Monthly Archives: September 2021

“The streets of London have their map, but our passions are uncharted. What are you going to meet if you turn this corner?” – Virginia Woolf

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A bit more about Day 3 in London

Sorry but I am adding another part for Day 3—-and then we’re leaving London for Devon next week, promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Monkees: Listen to The Band Collection
$125.00
FROM WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST WEEK:
START OUT ALONG WEST SMITHFIELD HEADING SOUTH
AFTER 150 YARDS BEAR RIGHT ONTO LITTLE BRITAIN
AFTER 250 YARDS TURN LEFT ONTO MONTAGUE STREET
GO AROUND AT THE ROUNDABOUT,  111 YARDS ON AND THEN TURN OFF INTO LONDON WALL HEADING SOUTH
YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATION 26 YARDS ALONG LONDON WALL.
THE ROMAN Wall
Well preserved section of the city wall built by the Romans and maintained by the city inhabitants into the middle ages.
The Museum of London entrance
A note for the near future:
Just past the wall you’ll find:
The city’s history is told here thru all manner of fascinating and colorful exhibits.
opened in 1976
for a lively account of Londons past:  with reconstructed interiors and street scenes as well as original artifacts and items found in the city at the Museum’s archeological digs.
The galleries are laid out in chronological order-which I love
Here you will see a working model of the Great Fire of London
A London deft ware plate which bears inscriptions prasing Elizabeth I (1602)
A 2nd century Roman Wall painting which came from a Southwark bathhouse.
Don’t miss the late Stuart interior (17th c) ( a collection from several grand houses)
There’s also 18th c qddresses, Victorian Store fronts, as well as a prison cell of the same era and while we’re on the subject they have cell doors fom Newgate prison which were featured in Charles Dickens—the prison not that particular door
As well as 20th c London with a display of major events.
Of course there’s a Roman Gallery and the Cheapside Hoards (17th c goldsmith’s bounty uncovered in 1912)
My favorite museum and one of my favorite exhibits is the Lord Mayor’s Golden Coach built 1757 with gold carwings and side panels by Cipriant.  Fantastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now this section today was always on  my original tour–but let’s face it when you look at the other two episodes  it’s a pretty full day—-but there are a few things to consider:
First a lot of it is walking—-so when you look at the area you should realize that your group may well have other ideas when they see the alternative—-and you need to take that into account for you plan—-but you also need to take into account that maybe no body will find anything and you’ll just keep walking.   You get the idea.
Also places that offer a prolonged visit inside could be closed for the day–we talked about checking museums and the like for off days—-but some places like churches might have weddings or special sevices—and all manner of emergencies etc….or one or more of your group isn’t interested in that old place—whatever.    So always have a longer alternative than you figure you can make in one day…..

 

 

 

