please empty your brain below
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A most enjoyable post today,DG. The Monument was a favourite destination for me and my brother,in much much younger days. When walking around the city now,I often think I might attempt the climb again,but remember that if my knees allowed me to do the ascent,they'd be sure to scream at me all the way down. I think I'll just keep the old memories. After all,the views were better then! 😉
Jo W | 02.09.16 - 7:08 a.m. | #
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Sorry you had to abandon your trip up the Monument this time.
I cannot recall you mentioning an anxiety related episode before.
A few slow deep breaths should help if it ever happens again.
I went up the Monument about 55 years ago. Doubt if I would have the energy for the climb now.
John | 02.09.16 - 7:27 a.m. | #
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I loved this post. It's so good read about places and locations that you've been to/are familiar with. Having grown up a stone's throw from the places mentioned in this post, and having spent the best part of 15 years working one street away from St Paul's it was so easy to transport myself back to 1666 as I was reading it - and as I already knew the geography it was an easy read and really informative too.....I loved the fact about The Monument and what it represents!
Kelly | Homepage | 02.09.16 - 7:34 a.m. | #
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Surely at 202 feet the Monument cannot have been the highest viewpoint in London in 1756? St Paul's cathedral is nearly twice as tall, and stands on a hill. It was completed in 1708.
dg writes: I doubt that visitors were allowed up to St Paul's Golden Gallery in 1763.
timbo | 02.09.16 - 8:08 a.m. | #
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Having climbed the Monument a couple of weeks ago and taken photos north, south, east and west, only the horizon to the north is obscured by office blocks.
To the west, for example, the upper parts of St Pauls, and beyond that the BT Tower, rise above a lower foreground clutter of office blocks. Beyond, the ridge that includes Hampstead and the source of the Fleet River can be seen. My day was overcast, so more distant horizons were 'soft', but still visible.
Even the view north, with all the 'funny-name' buildings - Gherkin, Cheesegrater, Walkie-Talkie, has interest.
The mesh of the cage is wide enough for a camera lens to peek through without obstruction.
RayL | 02.09.16 - 8:36 a.m. | #
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There's a few of us from the Physics department at Queen Mary UoL that are carrying out science in the monument. We were there several months back and are gearing up for another run sometime this autumn.
David | Homepage | 02.09.16 - 9:26 a.m. | #
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Fab posting, very interesting. Thanks for this DG. I was wondering if I could manage Monument but you've confirmed my fears. I'll see - might give it a go after the rush
AliE17 | 02.09.16 - 9:28 a.m. | #
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I DID climb all the way up, and down, once. That was some years ago, I doubt if I could manage it now. Not getting any younger, are we!
Leuconoe | 02.09.16 - 10:12 a.m. | #
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DG, Conquer your demons. Top of Monument is by far the best view of London out in the fresh air. My favourite view south east looking at Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the refurbished warehouses of the Pool of London.Even better than from the top of St Paul's because you get to see St Paul's if you look west! Regrettably Stop M is just out of view.
scrumpy | 02.09.16 - 10:17 a.m. | #
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<snip>
dg wrote: But let's not go there.
Michael | 02.09.16 - 11:04 a.m. | #
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I had the same experience of attempting to climb the monument a few years ago. Only made it about a third of the way up, and embarrassingly was overtaken by two young boys climbing the steps at a fair rate of knots. On my way out I took the certificate, then returned it about ten minutes later out of guilt. I explained my fraudulent actions, and the lovely girl at the cash desk gave me my money back!
Wole | 02.09.16 - 11:34 a.m. | #
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I had the same issues the last time I climbed it in the 1980s or 90s. Never bothered me on my first visit with parents in the late-1960s, I guess because the balustrade on the stairs seemed a lot higher to me then.
Kim | 02.09.16 - 11:45 a.m. | #
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<snip>
dg wrote: But let's not go there.
Andrew | 02.09.16 - 1:38 p.m. | #
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A substantial fire in 1633 created the gap at the north end of London Bridge that saved the bridge itself and Southwark in 1666, and there were numerous disastrous fires in earlier centuries, including the destruction of earlier London cathedrals in 675 and in 1087, and then the "great fire" of 1135.
Andrew | 02.09.16 - 2:33 p.m. | #
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Super post about my favourite area of the Capital and feeding my love of its history!
Intrigued as to where DG is urging us not to go now!!
Cornish Cockney | 02.09.16 - 2:40 p.m. | #
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As far as I know, I have not gone there.
And I did not make it to the top of the Monument either, the last time I attempted it a few years ago.
shirokazan | 02.09.16 - 2:47 p.m. | #
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Monument has always been one of my fave London attractions. It's been a few years since I've been up though. Good to hear the view is still pretty good.
And re the Great Fire itself, I always believed that the death toll was actually pretty high (several hundred at least) due to the amount of unregistered riff-raff who existed unofficially in the City.
Chris | 02.09.16 - 10:59 p.m. | #
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I'd always wondered whether the height of the Monument or its distance from the start of the fire was decided first - but now I know the significance of its location, I think you may have answered that for me.
martin | 03.09.16 - 6:25 a.m. | #
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