Quirky – Page 3 – Symbols & Secrets

It’s Christmas Decoration time!

On 12th December 2024

Wandering around the streets at this time of year can be rather atmospheric and gets me into quite a Christmassy mood.

My first images are from 5 Aldermanbury Square, which is the first office I pass as I head into the City. I was taking pictures from the outside to start with …

Then I got into a conversation with the building manager who was outside having a vape. I congratulated him on this year’s display (which they are very proud of) and he invited me in so I could get a fuller picture. Here it is …

Writing this blog can be such fun!

More office trees. Somehow they make these reception areas look more cosy …

A few reindeer on the loose …

I don’t know about you, but I think that wall in the background is rather creepy.

I popped into the lovely St Lawrence Jewry church, where the tree has a slightly wonky star …

The church contains some of the best stained glass in the City and I particularly love the two angels. One is holding the shell of the destroyed church, roof and windows gone and what is left of the building filled with rubble. St Paul’s in the background is silhouetted by fire and the buildings on the right are ablaze as searchlights pierce the sky, the Blitz in all its horror …

The second angel is holding the church after restoration …

You can read more in my blog dedicated to the City churches stained glass.

The tree outside St Mary-le-Bow …

New Change …

Outside the Holy Sepulchre Church, Holborn Viaduct …

‘Trumpet Flowers’ at City Point. Press the ‘button’ and music plays as the colours change …

Not surprisingly, children love it.

City Point offices make a contribution …

London Wall Christmas lights …

More reindeer on the loose …

Framed by the medieval remains of St Elsyng Spital …

Another evening surprise at St Elsyng, a string quartet …

A glimpse through the trees …

Old business premises in Cloth Fair …

In Fortune Park – fancy a coffee?

The Barbican tree at dusk …

St Giles at Christmas from different perspectives …

And finally, the Andrewes House car park lights – simply the best display on the Barbican Estate …

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent

‘Waddle into wonder’ with Penguins plus the Blitz and other observations from my recent walks.

By The City Gent

On 21st November 2024

In Animals, Memorials, Quirky, Sculpture, Wartime

I saw a giant colourful penguin outside the Blackfriar pub last week and had a quick Google last Sunday when I went for a walk. Here’s the publicity blurb: This Christmas, the Fleet Street Quarter is transforming into a winter wonderland with a magical FREE penguin parade sculpture trail in support of WWF. From Thursday 14th November, families and visitors are invited to embark on a fabulous festive adventure to discover 12 adorable penguin sculptures throughout the Quarter. Each penguin, decked out in unique festive finery designed by talented artists, will be perched in iconic spots adding a splash of Antarctic charm to the City. And each one has a QR code with lots of fun penguin facts. There’s a helpful map here.

And here are the five that I found.

Buddy the Elf outside the Blackfriar pub …

It’s penguining to look a lot like Christmas in St Bride’s Passage …

John Wilkes is unimpressed by The Forest at Christmas on Fetter Lane …

But Dr Johnson’s cat Hodge is happy to share a space with Snowy in Gough Square …

Tiffany here can be found down a little alley off Carter Lane called New Bell Yard …

There were lots of families following the trail when I took these images.

The Steve McQueen film Blitz has just been released and you can see an interesting display of clothes from the film at the Barbican Centre …

If you want to understand and explore the true, full story of Londoners and the Blitz I strongly recommend Jerry White’s book The Battle of London 1939-45.

Whilst on the subject of the Blitz, I recently walked past The National Firefighters Memorial on Peter’s Hill opposite the Tower of London where I often pause. It’s interesting to note the special plaque commemorating the 23 women members of the Auxiliary Fire Service who gave their lives protecting London and its inhabitants during the bombing …

The lady on the left is an incident recorder and the one on the right a despatch rider.

On the wall of the Leonardo Royal Hotel that fronts Carter Lane is this rather unusual plaque …

The Bell was demolished at the end of the 19th century to make way for the Post Office Savings Bank building referenced in the plaque by the mention of the Postmaster General. The Post Office building itself was demolished in the 1990s to make way for the hotel but the original late 19th century door surround to the Post Office building has been retained in New Bell Yard (right beside Tiffany, see above) …

You can see the letter the plaque refers to here.

