25 December 2015
24 December 2015
23 December 2015
22 December 2015
21 December 2015
20 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 20th December
19 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 19th December
Landseer House, 19 Charing Cross Road, London WC2. I am not sure if the name of this building relates to Edwin Landseer who painted The Monarch of the Glen and sculpted the lions at the base of Nelson's Column in nearby Trafalgar Square. This stretch of the road south from Leicester Square Station, is littered with fine examples of statement/personalised architectural details – be sure to look up next time you are there. |
18 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 18th December
An old Huguenot weavers' house at 18 Princelet Street, London E1. Visit the fascinating museum at No.19 Princelet Street |
17 December 2015
16 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 16th December
Vitreous enamel hydrant maker showing distance to the access point.
Dalston, London E8.
Most of these are diamond-shape, except when they wrap around a corner in which case they are square.
I have only ever spotted one oval-shaped specimen in Sclater Street, E1:
|
15 December 2015
A walk along Kings Road (part 4) Santander vs modern
And so the walk continues east.
See my previous posts for earlier sections of this road.
See my previous posts for earlier sections of this road.
These days Kings Road have devolved into just another bland high street with all the same brands and labels as every other major shopping thoroughfare in the UK.
But you can still spot hints of its past in the architecture.
Lots more info about the changing face of the Kings Road can be found here.
And here (I particularly like this one)
And this one too.
14 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 14th December
Cement impression graffiti. Not sure is this is Eden's age or the year 2014. More of these here. |
13 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 13th December
12 December 2015
11 December 2015
10 December 2015
The Old Royal Naval College and Christmas lights at Greenwich
The Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich is a fascinating place. Lots of interesting artefacts, art and information. Be sure to check out the Painted Hall.
On the way to take another consignment of my clay pipe jewellery to the ORNC gift shop last week I stopped to admire the Christmas decorations in Greenwich Market, on the Cutty Sark and the colour-changing dome on the entrance to the foot tunnel that joins Greenwich with the Island Gardens on The Isle of Dogs.
Ah... lovely.
Find the jewellery display to the right of the till near the main door facing the Thames
Jane's Advent Calendar – 10th December
Pointing the way to No.10 in West Hampstead |
9 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 9th December
Green door, what's that secret you're keeping? 9 Roupell Street, London SE1 |
The area is constantly under threat from developers and the houses in this evocative location fetch exhorbitant unrealistic prices.
Oh, and cos you are probably sing that song... click here for Mr Stevens.
8 December 2015
Cards cards cards
I am really pleased that greeting cards featuring my photos of places of interest in north London have been selling well.
A selection is shown here:
Buy them for £2.50 each from The Only Place For Pictures in Upper Street, Islington (opposite the Union Chapel), Arts and Vintage (opposite Highgate tube station) and Oxfam Bookshops in Highgate and Crouch End.
Or buy direct from me, either by contacting me, or finding me at one of my stalls where I will also have my other cards showing my images created from clay pipes; Pete and Joe, London Landmarks, Christmas trees and snowflakes.
Buy four get one free – get five for £10 for any cards when purchasing in person.
Many are also available on Etsy (free p&p).
A selection is shown here:
Greeting cards 135mm square supplied with envelopes in cello bags. |
Snowflakes 135mm square. All others A6/postcard size. |
Buy four get one free – get five for £10 for any cards when purchasing in person.
Many are also available on Etsy (free p&p).
7 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 7th December
The Seven Stars public house, 243 Goldhawk Road, London W12 |
It's claimed that a pub of the same name in Carey Street behind the Law Courts in WC2 could be the oldest pub in London.
6 December 2015
A mystery tour in Holborn – Incredible Midtown: The Game – until Friday Dec 11th
I just found this is a fun way to explore what I still prefer to call the Holborn area.
Until this Friday 11th Dec...
Put your detective skills to the test and unravel a series of fiendish clues and perplexing puzzles and immerse yourself in three centuries of London history on the mystery tour Incredible Midtown: The Game devised by live-action experience maestros Secret Studio.
Teams of friends and strangers will form groups of ten and collaborate to uncover the drama and fascinating past of this ever-intriguing area during a puzzle-based adventure game. Actors bring real and fictional fully-interactive characters to life (or death!). Expects ghosts, pubs, rock stars, and lots of fascinating historical facts.
Takes approx 90 minutes. The Game Tickets are £12 per person. Book here.
