NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!

Come back here in 2012 and you won't see anything like this! It was taken near the River Lea, close to the Olympic site at Stratford. On a wet and dreary August day it was a glimpse of the derelict under-belly of London - and certainly not a place for a picnic! I shall keep going back to record the changes that take place over the next seven years.
Posted by Picasa

COOLING OFF BY THE RIVER

It was hot today - but strolling through the City and along the River Thames path was yet another reminder that London is a great City with so much to see and enjoy. I couldn't have chosen a better day to take Sarah and the grandchildren for a walk through some of the paths and passageways on a route from the Tower to St. Paul's.

There were no complaints from Henry (8), Molly (7) and Isabelle (6) . No moans, no tears. As long as they were kept fed and watered, the interesting sights and historical snippets of London did the rest. The Guide was quite good as well!

We started near the Tower, saw the original Roman wall, the execution site on Tower Hill and then went on to St Margaret Pattens church in Eastcheap and rebuilt by Wren in 1686. We went inside and saw the pattens which the ladies wore on their feet to raise them above the muck and debris of the market streets. (pictured) The children wandered around the church, into the churchwarden pews and the pulpit. They were enthralled - so credit to the staff in the church who made it all possible.

We looked at the Monument, London Bridge and then took the Thames Path to the Millenium Bridge (pictured). After going over to the south side and back, we went up to St Paul's and into Paternoster Square - where we met their Dad, Stuart, during his lunchtime break. Everyone was eating out, enjoying the sun and chatting; it wasn't crowded...maybe recent events have kept people away from our City.

Then it was back down Cheapside, into the Royal Exchange, through the alleys near St Michael's, Cornhill and on to the vibrant Leadenhall Market where everyone was eating and drinking outside. The stalls were busy and the whole atmosphere was alive under this remarkable iron structure designed by Sir Horace Jones.

On the train back from Fenchurch Street, we had a little quiz. Who founded Toc H? Where did Samuel Pepys live? Name the two fresh-water rivers flowing into the Thames? What does Resurgam mean? Who created the statue in Paternoster Square? Where was the first coffee shop in London? And so it went on.

The journey back to Leigh went quickly - and three tired little people, with their Mum, knew a little more about London life, traditions and history. But it was worth it...so maybe I should organise another of these "Walking Classrooms"

A TRIP TO CAMBRIDGE

Anyone interested in the history of London will know why Samuel Pepys made such an important contribution to our knowledge and understanding of this great city. His diary of that extraordinary period between 1660-69 has given us a detailed insight of life at the time of restoration of the Monarchy, the Plague and the Great Fire.

I went to Cambridge to see the diary. It is at Magdalene College with the complete collection of all the books in his library. It is privilege to see the diary itself, neatly written in that strange shorthand. It feels like the work of man who cared about what was happening to the world around him. (see picture Pepys Library)

No doubt there are many Pepys scholars who find a visit to this place creates a strong empathy with the diarist. Gazing at one of the volumes, opened at the page which described the morning after the Great start, it felt as though I was stepping back into history. This was almost real...like seeing a newspaper the day after a catastrophic event.

Then Pat and I went to Pembroke College. On a warm, summer afternoon the Cambridge colleges looked magnificient. In the college chapel, the sound of the organ added to the atmosphere.

Pembroke College chapel was Sir Christopher Wren's first architectural commission. Wren's uncle, an important and influential clergyman, used his position and status to offer the design contract to his nephew, Christopher.

The result is a tall, elegant chapel squeezed in by other buildings of Pembroke College. It was altered in the 19th century by Giles Gilbert Scott but remains a significant contribution to the life and reputation of the one of Britain's greatest architects. (picture, inside Wren's Chapel at Pembroke College)

Go to Cambridge if you can. Just 60 miles from London it has a lot to offer those who admire Pepys and Wren - and a lot more besides.

A QUIET SATURDAY IN THE CITY

A small group came along for my "INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY" walk last week and once again it proved very popular. It took just over two hours. Halfway round we stopped for a coffee break in Dowgate Hill and it ended with a few drinks in the Crosse Keys pub in Gracechurch Street.

The "INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY" walk started at Fenchurch Street. It has something for everyone. We cover the Great Fire, Samuel Pepys, Sir Christopher Wren, Leadenhall Market (pictured), the Coffee Houses, Charles Dickens, the Royal Exchange, the Bank of England, Mansion House, the Livery Companies, Guildhall and, of course, stop outside some of the churches which have been beautifully restored since WWII.

People are always amazed at the rich heritage and astonishing wealth of history in the narrow streets of the City. Those who have worked for years in this area seemed to have missed so much. The City meant work. People spent a lot of time at their desks, only going out for an hour or two at lunchtime. At the end of the day all they wanted to do was to get away quickly and catch the bus or train home. A few, though, preferred to delay the journey by having a pint or two!

So London, as a City with its rich history and great traditions, often passed them by. But it's never to late to catch up on missed opportunities so time spent on a LONDON FOOTSTEPS walk is well worthwhile.

The character of the City is ever-changing. On weekdays it's crowded; on Saturday it's almost empty.....and that is one of the attractions of a weekend walk. I shall be doing more of these in the future.

Presentation

David receives his City of London Guide accreditation from City of London Sheriff John Cobb at a ceremony in the Mansion House, London.

Nearly 2000 years of history

A two-hour walk through the streets, passages, alleys, and gardens of the City of London is a journey through the pages of history. When the Romans arrived nearly 2,000 years ago they saw the potential of this site on the banks of the River Thames. Here was an opportunity to settle, start trading and extend their great Empire.

Little remains of that early civilisation. It has disappeared almost completely as London was re-built over the centuries. Yet there are still some reminders of Roman times to be seen, especially the wall built around the City to protect the inhabitants and keep out the invaders.

Perhaps the most remarkable discovery in recent times has been the Roman amphitheatre. When the Guildhall Art Gallery was being built in the late 1980's, the construction engineers found the remains buried deep under the Guildhall yard. Today, a reconstruction of the amphitheatre can be visited under the Art Gallery and a circle of black marble round the yard marks the extent of this Roman arena.

http://londonfootsteps.co.uk

Carry On London

After horrors and turmoil of the past month, London is slowly getting back to normal. The City was born nearly 2,000 years ago and has suffered many tragedies and disasters since then. It has survived them all - and will do so again.