With just two weeks to go till the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, things in London are happening at a great pace now with flags flying, boats being painted and routes planned out. . . . → Read More: Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant event information]]>

Royal Barge Gloriana bearing the Royal Coat of Arms (although it heads up the Pageant, none of the Royal family will travel in the Gloriana)

With just two weeks to go till the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, things in London are happening at a great pace now with flags flying, boats being painted and routes planned out.  Of all the events  in 2012 the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be the most historic as the nation will celebrate her 60 year reign up and down the country during the year, and particularly on the Bank Holiday weekend of June 2nd-5th. The only other monarch to have had such a long reign to date is Queen Victoria, who reigned for just over 63 years (to be exact: 63 years, 7 months, and 2 days).  I have been following news on the various events with a close eye and trying to keep abreast of all the news and schedules, especially for the Thames River Pageant on June 3rd; the largest flotilla to be assembled for 350 years.  I have done some research and in case you find this page before the day I have noted the following information for your convenience.  I do recommend though that you follow their twitter account and of course keep an eye on their website for any changes etc.

So here goes:

The Diamond Jubilee river pageant will feature 1,000 boats, 20,000 eager (read ‘lucky’) participants and millions of cheering spectators (including me!!).  Huge swathes of London will be closed for the Diamond Jubilee.  As of this week, half of The Mall is already closed and will in fact remain shut for the rest of the summer taking the Olympics into account as well.  Constitution Hill from Hyde Park Corner and part of St James’s Park are also closed until June 13th, and from Monday May 21st the eastbound lane of Birdcage Walk will be closed.

The Thames Pageant on June 3rd will affect 13 of London’s most central bridges; some closed all day, others part of the time, and only a few will be open to traffic at certain times of the day, many will only allow pedestrians to cross and some will be only open to invited spectators who will be able to watch the Thames Pageant from specific bridges.  Six trumpeters from Her Majesty’s Royal Marines will perform fanfares to each of the Thames bridges to herald the arrival of the Queen.

Queen's Troops at Trooping the Colour 2010

artists impression of the Spirit of Chartwell and Tower Bridge

 

Tower Bridge from where the boats will disperse

Admiral of the Port Challenge Race 2012.  Just over a week ago I received and invitation from a friend of mine whom I met via Twitter to attend this historical race.  To say that I was thrilled would be an understatement…I love this . . . → Read More: Admiral of the Port Challenge Race]]>

Big Ben and with minutes to go till 7pm the boats head out

Admiral of the Port Challenge Race 2012.  Just over a week ago I received and invitation from a friend of mine whom I met via Twitter to attend this historical race.  To say that I was thrilled would be an understatement…I love this history of the city and anything to do with events in the City gets me all excited…..needless to say I accepted.

Trinity Tide heading out

Our boat which is the Trinity House Cutter “Trinity Tide” Will be the beautiful white cutter with the green canopy.

When I arrived at just after 5.30pm I noticed a number of small water-craft tied up alongside Westminster Pier and headed on down to have a look around. It was really interesting to see the boats up close and there was an excited buzz of chatter and laughter as the rowers and passengers milled about either putting the bits and pieces together or just catching up.

attaching/installing the flag....no doubt there is a technical term for this

It was really interesting watching the oarsman setting up the canopy and the seating area, the different flags, the oars and all the bits and bobs (which I am sure all have professional names ) and in no time at all it was ‘all aboard’ and off they went into the middle of the river to catch the fast flowing tide and a race to the finish line.

the boats gathering and heading to the start: Westminster Bridge

I had met up with Joe and his wife Jan and as a guest of theirs had been invited to the champagne reception after the race.  The plan was for us to see off the competitors and then race up the stairs of Westminster Bridge, dash across the road and hail the first taxi that came along, then make a mad dash (or as fast as London traffic will allow) to the venue for the finish and the reception.

one quick photo as I dash up the stairs

So as soon at the boats got to the bridge, we ran along the pier, along the Embankment, up the stairs, hesitated briefly at the traffic lights, ignored the red signal, checked for traffic…none…and ran across the road….dashed along the sidewalk and lo and behold there was a cab…almost as if it had been waiting. We hailed madly, checked that he could go our way, jumped in breathlessly laughing and urged yer man the cabbie to race to the finish line.  It all felt very 007ish and my heart was racing!!

