10 years ago I wrote a blog post on Frost Fairs and given that we in the U.K. are in a little bit of a premature cold spell I thought I might re-visit the subject with the great Frost Fair of 1715. On the 24th November over 300 years ago, in the big freeze of… Continue reading The Frost Fair of 1715
Tag: River Thames
How to spot when a London bridge is undergoing repair work
Having reached its third decade of use, the Millennium Bridge in London has been closed for repairs, maintenance and a thorough cleaning. I use the Millennium Bridge several times a week and its one of my favourite bridges if only for the amazing views it affords. There is also lots of miniature artworks that some… Continue reading How to spot when a London bridge is undergoing repair work
Looking for the River Fleet
A week or so ago I was fortunate to have a special invitation in the City of London and unusually found myself with time to spare and no tourists with me. I decided to hunt down the River Fleet. The River Fleet is perhaps the second most important river in the formation and history of… Continue reading Looking for the River Fleet
Finding an old WW2 pillbox on the Thames
A few weeks ago I was out in East London towards the Thames Estuary doing some research for my book when I realised I was going to be close on an old WW2 bunker that I had been wanting to see for a few years but it being on the other side of the city… Continue reading Finding an old WW2 pillbox on the Thames
A swan-song moment of glory for Tilbury Fortress
I thought I would finish my little run of Tilbury Fort related posts but recalling its last great moments and some might say greatest of all, the night it shot down a Zeppelin in WW1. The Zeppelin was invented by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. It was a rigid dirigible and he patented his idea in… Continue reading A swan-song moment of glory for Tilbury Fortress
When Cricket FairPlay and sportsmanship were hit for SIX at Tilbury Fortress
My last post was all about my recent visit to Tilbury Fortress on the northern bank of the River Thames. Despite its massive size and strength or maybe because of it, no-one was ever killed in action here and yet there was one death in particular that must go down as one of the most… Continue reading When Cricket FairPlay and sportsmanship were hit for SIX at Tilbury Fortress
A visit to the impregnable Tilbury Fortress
Last Monday being part of a long Bank-holiday Monday and us entering our months behind schedule first warm weather of the year, I decided to visit Tilbury Fortress in the county of Essex though to all intents and purposes it is on the edge of London. It’s a property that belongs to English Heritage and… Continue reading A visit to the impregnable Tilbury Fortress
The 900 year old Swan Upping ceremony is cancelled
It is an historic Royal ceremony that has taken place annually for the last 900 years but the Coronavirus means that for only the second time, this ancient practice of counting the swans on the River Thames has been cancelled for the year. The Swan Upping census lasts for five days and was due to… Continue reading The 900 year old Swan Upping ceremony is cancelled
York Watergate – The ceremonial gateway to the River Thames, out of sight of water.
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. However, if you walk along the River Thames you won’t ever find it. That’s because… Continue reading York Watergate – The ceremonial gateway to the River Thames, out of sight of water.
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
Stephen Liddell 