Category: Curiosities

Local Government, City of London Style

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 Other Royal Home in the City

The Tower of London survives in all its glory; the lost Baynard's Castle and Bridewell Palace are well-documented. So I've written a short post on the long-forgotten Tower Royal. It's short because there's next to no evidence.

A Bluffer’s Guide to … Dick Whittington (oh, yes it is!)

Everything you need to know about a real Lord Mayor of London who, for some reason, is the main character in a traditional pantomime

A Road by Any Other Name … Part 3

An endless fascination with street names and their evolution has seen me reach again for my copy of Eilert Ekwall's authoritative tome.

A Brief History of the London Cabmen’s Shelters

I take a look at this once-common sight on London's streets, now endangered and particularly vulnerable in the Covid era

All Hail the Ale Conners …

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.

Where the Weird Things Are

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.

A Bite-Size Post on Peek Frean (& Camels)

Why a stone depiction of camels in Eastcheap has me dreaming of twiglets

A Bluffer’s Guide to … the Mansion House

Everything you need to know – and a few trivia facts you don’t – about an iconic building at the heart of the Square Mile

Grand Cafés of Edwardian London

It's time to celebrate some long gone but legendary London restaurants
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