We got to the pier in good time to watch the boats arrive; very exciting to watch that!!!

there in the distance you can catch a glimpse of the boats. at this point I switched over to video, so no stills of the boats coming in.... (p.s. the boats in the foreground were not in the race)

Then for the champagne…hmmm yum.

champagne

I was very impressed with the food provided and a great evening was had by all.  But…..my curiosity was piqued! I wanted to know more about this race, so today I sat down and did a bit of research and this is what I found:

Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate 60 years on the throne in June 2012

There has been a lot of hoopla and build . . . → Read More: Queen’s Diamond Jubilee]]> With less than 3 weeks to go, things are happening apace now with preparations for The Central Weekend to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee taking place from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June 2012.

Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate 60 years on the throne in June 2012

There has been a lot of hoopla and build up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee coming up in June this year, but I wonder how many people are aware of the import of this august occassion. I wonder how many people, despite the fuss and the build up have realised that this is the ONLY Diamond Jubilee they will witness in their life-time and indeed very probably in their children’s lifetime.

Think about it for a second……the Queen is celebrating her 60^th year on the throne….Prince Charles her successor is already in his 60′s, so even if he inherits the throne in the next year, he will not ever reign for 60 years. If by some fluke William were to inherit the throne in the next year, he would be 90+ before he celebrates a Diamond Jubilee, if the monarchy were to survive that long…well even if the earth were to survive that long it is highly unlikely that anyone in the next century will celebrate a Diamond Jubilee…now think about THAT for a second.

What we will be witnessing on the long weekend of the 2-5^th June is a phenomenally historical occassion, only ever celebrated once before and very possibly never to be celebrated again; certainly in out lifetime anyhow.

the Royal Crest - detail on the Royal Barge Gloriana

Personally I am thrilled to be part of this momentous and historical occassion, I am gratefull beyond measure that I am living in this marvellous city and able to attend. I thank the day the company I was working for in South Africa went into liquidation in 2001 and that my sister and her hubbie were living in Ireland at the time. This meant that I could come visit, and hey presto….10 years later and here I am.

So what’s in store? Well as you may or may not know, we will have 4 days of celebrations…and quite rightly too. Besides all the fuss and bother from folks who do not care for the monarchy, and are anti-monarchy, this is surely one of the greatest events of the 21^st century (well I think it is anyway) and we should make a heck of a fuss.

This year the Queen celebrates the 60^th anniversary of her accession following the death of her father King George VI in 1952.

Saturday, June 2 2012 - Her Majesty will begin the June celebrations by attending the Epsom Derby.

Sunday June 3rd - The occassion will then be marked with a triumphal river procession down the Thames: a 7.5 mile long Diamond Jubilee Thames river pageant, at high water a flotilla of over 1,000 vessels will include a mix of the historic and the modern, from rowed boats to steamers and larger motorised craft representing all parts of the Commonwealth, ships of all shapes and sizes will follow the Royal Barge as it makes it’s way along the Thames from Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge. This will be observed by millions of people lining the banks of the Thames and accompanied by the ringing of all the church bells along the route!!! phenomenal.

The Spirit of Chartwell will have top billing as the Royal Barge, carrying The Queen in the Thames Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in celebration of her sixty year reign. The Pageant, one of this year’s most exciting events, is unprecedented as the largest flotilla to be assembled on the river in modern times.

artists impression of the Spirit of Chartwell at Tower Bridge

On the same day the Queen will encourage people across the country to take part in street parties or picnic lunches in small or large groups in what is being described as a “few hours of community, friendship and fun” – “The Big Lunch”, an idea from the founders of the Eden Project, will aim to get as many people as possible to have lunch with their neighbours.

The bell makers have been super busy creating and making a bell especially for the event, and have had their hands full with repairing existing bells for the occassion.

June 4th : Bank Holiday Monday’s events begin with a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace featuring British and Commonwealth musicians. In the evening a network of beacons numbering 2,012 will be lit by communities and individuals across the country.

Buckingham Palace

Among them will be church tower beacons on the battlements of the Tower of London and St James’ Palace in London, The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, at Killyleagh Castle in Northern Ireland and on top of Pen Y Fan mountain in Wales.

