LONDON GAZETTE (n.) Daily organ of the Government that doth announce promotions awarded to individuals much in favour of the Great and Good.
Dr. Johnson’s London Dictionary for publick consumption in the twenty-first century avail yourself on Twitter @JohnsonsLondon
We challenge our contributors to reply to ten devilishly probing questions about their London and we don’t take “Sorry Gov” for an answer. Everyone sitting in the hot seat they will face the same questions ranging from their favourite way to spend a day out in the capital to their most hated building on London’s skyline to find out what Londoners think about their city. The questions are the same but the answers vary wildly.
I am a London-based graphic designer working for an architectural engineering practice. At 18, I moved from a tiny village in Portugal to come to study in the U.K. I have lived in Cambridge and Norwich, two beautiful cities which I completely took for granted. When I moved to London, I said to myself “Right, I am now in one of the world’s most incredible cities, and I am going to make the most of it.” I love all things London and, despite my best efforts, it feels like I have hardly scratched the surface. I am the creator of the London Underground Depth diagrams.
Cycle everywhere. An unpopular answer for the CabbieBlog I am sure, but for years I only used public transport, and I hardly knew London. When cycling you can explore all the side streets, enjoy the parks much more often, and take your journey at your own pace. It makes travelling an enjoyable experience and it gives you a much better understanding of the rich fabric of the city.
Near the Museum of the Order of St John, just by the church, there is a quiet monastic garden that is open during the day. It is a little haven where every flower, herb and tree in there has a medicinal use – very much my sort of garden.
The vanishing independent shops that build communities and add charm to their immediate area. It’s increasingly rarer to find somewhere that is “just lovely” amidst all the chains and the curated brand experiences.
There are so many choices, it feels cruel to state just one. Away from the mainstream, I really enjoy The Standard Hotel, opposite St Pancras. It was Camden Town Hall’s annexe, and it’s an incredible Retrofit project that has brought new life into this tired old building. The bars are great fun, from the ground-floor library-style laid-back lounge area to the double standard bar, as well as the rooftop bar which has stunning views across London – right next to St Pancras.
The Strata Tower in Elephant and Castle. It looks like a villain’s HQ and the gimmicky wind turbines never worked. The whole of SE Zone 1 and 2 is seeing a huge change for the better, and this thing, which won’t age gracefully, is an embarrassment amidst it all.
The London Eye, seen from the bridge in St James’ Park, especially at nighttime when the lights are reflecting on the lake, and all is tranquil.
London’s first skyscraper, 55 Broadway. Working for London Transport’s art deco headquarters must have been so thrilling, the sort of “in the right place at the right time” experience – the speeding pace of life, the glamour of the building, the buzz of the crowded offices, the engineering marvel of transport running underneath. It’s such a shame that it is being turned into a hotel.
I enjoy watching films, but I’m not the world’s greatest cinephile – so please don’t judge me. I thought of a few: One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing, The Ladykillers, Legend, Paddington and Harry Potter are all films I enjoy, and 28 Days Later came close. But my pick goes to Fast & Furious 6 (groan). As a lover of cars I like the series, but what leads me to pick this one is the scenes shot in Coal Drops Yard and Battersea Power Station before these were restored into the exciting landmarks they are today. King’s Cross gas holders also feature in The Ladykillers.
There are so many incredible establishments in London, it’s very difficult to pick. A current favourite is Casa do Frango. They specialise in Portuguese-style chargrilled chicken, and it always hits the spot. Their restaurants are nicely designed, and the experience is always relaxing and enjoyable – great to wind down at any time of the week, especially if you start with one of their cocktails.
It depends on what I am in the mood for. If I am in the mood for culture, I’ll be heading into the V&A or the National Gallery. If I am looking to unwind, I’ll pack a sandwich or two and cycle to Kew Gardens. The most realistic is shopping at Borough Market (early, to avoid tourists!) and then spending the day cooking at home, or meeting up with friends at the pub.
The old London was fading from her memory. She no longer expected to see the shops that had been bombed when she passed familiar streets. In many places the sites were being redeveloped. That’s what seemed real now – the new buildings and the flats above them. As she hit her stride, Mirabelle smiled. It felt good to be in the big city again and on her way.
