Bradshaw’s Hand Book, Part III, The West – Westminster Abbey and precincts (no.17)
Westminster Abbey, says Mr Bradshaw is a ‘..magnificent edifice, .. said to have been founded by Sebert, King of the East Saxons in 616. This spot of ground was then a small insulated tract, surrounded by the Thames, and called Thorney Island..’. … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, Part III, The West, District II (no.16) Charing Cross, Whitehall, Westminster
Today’s route begins at Charing Cross and ends at Chelsea New Bridge, from where Mr Bradshaw suggests ‘..we can take an omnibus back to Charing Cross, or stroll leisurely through St James’s Park, by way of varying our return..’. Well, … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, Trafalgar Square (no.15)
This post completes my last one, in which I was rained off! Trafalgar Square is today a great open space in the centre of the City of Westminster, a major tourist attraction, known all over the world. These explorations with Mr … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book, Part III – The West, The Strand, including St Clement Danes (no.14)
My spirits were low today, so, before embarking on ‘the route’ I visited Lincoln’s Inn to see how the garden was progressing in our rather gloomy spring weather. It was beautiful, and tranquil. ‘We now proceed from Temple Bar westward, … Continued
East India Docks
‘..About the middle of the seventeenth century the [East India] Company constructed a small wet dock at Blackwall for fitting out their vessels after launching from the adjacent shipbuilding yards. This dock was the first on the Thames to be … Continued
West India Docks
Mr Bradshaw took me to the West India Docks one warm and sunny Friday afternoon, a rare gift of a day in London this year. I loved it. Map and camera in hand, I marched resolutely amongst the remains of … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book to London, PART II, The East, District II, Aldgate, Mile End and Jewish Cemetry (no.11)
We begin at the site of the Aldgate which was the eastern-most gate in the City walls, and stood at the junction of Dukes Place, Aldgate High Street, Minories, and Aldgate Street. (Good post in Spitalfields Life.) The gate was rebuilt several times but … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book to London, Second Day’s Route, District V completed (no.8)
I didn’t complete District V in one day partly because of the cold, and partly because Mr Bradshaw walks too fast for me! So I returned and started where I left off, in Chancery Lane, which Pevsner refers to as ‘..the … Continued
Bradshaw’s Hand Book to London, Second Day, District V (no.7)
Mr Bradshaw leads us forth from St Paul’s Cathedral again, and in District V he will particularly point out newspapers and the law, very topical! We start with The Times in Printing House Square, only I couldn’t find the square and … Continued