Tuesday 5^th June at 10:00am will see a carriage procession as the Queen makes her way for a Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

St Paul's Cathedral

The Jubilee celebrations throughout the UK and across Commonwealth will culminate in a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage procession by the Queen on Tuesday, June 5^th : The Jubilee Weekend features an extra Bank Holiday for the Diamond Jubilee, with the late May Bank Holiday moved one week later, thereby making a 4-day long weekend. The government announced the extra Bank Holiday for the Diamond Jubilee on 5th January 2012

On Sunday this week my daughter and I had a glimpse of the Gloriana, moored near Richmond Bridge. The Gloriana will of course be heading up the Jubilee River Pageant….this promises to be a magical event. The Gloriana, which is covered in gold leaf, will not carry any member of the Royal Family.

Royal Barge; Gloriana will head the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in the Thames in June 2012

for more information about these events visit http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/thames-diamond-jubilee-pageant

Sir Christopher Wren – FRS (20 October 1632 – 25 February 1723) is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history. He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral, on Ludgate . . . → Read More: one photo tour of London – Christopher Wren lived here]]>

Christopher Wren lived here

Sir Christopher Wren – FRS (20 October 1632 – 25 February 1723) is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history. He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710. The principal creative responsibility for a number of the churches is now more commonly attributed to others in his office, especially Nicholas Hawksmoor. Other notable buildings by Wren include the Royal Naval College in Greenwich and the south front of Hampton Court Palace.

Educated in Latin and Aristotelian physics at the University of Oxford, Wren was a notable astronomer, geometer, and mathematician-physicist, as well as an architect. He was a founder of the Royal Society (president 1680–82), and his scientific work was highly regarded by Sir Isaac Newton and Blaise Pascal.

This house is to be found right next to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on Bankside

Charing Cross Station near Trafalgar Square in Westminster has some of the more interesting and artistic platform decorations in London;

a 100 metre (330 ft) long mural along the Northern line platforms was designed by David Gentleman shows scenes from the construction of  the original Charing Cross, memorial of . . . → Read More: London Underground Tube Stations – Charing Cross]]>

the Charing Cross - memorial of Eleanor of Castile

Charing Cross Station near Trafalgar Square in Westminster has some of the more interesting and artistic platform decorations in London;

a 100 metre (330 ft) long mural along the Northern line platforms was designed by David Gentleman shows scenes from the construction of  the original Charing Cross, memorial of Eleanor of Castile, the wife of Edward I.

Things to see nearby: Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, South Africa House, St Martin in the Fields Church, Admiralty Arch, Whitehall, Benjamin Franklin’s House

During one of my most recent #walkabouts and on the ‘Suits & Flutes’ – Dragon & Flagon Pub Tour I came across another Wren Church, and what a beauty it is.  The most amazing thing to me about most of the churches in London, with a few exceptions, is that . . . → Read More: St Michael Cornhill – Wren Church]]>

St Michael Cornhill - A Wren Church

During one of my most recent #walkabouts and on the ‘Suits & Flutes’ – Dragon & Flagon Pub Tour I came across another Wren Church, and what a beauty it is.  The most amazing thing to me about most of the churches in London, with a few exceptions, is that the exterior seldom gives you a clue as to the sheer beauty that awaits within.  This lovely little church was no exception.   It is my goal to visit all of Wren’s Churches in London and I am glad to have been able to add this one to my list.

Entering the church you are left amazed at the bright airy interior highlighted by the pale-blue arched ceilings and stained glass skylights that allow light to stream into the church creating an air of peace and utter tranquility.  (In 1960 the Victorian polychrome paintwork was replaced with a more restrained colour scheme of blue, gold and white.)

beautiful pale-blue arched ceilings

St Michael Cornhill, a medieval parish church, with pre-Norman Conquest foundations in the City of London, was in existence by 1133.   A new tower was built in 1421, possibly after a fire. John Stow (ca. 1525 – 6 April 1605) described the church as “fair and beautiful, but since the surrender of their lands to Edward VI, greatly blemished by the building of four tenements on the north side thereof, in the place of a green church-yard”.
The medieval church, except for the tower, lost in the 1666 Great Fire of London, was eventually replaced by the present building begun in 1672, is traditionally attributed to Sir Christopher Wren although the designer of the lower stages was probably William Dickinson working in Christopher Wren’s office.

The upper parts of the tower are by Nicholas Hawksmoor; the 15th century tower having proved unstable, was demolished in the early 18th century. A 130-foot high replacement was completed in 1721.

