An outing with buildings and statues and carvings..
Today I went on a history walk that started at Charing Cross Station and finished at Parliament Square. On the way, we learned about the reasons behind some of the street names, and what "vermiculated rustication" is, learned about former palaces and passed several pubs and various government ministry buildings.
Here is Charing Cross station - the first mainline station built to serve the South East into the centre of London (at the time it was opened in 1864 by the South Eastern Railway).
More under the cut.
The area around and behind the station was once owned by Sir George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham who sold the land in 1672 with the stipulation that all parts of his full name remain in the street names of the development. Thus George Court, Villiers Street, Duke Street, Buckingham Street, and notably, here, "Of Alley" now renamed York Place
Rudyard Kipling lived in this building from 1889-1891
On past the Embankment Gardens where you can see the Water Gate of York House (built in 1626). The steps down at the front would have gone straight into the River Thames back then. The texture on the columns is vermiculated rustication - a way of 'dressing' the stone to give a texture that looks like a worm has wriggled around on the surface.
Down the underpass under Villiers Street to the Charing Cross Theatre. From 1946 to 2002, it was a Victorian-style music hall under the name 'The Players' Theatre'. It was the theatre where 'The Boyfriend' play made it's debut in 1953.
Past the Ship and Shovell pub which has bars on either side of the road.
Benjamin Franklin's House at 36 Craven Street (the only remaining of his homes). He lived there for nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775 as a Colonial Diplomat.
The Sherlock Holmes pub started life as a small hotel in the 1880s. It was later known as the Northumberland Arms and appeared in the 1892 Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor".
Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery in the distance.
One of the oldest surviving buildings in the Whitehall area - built in 1693.
Next door is a later Telephone Exchange (love the cherubs above the door!).
Onwards past the Admiralty or Office of the Admiralty and Marine Affairs (until 1964). This is the place where everyone wants to take photos of the horse guards on their horses at the front (it was VERY crowded). Behind the building is the area where the Trooping of the Colour takes place. The area was where King Henry VIII practised his jousting (his 'tilting' field).
Inside we saw one of the guards (not on his horse). There are guards as this is officially one of the entrances to Buckingham Palace.
The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero (I have no idea what it does!), is located in this rather lovely building built in 1920.
It has some great sculptures all around reflecting its former role as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
It is also the first location of Scotland Yard - the first headquarters of the Metropolitan Police (1829-1890).
This is the Ministry of Defence building. The two sculptures are Earth (on the left) and Water.
It has HUGE doors and when it was being built in the 1930s they discovered an original wine cellar from the time of Henry VIII. It has been preserved under the building.
This is the Earth sculpture.
More redundant steps which used to be where you'd catch your Royal Barge on The Thames if you are Queen Mary II (married to King William III around 1690).
Downing Street where our Prime Minister lives... Lots of security!
The Foreign Office - amazing sculptures on the front.
Finally, one of the original private houses that was built in the 1750s. You can see how the façade has dropped because of the movement of the foundations.
You can see by the end of the two-hour walk the weather had improved significantly into blue skies and sunshine which was a bonus! Next week we start at Embankment Underground Station.
Here is Charing Cross station - the first mainline station built to serve the South East into the centre of London (at the time it was opened in 1864 by the South Eastern Railway).
More under the cut.
The area around and behind the station was once owned by Sir George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham who sold the land in 1672 with the stipulation that all parts of his full name remain in the street names of the development. Thus George Court, Villiers Street, Duke Street, Buckingham Street, and notably, here, "Of Alley" now renamed York Place
Rudyard Kipling lived in this building from 1889-1891
On past the Embankment Gardens where you can see the Water Gate of York House (built in 1626). The steps down at the front would have gone straight into the River Thames back then. The texture on the columns is vermiculated rustication - a way of 'dressing' the stone to give a texture that looks like a worm has wriggled around on the surface.
Down the underpass under Villiers Street to the Charing Cross Theatre. From 1946 to 2002, it was a Victorian-style music hall under the name 'The Players' Theatre'. It was the theatre where 'The Boyfriend' play made it's debut in 1953.
Past the Ship and Shovell pub which has bars on either side of the road.
Benjamin Franklin's House at 36 Craven Street (the only remaining of his homes). He lived there for nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775 as a Colonial Diplomat.
The Sherlock Holmes pub started life as a small hotel in the 1880s. It was later known as the Northumberland Arms and appeared in the 1892 Sherlock Holmes story "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor".
Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery in the distance.
One of the oldest surviving buildings in the Whitehall area - built in 1693.
Next door is a later Telephone Exchange (love the cherubs above the door!).
Onwards past the Admiralty or Office of the Admiralty and Marine Affairs (until 1964). This is the place where everyone wants to take photos of the horse guards on their horses at the front (it was VERY crowded). Behind the building is the area where the Trooping of the Colour takes place. The area was where King Henry VIII practised his jousting (his 'tilting' field).
Inside we saw one of the guards (not on his horse). There are guards as this is officially one of the entrances to Buckingham Palace.
The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero (I have no idea what it does!), is located in this rather lovely building built in 1920.
It has some great sculptures all around reflecting its former role as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
It is also the first location of Scotland Yard - the first headquarters of the Metropolitan Police (1829-1890).
This is the Ministry of Defence building. The two sculptures are Earth (on the left) and Water.
It has HUGE doors and when it was being built in the 1930s they discovered an original wine cellar from the time of Henry VIII. It has been preserved under the building.
This is the Earth sculpture.
More redundant steps which used to be where you'd catch your Royal Barge on The Thames if you are Queen Mary II (married to King William III around 1690).
Downing Street where our Prime Minister lives... Lots of security!
The Foreign Office - amazing sculptures on the front.
Finally, one of the original private houses that was built in the 1750s. You can see how the façade has dropped because of the movement of the foundations.
You can see by the end of the two-hour walk the weather had improved significantly into blue skies and sunshine which was a bonus! Next week we start at Embankment Underground Station.