The Smallest Police Station

Many people will show you this bit of London trivia - the smallest Police station in the world - but it seems that few tell you why it is there - even Diamond Geezer doesn't tell you why.

The answer is quite straightforward. Back in the 19th Century, lots of distruptive trade union types decided that the square was a good place to agitate. So the police decided that they needed an oficer to keep an eye on the troublemakers, hence the slots. That's it. The light reputedly comes off Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory.

London Bricks

London bricks define the look of London, and there is brisk trade in reclaimed ones. However, I've not seen them used as a medium for sculpture in any other city. This brickwork can be seen in South Audley Street, here is another picture.

The Lady Magazine

Here it is - the venerable London institution that is: The Lady. One of the oldest and most respected magazines it has two distinct reputations. The first, is as a publication read by maiden aunts in their dotage. The second (coincidentally contradictory) is as the single best place to look for adverts for a holiday home or a nanny.

That is why I got lucky looking for a cottage in norfolk to rent for a few days. I've used them many times (although four or five decades below their assumed readership age) and I've never been let down. So you see, there WAS a connection.

(By the way, I'mm not really back, just flying through at a rate of knots, have a happy easter)

A Norfolk Holiday Cottage Story

I'm back briefly, I've been away to north Norfolk for a few days, we rented a norfolk holiday cottage that turned out to be entirely excellent.

Just as much a find was this pub with its own micro brewery a mile up the road, worth a detour for! The pumps you see all serve own-made beer.

Some of you may be saying, "How come this photo is on a London blog?" First of all, why not? But there is a (admitedly tenuous connection) with London, which you will find out tomorrow. I'll fill you in on some of the detials when I have the time.

Urban Foxes

Foxes have adapted perfectly to London city life: with our wide open spaces and habit of leaving all manner of edibles out for the taking, we have creted a reasonable fox heaven. If they ever learn how to cross roads we could be in trouble.

They have no fear.

Not often I can poke my lens out my back door, but this sunbather in early spring sunshine was too good to miss. Drop in on London Daily Nature Photo for some great London Nature (check out the butterflies from a few days back)

Something Fishy?

Is this a Poisson d'Avril? (French for April Fool) No, it is the weather vane above Old Billinsgate Market building, just along the path from yesterdays shot. I remember it being turned into offices. I heard a story that it took months of fumegating to get rid of the smell from where the fish had been stored. I believe it.

Still away, posting continues as if by magic.

Machinery of Trade

Something that many Londoners have never done is to walk the Thames Path, especially in the more odd bits of the city. If you head west along the bank from the Tower of London, you come across the last preserved remnants of the busy dock it once was. Conveniently this is in Sugar Quay, just where the Zong is moored.

I'll bring you another picture from nearby tomorrow, although to be accurate as I am away for a few days, it will have to happen by magic.

The Ceremony of the Dues

One of the more obscure but fun ceremonies, which has only been going on for the last 750 years, is the Ceremony of the Dues. The captain of every navy vessel entering the Pool of London takes a barrel of rum across to the man in charge of the Tower of London, all done with pomp and ceremony. Happens about once a year.

HMS Northumberland was accompanying the Zong, so the ceremony took place Staurday at 12 noon. Unfortunately I couldn't wait around to see it, so pictures of the preparation outside the Tower of London are all I have.

200 Years since the abolition of slavery

No matter where you are in the world, I would have thought the UK's 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade hasn't passed you by. I've been looking for a London angle on it, and here it is.

This is a replica 17th Century slave ship, the Zong. You need to read the story. It is in London as part of the commemoration, and their are tours that take you on board.

April Theme Day - a Public Post Box

This month's wordwide theme is a public post box. I was going to show you the Mount Pleasant Sorting Office post box, where you used to be able to post aletter up to midnight to arrive the next day. Unfortunately, the modernisers got there before me, and the only late box is now in Trafalgar Square. So here is one dating from 1866, behind Chelsea Hospital.

Why not click around the world.....1 (London (UK) ) -2 (Grenoble (France) ) -3 (Rotterdam (Netherlands) ) -4 (Greenville SC (USA) ) -5 (Hyde (UK) ) -6 (Villigen (Switzerland) ) -7 (Albuquerque NM (USA) ) -8 (Mazatlan (Mexico) ) -9 (Montréal (Canada) ) -10 (Stayton OR (USA) ) -11 (Shanghai (China) -Jing ) -12 (Arradon (France) ) -13 (Sequim WA (USA) ) -14 (Newcastle upon Tyne (England) ) -15 (Seattle WA (USA) -Kim ) -16 (Bastia (Corse) ) -17 (Minneapolis MN (USA) ) -18 (Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ) -19 (Joplin MO (USA) ) -20 (Sharon, CT (USA) ) -21 (Cottage Grove MN [USA] ) -22 (Houston, TX (USA) -Candice & Megan ) -23 (Singapore - by Keropokman. ) -24 (Guelph, ON (Canada) ) -25 (Menton (France) ) -26 (Monte Carlo, Monaco ) -27 (Naples, FL (USA) ) -28 (Kyoto (Japan) ) -29 (Tokyo (Japan) ) -30 (Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) ) -31 (Cape Town (South Africa) ) -32 ( Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -33 (Kitakami (Japan) ) -34 (Tel Aviv (Israel) ) -35 (Vantaa(Finland) ) -36 (Guadalajara (Mexico) ) -37 (Auckland (New Zealand) ) -38 (Nelson (New Zealand) ) -39 (Tuzla (B&H) ) -40 (Brussels (Belgium) ) -41 (Anderson, SC (USA) ) -42 (Lubbock, TX (USA) ) -43 (John, Melbourne, (Australia) ) -44 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -45 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -46 (Stockholm (Sweden) ) -47 (Boston, MA (USA) ) -48 (Not Strictly Seattle, Susan ) -49 (New York City, (USA), Ming the Merciless ) -50 (Paris [Eric], (France) ) -51 (Ampang (Selangor) ) -52 (Sydney (Nathalie) Australia ) -53 (ailea , HI (USA) ) -54 (Manila (Philippines) ) -55 (Sydney (Sally) Australia ) -56 (Cork (Ireland) ) -57 (Saarbrücken (Germany) ) -58 (Saint Paul MN (USA) by Carol ) -59 (San Diego, CA (USA) ) -60 (Mexico [POLY], (Mexico) ) -61 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -62 (Singapore (Singapore by Zannnie) ) -63 (Madrid [Dsole] (Spain) ) -64 (Nottingham (England) ) -65 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -66 (London - Jonemo (UK)) -