St Michael Cornhill

The church was embellished by Sir George Gilbert Scott and Herbert Williams in the 19th century.  George Gilbert Scott added an elaborate Gothic porch (1858–1860) facing Cornhill decorated with carving by John Birnie Philip, which includes a high-relief tympanum sculpture depicting “St Michael disputing with Satan” and inserted Gothic tracery to the circular clerestory windows, and into the plain round-headed windows on the south side of the church.

elaborate Gothic porch (1858–1860) facing Cornhill, decorated with carving by John Birnie Philip

Stained glass by Clayton and Bell was installed, with a representation of Christ in Glory in the large circular east window.  The other windows contained a series of stained glass images illustrating the life of Christ, with the crucifixion at the west end.

the crucifiction of Christ

A further campaign of medievalising decoration was carried out in the late 1860s by Herbert Williams, who had worked with Scott on the earlier scheme. Williams built a three bay cloister-like passage, with plaster vaults, on the south side of the building, and in the body of the church added richly painted decoration to Wren’s columns and capitals.

the light streams through skylights in the ceiling

In what the Building News described as a “startling novelty” a circular opening was cut in the vault of each aisle bay and filled with stained glass, and skylights installed above.   The reredos was enriched with inlaid marble, and the chancel was given new white marble steps and a mosaic floor of Minton’s tesserae and tiles.

intricate mosaics on the floor

The church escaped serious damage in World War II and was designated a Grade I listed building on 4 January 1950.

WW2 memorial at the entrance to the church

A new ring of twelve bells, cast by Taylors of Loughborough was installed in the tower in April 2011.  A gallery for you to enjoy:

The church also has Dickensian connnections; St Michael’s Church is likely to be the one in A Christmas Carol ‘whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge’.
If you love historical churches, are a fan of and enjoy varied examples of medieval architecture then this church is a must to visit.
Nearest tube: Bank on the Northern Line.

Last week Thursday; April 26th, I set off on a magical #walkabout through the streets of London to discover more about Charles Dickens (blog to follow shortly ).  We started off from the Charles Dickens Museum and the route we followed took us through . . . → Read More: finding Charles Dickens]]>

Charles Dickens lived here 1837-1839 - now the Dickens Museum

Last week Thursday; April 26th, I set off on a magical #walkabout through the streets of London to discover more about Charles Dickens (blog to follow shortly ).  We started off from the Charles Dickens Museum and the route we followed took us through some amazing areas, areas full of history where we crossed paths with the ghosts of London.  After about 5.5 hours of walking (we took a lot of diversions and stopped at loads of places), my companion and I were famished, and since this was a Dickens walk we were doing, we decided to stop off at one of my favourite pubs in the City of London; especially as the tour ended nearby and the pub was mentioned in The Pickwick Papers: When Mr. Pickwick was visited in Fleet prison by his friends Winkle, Snodgrass and Tupman, they ordered “a bottle or two of very good wine, for which a messenger was dispatched to the Horn Coffee House “

Every time I visit St Paul’s Cathedral or go #walkabout in that area I always stop off at The Centre Page Pub for hot chips which I usually have as a take-away and then sit on the steps and enjoy the sunshine and hustle and bustle of folks walking by while I eat my treat.  Yesterday I decided to have the ‘Charles Dickens Posh Pie and Mash’ specifically the Steak Ale and horseradish, and we requested to eat in the Dickens Room downstairs.

The last time we ate there I had the fish & chips which were just delicious and this meal was even better.  I do not normally eat beef, but I have to say that the meat was tender and juicy and just yummy.  So if your’e in the area and need something quality to eat in a historical setting, I can highly recommend this delightful pub; The Centre Page, 29-33 Knightrider Street,  just down the way from St Paul’s as if heading towards the Millenium Bridge and Tate Modern.

History Note: The Centre Page began life as The Horn Tavern founded in 1660 after the restoration of King Charles II. The origins of the name may have come from the King’s celebrations or as there were several coaching inns around St Paul’s the sound of the coaching horn may also have given inspiration.

