Keeping Things in Balance

Somewhere over the last 188 years, the Herbert Group must have decided that "Justice and Strength" was too pretentious a Trade Mark, which is a shame, really. They no longer occupy the building in Smithfield, and the lion lost the scales out of his paw sometime in WWII, but this is still an excellent example of how it always pays to look up.

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Derelict London

I was sent a review copy of Derelict London the book - not the website - some time ago. it's taken me a while to getting around to talking about it.

I can tell you that it is a rather good collection of photos of London's disappearing places. It's fun to pick up and leaf through, especially people of a Certain Age, you will recognise and remember more than you'd imagine at first glance. You'll get a feel by browsing the website, but it's not the same as a book. A couple of fellow bloggers reviews are here and here. My photographic offering is of some of the buildings around Smithfield market, which are quite astoundingly falling into disrepair. I can assure you it won't be that long before they rough hand of progress and modernisation brushes against them here.

Ha! as I typed this, I've just heard on BBC news that Planning Permission has just been refused to turn this into shops and offices!! Synchronicity or what!!!!! (news article here)

The Wind is Mooving to the North

Walking around Smithfield, London's ancient meat market, for The Way We See It, you cannot but be struck how the local business interest has influenced the architecture. I particularly liked this weather vane, high above the street. Note also the stone cow, one of many adorning the building (which is now a restaurant).



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