Streetlamps in St James

If you visited Paris yesterday, you would have learned that they have 82,000 street lamps and they are all electric. You might even have managed to see streetlamps in Torino, Mazatlan or Hamburg.

So it looks like London's the only one with real gaslights still. Oh good.

A day without laughter is a day wasted

That's a quote from the man himself. I could have cropped tight on the cane and you would still have recognised him. A candidate for London's most famous resident (yes, british NOT american), Charlie Chaplin is commemorated by a statue in Leicester Square. If you don't know about his story, take a moment or two to read up about him - I think you may be surprised.

If you have a moment, YouTube have the last silent film he made, Modern Times, here are the segments: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. I'm not saying that they aren't dated in places, but he is still funny.

A more general view of the statue on My Other Stuff.

Hope for peace

Looking for something to mark the news from Ireland, I thought of this piece of graffiti, in the passage just opposite the last Banksy I posted.

I remember London being torn apart by the troubles. It's good that it's over.

St Mary's School, Rotherhithe

I make no apology for staying in Rotherhithe today, as I suspect that many didn't realise how important and vibrant the area once was. Close by the Mayflower are these buildings - St Mary's School dating from 1613 and the Watch House. This school was built to educate the sons of seamen.

What makes me smile is that it seems there was someone churning out statues of children for schools by the hundred - I've already posted two, one here and one a few days agohere.

BBC have a 360 panaroma here.

The Mayflower Public House

Brunel's engine house is a worthwhile pilgrimage for those so inclined, but this is the real draw for me. A pub with its own lifebelts. That's my kind of place.

I'd vote The Mayflower to be one of the best located pubs in London, and one that most tourists won't find, either (possibly some connection, there). Here is their drinking deck (lifebelts are on the wall) and here is their hearth. When I first came here [hurrumph] years ago, there were cheese rolls behind the bar; these days: Asparagus Quiche and Tempura Prawns. Times do change.

Actually, I came down here hoping to take a picture of what used to be an exceptional restaurant 100 yards away, housed in the ground floor flat of a block of council flats. Run by an american, it served Creole food when most people would have had to look that up in a dictionary. You ate sat around one large table, with the menu passed round on a blackboard, amended as the night progressed. His son took over, but now you could not even imagine council flats here.

Diamond Geezer visited Rotherhithe last June.

The Man Who Built the World

Isambard Kingdom Brunel spanned the world with his bridges, tunnels, ships, docks - the list goes on, for too much for this short paragraph. This is the view inside the Brunel Museum, tucked away in Rotherhithe. An odd little place, worth a visit, if only..... but that's for tomorrow (yes I know some of you will know).

Bang the drum for Zimbabwe

Ever since 2002, there has been a vigil each Saturday outside the Zimbabwe embassy in the Strand..... until there are free and fair elections.

I don't know about you, but Mugabe's rampage through his country's inheritance has left me disbelieving. These days, there seems to be a glimmer of hope - I do hope so. there was a joy to the people singing and dancing that is often absent. I hope that by the time you come to look, there is no more vigil. I fear there may be for a while.

Paternoster Square

Paternoster Square used to be one of the most dreadful spaces in London. A dreary void inbetween 60's office blocks was in such stark contrast to the glory of Wren's St Pauls. Thankfully, they have torn the old down and turned it into a truly human space. Hemmed in on all sides, it's another of London's Hidden spaces. Do look it up if you are in the area.

This statue of shepherd & sheep was created byElisabeth Frink.

Little Britain... US Style

(Anyone visitng arriving looking for words about Adam Regis, it's on March 20)

Little Brtiain is in London at the moment, but there may be one soon in New York. The Campaign For Little Britain in Manhattan appears to be gathering strength, and I hope they get it, sign their petition here

Happier Times

(Anyone coming here looking for Adam Regis, look two days down for the first post)
About one hundred metres from where fifteen year old Adam Regis' life was brutally ended is this statue of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hirst and Martin Peters. - England's Greatest (ever?) Moment, the '66 world cup. Match days, they are at the heart of the drunken revelry. They are looking the other way from where Adam died. How apposite.

Show you care, leave a comment here. Talk about it on your website, let me know and I'll link to it. Let's link around the world.