I used to work in the City when I first left university. Nothing glamorous involving a bank of computer screens and multi-million pound takeovers. I worked in a wine merchants on the end of London Bridge (where little Waitrose is on the map below if you're interested). It was a bit of shock to the system to realise that it was 25 years ago, so not really that surprising that the place has really changed. And, has it ever?
The building I worked in has long gone and there is a great mix of old stone built buildings in tiny narrow streets and lanes and massive steel and glass skyscrapers. For example, Canary Wharf tower used to dominate the skyline out to the east. Now you have to work to find it. When I was there, I loved the Lloyds insurance building and I'm pleased to say it still looks modern and edgey all these years later. Never realised it before, but once rush-hour is over, the city is a great place to wander. Loads to see, lots of history and, as everyone else,is busy at work, its pretty deserted.
Now this wasn't here when I worked darn sarf. But if you turn around from taking your pictures of the Lloyds building is a little church and the Gerkin.
The Gerkin looks really cool but I especially like the juxtaposition of old and new with the church
Just around the corner from all this is Leadenhall market. Now, I remember when it was a market! However, it is now milking its Harry Potter credentials like mad. Its the bit in the first film before he goes to Daigon Alley for the first time. Its now full of bars and restaurants. Its really pretty but, oddly, not very photogenic so just the one, ordinary pic... Perhaps, its more accurate to say that I couldn't find any interesting pics
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And just around the corner from that is the monument. A bit arrogant to assume it is THE monument, but hey-ho.
It's the monument to Great Fire of London which started there (kind of) on 6th September 1666. It was a Thursday, around about tea time. Well, the tea time bit is made up but the rest is true. and was started in bakers oven on Pudding Lane but spread quickly. The fire killed off the plague in London which was rampaging at the time and meant St Paul's cathedral was rebuilt as the masterpiece we see today. On the downside, it destroyed God knows how many buildings. (Actually, it turns out WIkipedia knows too... 13,200 houses, 87 churches, the medieval city of London and left 70,000 of the 80,000 residents of the city homeless.). When I was at school we were taught that it only killed 6 people. But this is now (and obviously) regarded as being bollox as the deaths of the poor and the middle classes weren't worth bothering the poor old registrar over.
To finish off the first part of a ramble around this part of London we wandered to look at the Shard. 95 stories of it and the tallest building in the EU (at least for a while). You can go up to the observation tower but it costs a whopping 30 quid, so needless to say, we didn't bother. As a footnote, can I highly recommend lunch at Borough Market? Again, I remember when it were a market. But OMFG! The foodie scene there is amaaaazzzzing!
1 Comment
Gudmundur Hegner Jonsson
26/8/2018 10:54:41 pm
Thank you Neil - enjoyed the post and love the pictures!
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AuthorsWe are teachers and have worked in various schools in Europe & Asia. This is really a chronicle of out travels over the years. It is meant for us to look back on, reflect and remember where we've been, what we've done and all our little adventures. If you like it too, then fab! If you don't, do you think we care? Archives
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