henry VIII left with us and indeed there is only one in the whole of London. If you’ve never seen it then you’ve likely never been on one of my tours and you definitely haven’t been to Smithfield. It is thought likely… Continue reading The Henry VIII Gatehouse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital
The Great Hall of St Bartholomew’s Hospital
St Bartholomew’s Hospital has led the provision of healthcare in London for almost 900 years. Founded in 1123 by a man named Rahere to provide care for the poor of the City of London, there is no other hospital in the country which matches its record of continuous service on the same site. We had… Continue reading The Great Hall of St Bartholomew’s Hospital
The wonderful staircase of St Bartholomew’s hospital
A hospital staircase might not be the first place that comes into your head when you think about great works of art, least of all in a National Health Service hospital where famously all money goes into patient care rather than particularly beautified buildings and landscapes. What happens though when the hospital is celebrating its… Continue reading The wonderful staircase of St Bartholomew’s hospital
Smithfield Market on the moo-ve after 900 years
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 such as gold, silver, fruit or meat. Smithfield has been a meat market for more… Continue reading Smithfield Market on the moo-ve after 900 years
Stephen Liddell 