Nearest tube: St Paul’s on the Central line

St Bartholomew the Great circa 1123

The church is reached via the marvellous Gatehouse, a fine example of 1559 Tudor architecture, a half-timbered house built . . . → Read More: St Bartholomew’s the Great – a church with a weighty history]]> A couple of weeks ago I visited one of the most amazing and impressive churches in London, besides St Paul’s that is, (but thats a cathedral so doesn’t count! )

St Bartholomew the Great circa 1123

The church is reached via the marvellous Gatehouse, a fine example of 1559 Tudor architecture, a half-timbered house built above the original west door of the nave.

the Gatehouse

Saint Bartholomew the Great is one of London’s oldest churches and as you enter through the portals you can feel the heavy spirituality of a church that bears the weight of nearly 2,000 years of history.  There is an aura of silence that encourages you to almost tip-toe across the flagstones hardly daring to breathe for fear of disturbing the ghosts that hide in the shadows as light streams through the windows on high.

St Bartholomew the Great Church, Smithfield

I spent a very happy hour in the church meandering about and then just sitting enjoying the quiet and peace of an oasis amidst the bustle of a busy city; not a sound of which could be heard from within.  The features of the church are awe-inspiring and a lovely verger showed me a most significant sculpture that in the past used to weep tears, as well as the remains of the Victorian heating system that eventually caused the tears to dry up.

the weeping memorial

the Victorian heating system

The church is situated in the historic Smithfield area of London, a stone’s throw from Smithfield Market and historic Clerkenwell in the Ward of Farringdon. At the heart of it all is the church built when Henry I, son of William the Conqueror, was King of England.

Founded in 1123 as an Augustinian Priory, Saint Bartholomew the Great is one of London’s oldest churches and has been in continuous use as a place of worship since at least 1143.

The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great

what the church would have looked like in days gone by

St Bartholomew’s was established by Rahere a courtier and favourite of King Henry I. It is thought that it was the death of the king’s wife Matilda, followed two years later by the drowning of their heir Prince William, his brother, half-brother and sister, that prompted Rahere to renounce his profession for a more worthy life and make his pilgrimage to Rome.  In Rome, like many pilgrims, he fell ill. As he lay delirious he prayed for his life vowing that, if he survived, he would set up a hospital for the poor in London. His prayers were answered and he recovered. As he turned for home the vision of Saint Bartholomew appeared to him and said “I am Bartholomew who have come to help thee in thy straights. I have chosen a spot in a suburb of London at Smithfield where, in my name, thou shalt found a church.”

the tomb of Rahere

True to his word Rahere set up both a church, a priory of Augustinian canons, and the hospital. He lived to see their completion – indeed he served as both prior of the priory and master of the hospital – it is possible that he was nursed at Barts before his death in 1145.      His tomb lies in the church.
Rahere’s supposedly miraculous recovery contributed to the church becoming known for its curative powers, with sick people filling its aisles each 24 August, St Bartholomew’s Day.

Rahere, the monk who founded the church in the 1100s, is buried in an ornately decorated tomb inside, and is said to be both seen in his cowled robe, and heard within its walls.

St Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles, brought to Jesus by Saint Philip. He is reputed to have brought Christianity to Armenia where tradition states that he was later flayed alive and crucified head down. After his martyrdom, his body is said to have been washed to Lipari (a small island off the coast of Sicily) where he is now the patron Saint. It is not clear where his remains ended up, but both Benevento and the church of San Bartolomeo in Rome claim him. There are also numerous reliquaries in the museums and churches of Europe said to contain some portion of his body.

the story board

The Priory was dissolved in 1539 and the nave of the Church was demolished. The monastic buildings were largely intact and the Canons’ choir and sanctuary were preserved for parish use. Under Queen Mary, there was briefly a house of Dominican friars here, before it reverted to being a Parish Church under Queen Elizabeth I.  The church possesses the most significant Norman interior in London, which once formed the chancel of a larger monastic church.

The church escaped the Great Fire of London in 1666, but fell into disrepair, becoming occupied by squatters in the 18th century. Various parts of the building were damaged or destroyed through the centuries until the restoration began in the 19th century, first in the 1860s and then, under Sir Aston Webb, in the 1880s and 90s and on into the 20th century. It survived the Great Fire of 1666 and the bombs dropped in Zeppelin raids in World War I and during the Blitz in World War II.

St Bartholomew the Great is  what is known as a living church, still in use today for services, weddings, funerals and various other non-religious functions.  It also attracts those of no particular religious belief because of its architecture and sense of history.  The Lady Chapel at the east end had been previously used for commercial purposes and it was there that Benjamin Franklin served a year as journeyman printer. Poet and campaigner John Betjeman kept a flat opposite the church yard on Cloth Fair. The building is marked by a blue plaque, and is today owned by the Landmark Trust.