A statue commemorating the poet John Keats has appeared just south of the entrance to Moorgate Station. It was sculpted by Martin Jennings and depicts a larger than life-size copy of a life mask of Keats taken aged 21. Keats was the son of an ostler at a nearby inn called The Swan and Hoop …

The bronze is mounted on a plinth above a slate base inscribed with words from Keats’ Ode on Indolence.

Thought I’d grab an image of this classic view from Fleet Street whilst the sun was out. Looking from the left you see 22 Bishopsgate, the Cheesegrater, the spires of St Mary-le-Bow and St Martin Ludgate and the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral …

Christmas light installations are beginning to appear …

Framed by the medieval remains of St Elsyng Spital …

Interactive Trumpet Flowers at City Point …

Press the ‘buttons’ and the lights change colour as music plays …

Not surprisingly, children seem to love it!

City Point offices get in on the act …

Sadly, I couldn’t resist photographing my Yuzu Grand Macaron dessert at Côte Barbican …

An image from outside the City I’d like to share with you. This is on Finchley Road, about 10 minutes walk from the Underground station …

Definitely worth seeking out if you find yourself in that part of the world. I must have stared at it for a full 15 minutes. Read its story here in the excellent Londonist website.

A couple of super sunsets. I haven’t edited these images in any way so the colours are authentic …

And finally, the wonderful City gardeners are replanting the bed on Silk Street and I shall be tracking its progress over the coming months …

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent

The brilliant, beautiful Blackfriar pub – an Art Nouveau masterpiece.

By The City Gent

On 14th November 2024

In Architecture, Art Nouveau, Business signs, Quirky, Sculpture

Last Saturday I visited what is, in my opinion, the most extraordinary pub in the City, the Blackfriar …

It’s a tall, narrow, wedge shaped treat of a building squeezed in between two roads and a railway bridge.

A jolly, corpulent friar embodies the name of the place …

He harks back to the Dominican monastery that once stood on the site before the Dissolution of the 16th century saw it sold off or leased to weathy merchants.

You get a sense of how extraordinary this pub is before you even enter. Here the cellarer carries wine along with the keys to his domain …

Inspecting the day’s catch whilst either side friars tuck in to pie and cheese…

More carvings to make you smile …

Intricate brass signage …

And all this before you even go in the door.

And when you do, what a sight awaits.

Friars going about their daily lives. Harvesting on Saturday afternoon …

Above the bar, a bronze bas-relief entitled Tomorrow will be Friday depicts them catching trout and eels …

Singing carols …

You can dine in the cosy Grotto which was excavated from the railway vault. There are various sayings and mottos to amuse and enlighten you. HASTE IS SLOW, FINERY IS FOOLERY …

And my two favourites, A GOOD THING IS SOON SNATCHED UP with a grinning friar pushing a pig in a wheelbarrow …

I also like DON’T ADVERTISE TELL A GOSSIP …

Note the two devils. There are four in each corner of the room amusing themselves with an entertaining pastime – these two are play-acting and painting.

Admire the mosaic ceiling and observe the friar on the left …

He’s stuffing his face with food thereby representing one of the seven deadly sins – gluttony …

Five more sins are represented but for some reason ‘lust’ has been omitted.

More monks work hard supporting lamp shades …

There’s a lovely stained glass window depicting a friar working at dawn in a sunlit garden. Many people comment on his pointy, Mr Spock-type ears …

You will find a very informative and interesting history of the pub and the craftsmen who helped create its unique environment here in the excellent Victorian Web blog. I also strongly recommend this article by Jane Peyton which points out other aspects of the decoration that I have not mentioned. Read more about the City monasteries and in particular the Blackfriars in my blog on the subject which you can find here.

I’ve eaten here in the Grotto many times over the years and the food (especially the fish and chips) has always been good. If you visit, raise a glass to Sir John Betjeman and others who campaigned to save this building from demolition in the 1960s. It is now Grade II* listed and so should be safe from future vandals.

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent

Walking the City of London

Category: Quirky Page 3 of 24

It’s Christmas Decoration time!

‘Waddle into wonder’ with Penguins plus the Blitz and other observations from my recent walks.

The brilliant, beautiful Blackfriar pub – an Art Nouveau masterpiece.