I have written about the rebranding of Bloomsbury as Midtown before here and here.
Bloomsbury details |
Put your detective skills to the test and unravel a series of fiendish clues and perplexing puzzles and immerse yourself in three centuries of London history on the mystery tour Incredible Midtown: The Game devised by live-action experience maestros Secret Studio.
Teams of friends and strangers will form groups of ten and collaborate to uncover the drama and fascinating past of this ever-intriguing area during a puzzle-based adventure game. Actors bring real and fictional fully-interactive characters to life (or death!). Expects ghosts, pubs, rock stars, and lots of fascinating historical facts.
Takes approx 90 minutes. The Game Tickets are £12 per person. Book here.
I have written about the rebranding of Bloomsbury as Midtown before here and here.
Jane's Advent Calendar – 6th December
Dingley Road, London EC1 Ten fags for sixpence!! This sign must have been very vibrant 70 years ago. At the bottom right the signwriter has left his mark: "HARRIS the Sign King"! |
5 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 5th December
Great St James Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1 |
Others, like the one here, were created as protruding boxes which captured and reflected even more light into the house. I cannnot find the proper name for this style – any information welcome
4 December 2015
Follow the Angel Trail at the National Gallery
Clockwise from top left: Lambeth, The Mall (x2), Highgate, Shaftesbury Ave, Sloane Square |
Each week they will be releasing a new video on their YouTube channel inspired by different depictions of angels in art from the collection sharing their favourites on Twitter and Facebook. See the first video here.
Today, Friday 4th December, you can take part in the #AngelTrail and join the hunt. There will also be music and a pop-up bar. See here for more.
On Friday 11th the trail goes nationwide and will include other galleries and museum across UK and Ireland.
Nice.
Oddities at The Tower of London
This continues from my posts about the animals at the Royal Menagerie and horses and armour in The White Tower.
There are lots of other interesting things in and around the complex. I really liked the life-size metal sculptures of soldiers/guards protecting the high walls and the lovely relevant detailing on the metal posts that hold the ropes and chains.
There are lots of other interesting things in and around the complex. I really liked the life-size metal sculptures of soldiers/guards protecting the high walls and the lovely relevant detailing on the metal posts that hold the ropes and chains.
One of my favourite artefacts on display is a gorgeous little 13th Century portable altarpiece intricately carved from ivory. It's a hinged triptych only about 15cm wide when open and shows scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.
I spent quite a lot of time looking at the carved graffiti in the outer towers. Much of it is very beautifully carved; lovely letterforms and detailed religious and astrological references. Read this post by The Gentle Author for some great pics and information.
And now for some oddities:
I like the way layers of history and renovation can still be seen as in the underside of a spiral staircase. Something is missing on the pavement. Stairs to nowhere A 20th Century box downpipe |
Jane's Advent Calendar – 4th December
A milestone marker on Haverstock Hill shows it's 4 miles to London |
3 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 3rd December
The Three Greyhounds public house, Old Compton Street, W1 |
2 December 2015
Jane's Advent Calendar – 2nd December
The Two Chairman mid-18th public house, 30 Dartmouth Street SW1 |
It is suggested that “Cheerio” derives from people calling “Chair Ho” to attract the attention of chairmen.
1 December 2015
The Foundling Museum
The Foundling Museum sits tucked away on the north side of leafy Brunswick Square Gardens in Bloomsbury.
Hidden within you will find many time-absorbing items of interest. As well as artefacts illustrating the moving stories of orphaned and abandoned children, you'll see artworks by Hogarth, Gainsborough and Reynolds, and a huge collection of manuscripts, recordings and books relating to Handel, including his will and the manuscript of The Messiah.
And, as shown above, in the reception area there is a small gift shop. Take time to check out the truly unique jewellery made from clay pipes (plug! plug!*).
There is also a very good cafe there.
*see other outlets here
Hidden within you will find many time-absorbing items of interest. As well as artefacts illustrating the moving stories of orphaned and abandoned children, you'll see artworks by Hogarth, Gainsborough and Reynolds, and a huge collection of manuscripts, recordings and books relating to Handel, including his will and the manuscript of The Messiah.
And, as shown above, in the reception area there is a small gift shop. Take time to check out the truly unique jewellery made from clay pipes (plug! plug!*).
There is also a very good cafe there.
*see other outlets here
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