Inside an Institution

A couple of days ago I was privileged to visit the new BBC centre. It's a fantastic building, but you are told to keep moving because you never know if you are on camera.

Whittington Gardens

Yesterday's statue comes from Whittington Gardens, a postage stamp sized green place just off Lower Thames Street. The statues (there are two) are a little disturbing at first, but actually quite dynamic. Sit and contemplate a water feature if you'd like to relax.

The Hooded Horseman

This is a fairly new addition to London's streetscene, I wonder if anyone recognises where it is? A cat here might be a clue.

A Minty Bit Longer!

UK readers will no doubt remember the slogan, "Trebor mints are a minty bit stronger", but all the East End factories, including this one in Katherine Road closed down long ago. The Trebor brand (Robert, backwards) was sold off in the 80's. Read the history (including when a policeman got a candy coating) here.

A Different Departure

Departure is a community arts centre in the Commercial Road, East London. That little bit too far east to be trendy, I've hardly ever seen anyone in it. But seeing as how it always looks inviting, and has been there for years, I reckon that's my loss.

Out Hunting

Hyde Park used to be the monarch's hunting ground, and this group by Princes Gate seems to echo that. But, who is hunting who or what I would not like to guess.

Obsession with detail

This is one small section of the carving on a pillar in the V&A museum's west wall - one that most people will walk past without stopping. Personally, I'd recommend you took as much time over this as you might over some of the exhibits inside, it is rather fantastic.

This is Rubbish

Those stacks of containers don't contain shiny consumer goods, it's west London's rubbish being shipped downriver for treatment - recycling and landfill.

The End of the World As We Know It

I wonder how many cities have a location called "World's End"? It hasn't yet, anyway, which is reassuring.

I love Markets

I Love Markets is not only a true statement, but an organisation seeking to promote markets right across London. At the moment there is a photo contest open to all https://www.ilovemarkets.com/london/photocontest.

Squeezing Catholics

Or, to be exact, squeezing the Roman Catholic Church of English Martyrs. Sat in Prescott Street in the East End, it sits uncomfortably cheek by jowl with some rather unlovely buildings; this is a Pugin masterpiece.

No, you have him!

This "Modern Sculpture" just south of Battersea Bridge looks like nothing else to me but that the kid is being lobbed by the mum, and dad may or may not catch. I was amused to find that the imbalance is caused by a missing bird, to which the child is stretching out his arms. I was further amused to learn that "the piece is meant to represent unity between the people of London", I suppose that someone has to pick up the pieces.

The Forum

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum, it changed its name to the Cineworld Fulham Road. Not quite the same ring to it, eh? Still a grand building though.

Grade 1 Listed

The 18th Century St Mary's Church in Battersea is a Grade listed building, for obvious reasons. Local history goes back to AD 700, when Battersea contained "45 villagers and 16 smallholders with 14 ploughs and eight slaves, seven mills and woodland enough to pasture fifty pigs". You can read the local history here.

On the Shoe Line

I'm sure you will have seen pairs of shoes for whatever reason, flung onto high phone lines or the like. I can see some sort of challenge in that, but this? I dunno, at lease they get washed.

Barge Life

As you walk along the Thames path, you will come across many houseboats of varying sizes and degrees of comfort. I have to say I understand the appeal of each of them.

The Heliport

After the recent tragedy with the helicopter crashing into a building, I thought it would be interesting to show you the heliport, how small and accessible it is. The building on the left is a hotel.

Atomic Advertising

This is the view southwards off Wansdsworth Bridge. I can't make up my mind whether the advertising hoarding improves the view, it's one of those places that would have been lovely as rolling green grass, but is entirely desolate as multi lane roads in a nearly human free void.

A Reminder

A reminder that the boat race is the longest continuously run sporting event in the world (since 1829)can be found on the Thames Path. Sorry it doesn't photograph very well.

Putney Bridge

Which is where the Oxford Cambridge boat race starts from each year. I suppose it is sensible it isn't in either Oxford or Cambridge when you think about it.

Living & Giving

By the time you get to Fulham, you get a better class of charity shop. In fact, it's no longer even called a charity shop....

Out Clubbing

The Constitutional Clubs were affiliated to the Conservative political party, as disticnct from Conservative Working Mens' Clubs; places for men to go to drink and play. South Fulham Constitutional Club closed in 2006 and is now a residential development.

Empty Streets

It is worth going to The Mall over teh weekend, if only to experience the absence of traffic.

Irony

The Eastern Dispensary - founded 1782, erected 1858, supported by voluntary contributions - is now a bar, supported by voluntary contributions.

Oh yes, that's another building going up in the background.

Because We Can

This is one of the latest crop of skyscrapers springing up around London, seemingly designed eccentrically because they can. Time will tell whether the novelty will hold any lasting architectural value, I suspect we will look back on these as slightly embarrassing examples of the genre.

Maybe not. You can read more about this building - "The Walkie Talkie" - and its rooftop garden here.

The Re-Work Continues

The Olympic ground from the top of Stratford multi story car park shows how the structures are changing: the aquatic centre has lost its water wings and the stadium has lost its coat. The backdrop of the city skyline is a bonus.

Holy Roads, Batman!

If you ever wondered what is likely to happen were there to be a major water main burst in the middle of Regent Street, you need wonder no more. I am sure glad I don't have to worry about driving in London at the moment.

City Point

I'm off taking new photos today, I'll leave you with a photo the refurbished entry to City Point and a number of near useless facts.

The building was built in 1967 as Brittanic House, a 122m (399ft) headquarters for British Petroleum. An extensive refurbishment, designed by Sheppard Robson International and completed in 2000, increased the floorplates and added height to the top floor. Britannic House was then renamed CityPoint.

CityPoint is the City of London's largest commercial office building in terms of rentable floorspace.

CityPoint was the City of London's second tallest building upon completion in 2000, but was overtaken in 2002 by the 179.8m (590ft) 30 St Mary Axe.

The original design proposed by Santiago Calatrava included an enormous fin on top of the building that would have taken the height to 203m (666ft), but this plan was rejected because of fears it would spoil views of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Outside Poppies Diner

Poppies in Cable Street, near the Tower of London, has been serving in London for nearly 70 years, I'm not sure that it has always had the Diner setup, but it is none the worse for that. If you are visiting the Tower, this would be one of my recommendations for where to eat.

A Thames Barge

This girl was 100 years old in 2003, you can read more about her here.