Never mind your local supermarket petrol station, London has some architectural gems created in the service of the internal combustion engine.
Category: <span>Curiosities</span>
Mainly through newspaper reports of the time, I tell the story of a vast canteen for the poor, born of philanthropic zeal at the turn of the 20th century.
Inquire within upon all, or at least some, things that link London and chocolate. From Samuel Pepys drinking the stuff to settle his stomach, to modern artisan chocolatiers and daring restaurants.
A post for devotees of municipal governance. Welcome to a world of Freemen, Liverymen, Councilmen, Aldermen, Sheriffs, Aldermanic Sheriffs and a Lord Mayor, in a city that is home to less than 10,000 people.
The Tower of London survives in all its glory; the lost Baynard’s Castle and Bridewell Palace are well-documented. So I’ve decided to write a short post on the long-forgotten Tower Royal. It has to be short because there’s next to no evidence …
Everything you need to know about a real Lord Mayor of London who, for some reason, is the main character in a traditional pantomime
An endless fascination with street names and their evolution has seen me reach again for my copy of Eilert Ekwall’s authoritative tome.
I take a look at this once-common sight on London’s streets, now endangered and particularly vulnerable in the Covid era
Welcome to the bizarre world of the Southwark Courts Leet, City outposts south of the Thames that have had no purpose for centuries and yet are still with us, alive and … er … well, they are certainly alive.
Try spotting the eccentricity – more difficult than you might expect – as I outline the history of the Eccentric Club. It’s a story of thespians, beaver hats, philanthropy, Mr. Fulham and the owners of Chelsea FC’s ground.