Sara Sheridan (b.1991), Operation Goodwood
On 4 February 1748 social reformer Jeremy Bentham was born at Church Lane, Houndsditch. On his death Bentham left instructions for his body to be first dissected, and then to be permanently preserved as an ‘auto-icon’, which would be his memorial. This was done and occasionally Bentham is taken into meetings of the UCL College Council and that it is recorded in the minutes that Mr Bentham is present, but not voting.
On 4 February 1962 printed at its Gray’s Inn works the Sunday Times published Britain’s first newspaper colour supplement
During World War One a baker on Chapman Street, Shadwell was jailed for three days after being caught selling fresh bread
There’s an extensive military citadel beneath the streets of Whitehall one entrance via a lift is in the telephone exchange in Craig’s Court
Patrick Fraher and William Cummins died plunging from Barrington House cutting a hole in a concrete block forgetting they were standing in the middle, they’d been due to take part in a safety course next day
In February 1894 in Greenwich Park anarchist Martial Bourdin accidentally blew himself on route to blow up the Royal Observatory
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club on Frith Street was the site of Jimi Hendrix’s last public performance in 1970, he would die on 18 September of that year
The rhyme Pop Goes the Weasel refers to the pawning of a suit to pay for drink; ‘Up and down the City Road, in and out the Eagle’ the public house
Oscar winning movie Chariots of Fire was filmed in Hurlingham Park, Fulham, the title was inspired by the line, “Bring me my chariot of fire,” from the William Blake poem
Farringdon underground station is the only station from which passengers exited en masse on their way to a public hanging
Until 1910 you could walk across the walkway at the top of Tower Bridge it was shut because it started to become popular with prostitutes
Diarist Samuel Pepys buried his parmesan cheese and wine in his garden to protect them from the Great Fire of London in 1666
Trivial Matter: London in 140 characters is taken from the daily Twitter feed @cabbieblog.
A guide to the symbols used here and source material can be found on the Trivial Matter page.
For those new to CabbieBlog or readers who are slightly forgetful, on Saturdays I’m republishing posts, many going back over a decade. Some will still be very relevant while others have become dated over time. Just think of this post as your weekend paper supplement.
On the occasional times that I’m persuaded to go Sarf of The River my first thought has to be; which bridge should I use? Knowledge students are told that because the Thames meanders on its journey through the city, the nearest bridge lies on the shortest route, and without giving it a second thought on who maintains that crossing we drivers just – well drive across it.
So when reading David Long’s fascinating book Tunnels, Towers & Temples: London’s 100 Strangest Places, I was intrigued to find that five of London’s bridges are administered and financed from a building on the South Bank appropriately named Bridge House.
The first major crossing, London Bridge, was started in 1176, to replace the existing rickety wooden bridge nearby. It was funded from donations “to God and the Bridge” as the church at the time encouraged cross river traffic, indeed the builders one Peter de Colechurch was a priest and head of the Fraternity of the Brethren on London Bridge. One must question the churches’ motive as land on the South Bank was owned by the Bishop of Winchester, who later would benefit from revenues derived from prostitutes who were known as Winchester Geese.
When London Bridge was completed some 33 years later the rental income generated from the shops and houses above its 19 stone arches, along with tolls and fines on making the crossing, and in addition to the numerous bequests, amounted to a sizeable sum.
Its assets enabled the purchase of an area of land around Borough High Street and parts of the riverbank that became known as the Bridge House Estate. The income from these assets enabled the construction of Blackfriars Bridge in 1869, Tower Bridge in 1881 and the purchase of Southwark Bridge. The Trust has now assumed control of the Millennium Bridge, but only after the famous wobble was rectified. The Trust has financed two replacements for London Bridge (1831 and 1972) and two replacements for Southwark Bridge (1819 and 1921).
With an estimated £500 million in its coffers, with a least £35 million added each year, the question needs to be asked; why has Boris Johnson cancelled the proposed East London Crossing?
The construction of a bridge between Beckton and Thamesmead would ease the damaging traffic on Tower Bridge and reduce traffic jams in South East London. And how can it be that in a city the size of London, with its growing East and South East population we have only four crossings?
Downriver from Tower Bridge? Rotherhithe was built for horse and carts, in fact its double bend was designed to prevent horses seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and bolting for it. Blackwall Tunnel needs years of overnight maintenance and Woolwich Free Ferry which opened in 1889 hardly eases traffic congestion at all. The next river crossing is some 30 miles to the east at Dartford River Crossing.
The construction of a new toll bridge might help revive the tradition of a donation last made in 1675 of “To God and the Bridge”.
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