St Bartholomew the Great

The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 4 January 1950.  St Bartholomew the Great was where the memorial service for William Wallace was held on the 700th anniversary of the Scottish hero’s execution. You can see this lovely memorial tablet on the outside wall of the hospital.
The ghost of a monk is said to haunt the church looking for a stolen sandal from his tomb. People have sometimes claimed to feel uncomfortable inside. The area around the church was also the place for many executions, especially during the reign of Mary Tudor. It said that during the night there is a strong scent of burning flesh.

The church has appeared in a series of award-winning films including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, The End of the Affair, Amazing Grace, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and The Other Boleyn Girl. It has also appeared in a number of television programmes including Madame Bovary, The Real Sherlock Holmes, Spooks, and The League of Gentlemen Christmas Special.
The Smithfield area, which includes St Bartholomew’s Hospital

St Bartholomew's Hospital, Smithfields (the statue in the niche is Henry VIII)

and Smithfield Market, is popular because of the large number of restaurants, bars and pubs both north and south of the Market.  If you’re thirsty afterwards, pop into the Hand and Shears pub in Cloth Fair, which runs alongside the church. An ale house has stood here since the 12th century – about the same amount of time St Bartholomew’s has stood there.

Nearest Tube: Barbican and Farringdon
Opening Hours (Do check the church’s website before you go, because it’s not open to visitors during services)

Monday – Friday 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (4 p.m. from 11th November to 14th February)   Saturday 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.       Sunday 8.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.    Tourist visits and guided parties are not permitted during services. The Church is closed for a few days after Christmas, except for Sunday morning services.   It may be closed to visitors for services, repairs, concert rehearsals, filming or recording at short notice. Please contact the Parish Office for more information.
Admission Charges – There is a charge for tourist visits to St Bartholomew’s. The money raised from this is applied to the maintenance of the building.   Adults £4.00; Concessions £3.50; Pre-booked Groups £3.50; Family Ticket £10.00 (2 adults & 1-3 children)
There is no charge for admission for the first hour or for those coming solely for prayer and private devotion, for which the Chapel of the Holy Icon of the Mother of God is set aside.  Personally I think that £4 is a very small fee to pay to see this church.

I have obtained historical information about the church for this blog from their website. Feel free to visit it for loads more info about this great church.

If you have enjoyed this blog please do leave a comment, I would love to hear from you. a short video for your enjoyment

The Albert Memorial; a truly magnificent and astoundingly beautiful memorial is situated in Kensington Gardens just across the road from the Royal Albert Hall.  Commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband, Prince Albert who died of typhoid in 1861, the memorial was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott . . . → Read More: one photo tour of London – Albert Memorial]]>

Albert Memorial - Kensington Gardens

The Albert Memorial; a truly magnificent and astoundingly beautiful memorial is situated in Kensington Gardens just across the road from the Royal Albert Hall.  Commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband, Prince Albert who died of typhoid in 1861, the memorial was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival style. When Prince Albert died on 14 December 1861, at the age of 42, the thoughts of those in government and public life turned to the form and shape of a suitable memorial.

The popularity of the Prince Consort led to the creation of several “Albert Memorials” around the United Kingdom and the Kensington memorial was not the earliest; the first to be erected was Thomas Worthington’s Albert Memorial in Albert Square, Manchester, unveiled in 1865- both memorials represent the figure of Prince Albert enclosed within a Gothic ciborium.

Opened in July 1872 by Queen Victoria, with the statue of Albert ceremonially “seated” in 1875, the memorial consists of an ornate canopy or pavilion, in the style of a Gothic ciborium over the high altar of a church, and contains a larger than life statue of the prince facing south. The memorial took over ten years to complete, is 176 feet (54 m) tall, and cost of £120,000 was met by public subscription (the equivalent of about £10,000,000 in 2010).

The Albert Memorial is featured in our West End of London Itinerary.

If you’ve enjoyed this post do drop us a comment, we would love to hear from you.

Vic & Simon...imbibing the local brew

Yes, that would be a Dragon & Flagon Pub Tour; in this instance the . . . → Read More: Suits & Flutes and the Order of the Dragon]]> The King was in his Counting House, counting all his money;
the Guide was in the parlour, saying something funny,
All the group were mis-behaved, and sang with raucous gusto,
The bartender, and the locals, looked on all a fluster.

