I noticed that the roof viewpoint at New Change was open again, so I thought I’d take a look. I think it’s still one of the best free viewing platforms in the City and here’s a selection of images.
Lots of ‘Oooohs’ ‘and Ahhhhs’ from visitors as the lift ascended and more and more of St Paul’s Cathedral became visible …
When you reach the top …
The St Mary-le-Bow dragon …
Looking slightly south west …
Looking south. In the distance you can see The Strata Building with its three wind turbines …
Image from Wilkimedia Commons …
In August 2010 it was awarded the 2010 Carbuncle Cup. This yearly award, organised by Building Design magazine, selects one building from a shortlist of 30, nominated by readers. It recognises “the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months”. I’m told that locals have nicknamed it The Eye of Sauron (as in Lord of the Rings).
Lady Justice atop The Old Bailey (the Central Criminal Court) …
Just beautiful …
Pictures at this location are a little more difficult now. I think the glass safety barrier has been raised to above head height so I had problems with reflections.
Back at ground level is Nail (2011) …
‘Both comic and provocative’, Nail is a 40 foot bronze sculpture, treated as the title implies, to appear like a giant rusty nail. On the one hand, it’s a nostalgic recollection of tools traditionally used by the construction industry. On the other, the rustiness, underscores the uselessness of this once useful object.
The artist, Gavin Turk, has been described as a ‘maverick’ and first gained some notoriety when he failed his MA having offered as his exhibition an English Heritage style blue plaque which read ‘Gavin Turk, sculptor, worked here’.
Of Nail he said …
Partly it’s a tribute to a tiny tool in a development that probably contains no nails at all, but it pins the bottom of the building down to the pavement. Also, I didn’t want to spoil the view and stop sightlines through to the cathedral. And it brings to mind Christ on the cross.
At the west end of Cheapside a stone plaque embedded on the floor commemorates that ‘THIS SITE MARKS THE ORIGINAL SITE OF BRITAIN’S OLDEST PRIVATE BANK FOUNDED 1672 AT THE SIGN OF THE GOLDEN BOTTLE’.
An accompanying stone also indicates the exact location of Hoare’s premises with a gold rectangle overlaid across a map of the garden space …
The dry weather has taken its toll …
You can read more on the excellent Look up London website.
The flag was out at the Goldsmith’s Hall building in Foster Lane …
I don’t know precisely how many times I have walked down Foster Lane (must be in the hundreds) but I only just noticed these elegant chain supports dated 1928 and bearing the Company’s coat of arms …
2027 is the Goldsmiths’ 700th anniversary and I was fascinated to read a story on their website as to how they are developing their ‘visual identity’ …
You can find more here.
Golden leopards’ heads at the Goldsmiths’ garden, actually the old churchyard of St John Zachary. The church itself was lost in the Great Fire of 1666 …
It’s a lovely little sunken garden with, sadly, the grass in poor shape as a result of the heatwave …
Across the road is Wax Chandlers’ Hall …
Surely the bluest door in the City …
… and the finest Unicorns …
I carried on via another old churchyard, that of St Mary Staining, also lost in 1666 …
… with its venerable London Plane tree …
An alley leads from the garden to Wood Street and the tower of St Alban’s …
Of medieval origin, it was rebuilt in 1634, destroyed in the Great Fire and rebuilt, this time to a Gothic design by Sir Christopher Wren. It was severely damaged by bombing during the Second World War and the ruins cleared, leaving only the tower.
Look closely at the foot of the tower and you will see a Bench Mark …
There are thousands around the UK indicating where the height above sea level has been calculated. Bench Marks were made on buildings which surveyors believed were unlikely to be redeveloped or demolished – they would be the ‘bench mark’ for the surrounding area. Nowadays, however, satellites can measure this distance to the nearest few millimetres and Bench Marks are no longer inspected for accuracy.
Look up and you’ll see a grotesque staring down at you …
Just around the corner, the lovely owners of 55 Gresham Street have brightened the area up with flowers …
Back on Wood Street, on the left is the old Police Station …
Dating from 1966, it also housed the stables for the City Police horses. It’s now in the process of being redeveloped into a hotel.
The developers are Studio Moren, and I must say their plans look very exciting …
You can read more here.
Always fun to get home and find a film crew outside the door …
Stop Press! My image of last night’s eclipse using two pieces of paper and a pinhole …
Who needs Greenwich Observatory.
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