Collection of Items Remembering the Denver Broncos and John Elway in 1990’s
$70.00
START OUT ALONG LONDON WALL HEADING WEST
GO LEFT AROUND THE ROUNDABOUT-31 YARDS ON
THEN TURN OFF ONTO ALDERSGATE
HEADING SOUTH
AFTER 150 YARDS TURN LEFT ONTO GRESHAM STREET
AFTER ANOTHER 150 YARDS BEAR RIGHT ONTO GUTTER LANE
AFTER 250 YARDS TURN LEFT INTO CHEAPSIDE
YOU”LL SOON PASS ABBEY ATM AND THEN WOOLWICH BANK
AFTER 82 YARDS TURN RIGHT ONTO BREAD STREET 
AFTER 91 YARDS BEAR LEFT ONTO BOW  CHURCH YARD
YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATION 51 YARDS ALONG BOW CHURCH YARD.
CHEAPSIDE:  BOW LANE:  THE CHURCH TOOK ITS NAME FROM THE ARCHES IN THE NORMAN CRYPT>  WHEN WREN REBUILT THE CHURCH HE ADDED ARCHES ON THE STEEPLE CONTINUING THE PATTERN.  BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WEATHER VANE (1674) —IT”S A HUGE DRAGON.
THE CHURCH HAS HAD IT’S SHARE OF DAMAGE—THE ROOF WAS RIPPED OFF IN A STORM IN 1091.  THEN THE TOWER COLLAPSED IN 1271, KILLING 20 PEOPLE.  IN 1331,  DURING  A JOUST CELEBTATING THE BIRTH  OF THE Black PRINCE a balcony collapsd dropping Queen Philippa and her ladies –in –waiting to the ground.
Then in the Blitz (1941) it was bomb with only the steeple and two outer walls still standing .  Restored in 1956-52 with the bell re-cast and hung.  Traditionaly these bells determine if you’re a true Londoner or not—For only those born within the area where these bell can be heard to ring are considered to be true Cokneys (i.e. Londoners).  They were infact originally rang for cerfeew from 1334 to 1874 at 9 pm and then in the morning at 4:45 am to mark the end of the cerfew.
Since the 12th c it has had an Ecclesistical Court of Arches, where the Archbishop of Cantebury swears in new bishops.
Today the court shares space with the Place Below Restaurant
in the Church’s Norman crypt.
This church was once the church of Captain John Smith (who you might remember relocated to Jamestown, VA).  There’s a statue of him in the churchyard’s garden.
File:St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, City of London EC2V 6AU - geograph.org.uk - 426552.jpg
This church offers a restaurant in an unusual and historic setting—the church has been much damaged thru the years but the crypt are still the Norman built ones—-of course not everyone can handle a veggie meal—–but it’s something to consider–again for a different experience.
START OUT ALONG BOW CHURCHYARD HEADING WEST
AFTER 51 YARDS BEAR LEFT ONTO  BREAD STREET
AFTR 96 YARDS BEAR RIGHT ONTO WATLING STREET 
AFTER 111 YARDS CONTINUE STRAAIGHT INTO
FESTIVAL GARDEN HEADING WEST
AFTER 100 YARS CONTINUE ONTO COACH PARK
AFTER 22 YARDS CONTINUE STRAIGHT ONTO
YOU”LL PASS ST PAUL”S CATHEDRAL
AFTER 250 YARDS TURN LEFT ONTO LUDGAT HILL
YOU’LL SOON PASS ROWE COHEN BUSINESS FACILITY AND THEN LLOYD”S TSB BANK
AFTER 250 YARDS CONTINUE ONTO LUDGATE CIRCUS AT WH SMITH HEADING WEST
YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATION 17 YARDS ALONG LUDGATE CIRCUS
Fleet Street
The Newspaper Industry used to dominate this area of town—but most/if not all papers have gone to their new area of the Docklands East of here.  The area or more specifically Fleet Street is still a business and finance center..

 

 

 

 

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Special Report Death of a Beatle From 12/22/1980 Newsweek Coverage on Murder of John Lennon
$10.00

 

 

 

START OUT ALONG FLEET STREET HEADING WEST

 

 

AFTER 34 YARDS TURN LFT ONTO BRIDE LANE

 

 

YOU”LL REACH YOUR DESTINATION IN 31 YARDS ALONG BRIDE LANE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUR HISTORY

 

 

St. Brides

 

St. Brides is located in the

City of London

 

 

It may b the most ancient, with worship dating back to the conversion of the Middle Saxons in the 7th century.   Some think that since it is named for an Irish patron saint it might well have originally been fouded by Celtic monks, missionaries who came to convert the heathen Saxons and British Celts to Christianity.

 

 

The 69 foot steeple makes it the 2nd tallest of Wren’s (who rebuilt it after the Great Fire)  Churches.  Oh and take a good look at the steeples tiers—legend has it that a local baker used the design to make a wedding cake and the rest was is history.

 

 

It was gutted by fire again during World War II on the night of 29 Deember 1940, which was calld the “Second Great Fire of London.”  Oh and it’s rebuild was financed by local news men and proprietors who frequented the church to such an extent that it has long been called their church.

 

 

Oh and the church you see there today is maybe (at least) the seventh to set on the site.