Vic & Simon...imbibing the local brew

Yes, that would be a Dragon & Flagon Pub Tour; in this instance the Suits & Flutes tour.    A couple of weeks ago I joined my 4th ever so (in)famous Dragon & Flagon Pub Tour – what a treat.   This being my 4th tour, you would think by now that we had pretty much exhausted the pubs in London, but no!!  Vic Norman, our erstwhile tour guide had some more delights and surprises up his sleeve; metaphorically speaking that is.

We set off from the designated meeting place and with a sizeable group of 20 to manage, Vic strode ahead, his striped hat a beacon in the night.  I am a prolific photographer and cannot resist stopping to take photos of pretty much everything I see and that hat was a great point of reference, seen from even 2 blocks away….London blocks that is.  If I was in Paris or New York I would have a problem……you know how long their blocks are!

The group on the  13th April was made up of regulars, not-yet-but-soon-to-become-regulars and a whole bunch of new folks…..his fame is growing!    First of all, let me tell you a bit about our erstwhile guide, and teller of historical snippets imparted with gusto!

Vic is as passionate about London as you would expect a tour guide to be, he loves pubs, people and history, so with a wealth of knowledge and historical pubs in London, he decided to combine his love of the city and pubs via conducted tours of London Pubs….makes sense to me.  Vic has a very engaging personality, a terrific and naughty sense of humour, and is a walking dictionary of London history.  With a very eccentric sense of dress, a brolly to keep us all in line, a voice that commands that you ‘listen up!’ and a love for what he does – makes him the ideal tour guide. Of an evening, he can be seen striding ahead of his gaggle of folks, folks that not only lag behind (taking photos), fall into companionable groups of chitter chatter and have to be quietened, but also tend to wander off to see whats around the next corner and have to be rounded up at each stop along the way in order that they don’t get lost.

Vic being interviewed by Gunit of Zone1 Radio

The groups have been fab fun and I have made some good friends along the way.

One of the things that I enjoy about these tours, besides the snippets of history, the fab pubs we visit, the winding mysterious alleyways we meander along, is that with just a short stop in each pub, (just long enough to whet the whistle), we all get merry & no-one gets plastered (these tours are even suitable for the tee-totallers amongst us).  We all have time for one drink or draught at each pub, and by the end of the evening everyone is merry; enough for a lusty sing-along to entertain the bewildered locals.

This tour, was once again, a magical mystery tour as we meandered along alleyways I had not yet discovered (amazing but true), stopped off at a Wren church (I kid you not! – we did not however, go in), visited the site of an ancient 1652 coffee house (the front step bears testament to the patrons who have entered across the aeons), walked along an alleyway that is a throw back to Dickensian times,

Dickensian alleyways

stepped across a threshold that dates back to 1762, saw exquisite paintings, luscious chandeliers and quirky relics of a bygone age, stopped off at places of power in the Heart of the City,

the Heart of the City

saw an iconic symbol of the ancient City, visited a pub frequented by yer man Dick; 4 times Mayor of London, and forever captured the group, not in a hug but in a photo……a cheerful group of bonhomie.

a relaxed and merry group of revellers

Along the way we visited 5 pubs, all completely different, each unique in their own way, with oodles of history that date back over 500 years in some instances.   We visited pubs both large and small, some packed with Londoner’s relaxing after a long week of work in The City, and pubs that are quiet and relaxed where you can tarry awhile, pubs with features that quicken the senses with a history across the centuries, a pub on a site that boasts links to both Harry Potter and the Romans amongst others, pubs frequented by historical figures both famous and infamous……and now they have been frequented by the order of the Dragon

historical places in London

griffin; dragon-like symbol of the City of London

The ‘Order of the Dragon’ is a very select community of bravehearts who have completed all 5 of the Dragon & Flagon Pub Tours.  One of the regulars was inducted that night and once you have completed your 5th tour you too could be inducted into the Order of the Dragon and Knighted with a badge!!!  I have one tour to go and I will also be a Dragon! (although some would argue that I already am!).

The evening ended with an impromptu sing-along of a salatious ditty or two.

For more about these fab, fun, fantastic tours contact Vic on facebook, twitter or visit his site.  Join his pub tour (not to be confused with a pub crawl) and perhaps you too, after completing all 5 signature tours can become a member of the ‘Order of the Dragon’! Huzzah!!

to listen to the Zone1 Radio interview click here