Life in London: November 2013

Monday, 25 November 2013

Victorian London in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist is a novel all about the gritty realism of everyday life in London.

Many of Dickens’ contemporary critics and reading public feared that novels could be too realistic, and that naïve readers (often female readers) wouldn't be able to tell the difference between fiction and reality. Especially for a novel like Oliver Twist, which is about "dangerous" subjects like poverty, crime, and the relationship between the two.

Please sir, I want some more

London is repeatedly described as a labyrinth or a maze – once you get into it, it’s hard to get back out. The city itself serves as a kind of prison. It’s filthy, foggy, and crime-ridden, and things aren't always what they seem.

Oliver is on his own from the start. No one pities him, and even though he’s supposed to be looked after by the parish authorities, no one takes care of him. He’s sent from one scene of cruelty and oppression to the next, and finally plucks up the courage to stick up for himself (first by asking for more food, then by hitting Noah in the face, and finally by running away). So, by the end of this stage, Oliver is completely on his own in the big bad world.

The Dodger tells Oliver he can come with him to a place where a gentleman will give him a place to sleep and food, for no rent. Oliver follows, and this is where our story begins…. Follow the Footsteps of Oliver Twist - a London Guided Tour

"The image of little Oliver Twist victimised by poverty, almost seduced by the specious excitement of crime, and then offered the possibility of a lucrative career in authorship is always compelling" Guardian

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Sunday, 24 November 2013

Take a look at Cannon Brewery, St John Street, London

Cannon Brewery - 148-176 St John Street, London

Cannon Brewery originated with brew house attached to the Unicorn Inn.

In the C19th Cannon Brewery was one of the busiest breweries in the country.

St John Street Entrance

Beer is made from four basic ingredients: Barley, water, hops and yeast. The basic idea is to extract the sugars from grains (usually barley) so that the yeast can turn it into alcohol and CO2, creating beer. You can see the hops and barley carved into the capitals decorating the main door.

1764 (George III) the brewery was acquired by Dickensons. The additional money and know-how caused the Brewery to expand and was renamed St John of Jerusalem. In 1818 retirement and bankruptcy brought the Dickensons brewery to an end and the building was sold at action.

Cannon Brewery Office Building

The building was seriously damaged during the Blitz but the brewery resumes production after the war but closed in 1955. Remarkable oak doors from 1894 survived.

The oldest surviving part of the building is the former Brewery Yard Offices behind the old main entrance 1874-5 which include a large bracket clock. Carved barley and hope decorate the capitals of the doorway, the theme continues inside with coloured mosaic floor tiles of mostly brown and gold.

Floor tiles, Cannon Brewery Office

This lovely building is now the London headquarters of the architects BDP (Building Design Partnership).

If you like this post you will like our 'Out Street - One Thousand Years guided walk

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Saturday, 23 November 2013

Jack Sheppard Newspaper Article

What if you were asked to write a news paper article for Jack Sheppard in 10 mins. What would you come up with? Here's our attempt at a tabloid article. Enjoy! (click on it for a bigger image)

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Saturday, 9 November 2013

Visit Quaker Memorial Gardens, Bunhill, London

Quaker Slate Memorial, Bunhill, London

The word 'Bunhill' evolved from 'bonehill' as the area had been used as a burial ground as far back as Saxon times.

There is a nice slate memorial shaped to resemble a burial mound. The memorial is believed to be in the spot where in 1750 the lead coffin of George Fox, founder of the Quaker movement, was found during the removal of a wall. The body was re-interred.

George Fox headstone, Quaker Memorial Gardens

The Quaker burial ground was in use between 1661 and 1855 with an estimated 12,000 Quakers having been buried here in unmarked graves. Quakers until 1845 headstones were considered a vanity.

The site was the first freehold land the Quakers acquired in 1661. There used to be more buildings which formed the Bunhill Memorial Buildings which included an adult school, coffee tavern, school rooms, a medical mission and the first meeting house on the site.

The buildings were bombed in 1941 during the Blitz and all that remains is the caretakers cottage which is still very much in use today.

Famous Quakers: Judi Dench, James Dean, Richard Nixon and John Cadbury.

The surrounding area used to be one of the poorest in London and in spite of recent gentrification, the population remains very mixed. There is a Peabody Estate next door.

The Quaker Memorial Garden has been recently redeveloped to include a public garden, children's playground and ball court.

Guided Walks website

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

St Barts Hospital - a brief history

Henry VIII Gate, St Barts Hospital, London

St Barts Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in the world. It's certainly the oldest hospital in Britain.

St Barts Hospital was founded in 1123 and has continued to care for the sick and injured and is now one of the leading hospitals in the world. Amazingly it still occupies its original site having survived the Dissolution of 1539, the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Blitz 1940-1941.

The Henry VIII gate (in picture above) is the main public entrance to the hospital and is the only known public statue of Henry VIII in London.

William Hogarth, the painter, printmaker, satirist and social critic was also a big supporter of British artistic talent. When the commission for two new paintings for the staircase of St Barts Hospital was available in order to prevent an Italian artist from taking the work he produced two large murals free of charge to prove that home grown talent was equal to that of Italy. It was also a perfect opportunity to show off his talent to well off potential patrons.

The murals The Pool of Bethesda (1736) and The Good Samaritan (1737) are still hanging in the stairwell. The Pool of Bethesda is of particular medical interest, as it shows the scene where Christ cures the sick.

St Bartholomew's Hospital Museum and Archives website

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