 

 

St Bride's Church, London - Diliff.jpg

 

 

When you’re planning on your walking visits anywhere there are a few options—-like where do you eat, you can check the area out and pick ahead—-but if you want to avoid being put on a time line again I would suggest you get several names along the route that look good so rather than just having one available and hoping you’re hungry when you get there—or starrving cause it’s too far along the route.  I prefer to just make a random choce along the way—when in doubt pick a pub in London—-but if you’re somewhere with limited resources then definately have it all worked out—-rather than ruining your day by not finding anything else or something really horrible.

 

 

 

 

Restaurants near St Bride’s Church  

 

 

 

 

The Porter Wagner Show Program Dated (4/19/197) and signed By Speck Rhodes
1 in stock
$65.30

START OUT ALONG ST. BRIDES AVENUE HEADING WEST

YOU WILL SOON PASS ST. BRIDES

AFTER 79 YARDS BEAR LEFT BACK ONTO FLEET STREET

YOU’LL  EVENTUALLY PASS NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY BANK

 

AFTER 250 YARDS TURN LEFT ONTO FALCON COURT AT PROTESTANT TRUTH SOCIETY

 

YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATIONS 49 yards along

Temple Church London

 

 

 

 

The Templer Church

 

Set back from the hustle and bustle of Fleet street and the modern city it sets between it and the Embarkment.  Go to the temple and its area and you feel you’ve found a bit of the ancient past of the city.  The Temple consists of two Law societies the Middle

and the Inner Temple is the domain of bewigged and robed barrister—it’s something to see them walking about.   But its best to just walk about they say at might with it bathed in the warm glow of gaslight, when it is truly a magical experince.

 

 

The name Temple comes from the Knights Templer

the military religious order founded in 1118 with the intent of protecting pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem.  This was their place in London  and the original church was built in 1185 —one of their signature churchs modeled after the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.  It is one of a few (one in Cambridge and a couple more) left in England and the only one in London.

 

 

The Templers were influential and intelligent and money and the youngeer sons of noble families joined them in their battle for God and the Holy Lands.    In London many of the Kings, including John stayed at the base that the templer had about this church.

 

 

Kill Phillip V of France saw the Templers as a way to shore up his poor economy and on Friday 13th October 1307 he had the templers all over France arressted, and tortured resulting in confessions to all manner of things and he began burning them for their sins and within 5 years (1312) the order was dissolveed all over Europe.

 

 

 

This church which is now the church for the Inner and OuterTemple Courts of Law is still a memorial to the Knights who founded it and whose effigies lie still enclosed in their armor despite Phillip’s efforts to  take them and their rememberance forever from the world.

 

 

 

 

TOP TEN TEMPLAR BUILDINGS

 

 

 

temple-church-tombs

 

 

 

One thing of note–the other day I was speaking with a lady who said she wa going with some friends and family on a trip but they had planned on several churches which she didn’t plan to include—hint Euopean Churches are like great history book—they usually contain the tombs of all manner of important people—-and the decor is usually full of fantastic art styles and even a few odds and ends about….Going to each is an entirely diffeent experince—-go to Westminster Abbey and St.Paul’s London’s two main churches and you will find entirely different experiences, decor, artificates…..and then go to Westminster Cathedral which is England’s Priemer Catholic church and they even have an clear coffin in which within  lies the broiled body of a priest, the last known priest to have been killed in the country for his faith—-The man who save the body and took it to France to be buried had it broiled so it would last the journey—many years later it was dug up and brought back to England and now resides–completely covered in a priest ceremonial clothing and a mask that hides all views of th broiled flesh but it’s not something you will find in most London churches—so don’t rule out churches cause you’re use to less interesting presenting in your hometown churhes.  For instance check out below this picture is just a few of the wonders at Canterbury Cathedral

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that’s it for day    Back on Sat with Bits and Pieces—sorry I’m late but had a reaction to some medicine and laid around for a couple of days getting my feet back on the ground again.

 

 

 

 

Oh and below is a picture from those many churches that I’ve visited in England — not what you’d find in one of the states major churches….It’s the figure gracing the top of a tomb—not your usual recreation of the person

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONDON: Historic TEMP CHURCH ⛪ (from ‘The Da Vinci Code’ film)