please empty your brain below
i'm not sure whether this is apocryphal or not but is not the statue of Prince Albert in Holborn Circus the only one in London that is saluting by doffing a hat?

Peewit | Homepage | 19.09.12 - 7:41 a.m. | #

As your own blog about the original Temple Bar suggests, the archway was brought back to the City in 2003, and now stands over the entrance to Paternoster Square. Which, I'll admit, was news to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Bar,_London

martin | 19.09.12 - 8:33 a.m. | #

...as I would have known if I'd read the post below the one you linked to. Now I feel like an idiot. I'm going to try to blame my stupid phone for that.

martin | 19.09.12 - 8:37 a.m. | #

"you'll either love or hate"

Love :)

Greg | 19.09.12 - 9:41 a.m. | #

The Holborn Circus end of Charterhouse Street is also the location of that little enclave of the fenlands, Ely Place. (Once the London pied a terre of the Bishop of Ely). Until the 1960s the Mitre pub was subject to Cambridgeshire's licencing hours, rather than London's keeping

timbo | 19.09.12 - 10:34 a.m. | #

Another couple of dragon statutes on High Holborn, either side of the road; in the middle of the road is the Royal London Fusiliiers War Memorial by Albert Toft.

Funny how everyone knows St Pancras (which was threatened but saved) and Euston Arch (which was lost) but not the extraordinary Coal Exchange. http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/savingacentury/savingacentury.htm

Andrew | 19.09.12 - 1:41 p.m. | #

Doesn't the Queen have to stop at temple bar to ask permission to enter the city? Don't know if this still done on ceremonial occasions.

Staple Inn houses are a 16th century survivor, but are almost completely rebuilt (restored in 1866 and 1937) according to my architecture book. One building on Fleet Street that survived the Great Fire is Prince Henry's room. I wondered why you didn't mention it, then I found out the City of London have closed it...

Talking about the city dragons, I was also told by a tour guide that they are griffins and that J.K.Rowling was inspired by them when on a walk round the city when writing her Harry Potter books, hence Gryffindor. As I've now found out they're not griffins, I no longer know whether to believe this!

Florin Court is used as Poirot's London residence. Never been inside the Charterhouse, but sounds like a fascinating place.

SJM | 19.09.12 - 11:02 p.m. | #

I like the way you can schedule the blog to update in the middle of the night, but not your Flickr account. Means I get a sneak peek at tomorrow's post if I click on a photo link late enough.

swirlythingy | Homepage | 20.09.12 - 12:09 a.m. | #

It is a common misconception that they are griffins. Even some of the English Heritage listings say so, but they are dragons nonetheless. Are they more like crocodiles with skin wings, or eagle-headed, feathered-winged and lion-bodied?

Andrew | 20.09.12 - 7:54 a.m. | #

I'm not sure if the Queen still needs to ask permission per se, but when the Sovereign visits the City there always has to be some sort of formal function made out of it. That's why they go from King's Cross to get out to Sandringham, even though Liverpool St. would be easier. Because Liverpool St. is in the City.

Chz | 20.09.12 - 8:07 a.m. | #

One building on Fleet Street that survived the Great Fire is Prince Henry's room. I wondered why you didn't mention it, then I found out the City of London have closed it...

gmmatei | 20.09.12 - 9:25 a.m. | #

I, too, always thought they were griffins, have seen that information in various guidebooks. dg is educating us. They're situated on every boundary of the City of London, facing outwards, guarding the City. eg on Tower Bridge they are quite high up in niches. I've never done the perimeter walk like dg but I always look for them when I'm in the area.

amber | 20.09.12 - 10:12 a.m. | #

Sad to see the closure of the YMCA tower after 40 years of youth service.

maldwyn | 21.09.12 - 6:32 p.m. | #











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