City gates…. A Wander

[Wapping]

Leaving Postman's Park to the west side, brings us onto King Edward Street. There are no ‘roads’ in the City of London, only streets, avenues, passages, courts and the like.

We are now opposite St Bartholomew’s Hospital, known locally as ‘Barts’. The hospital has been in existence since the early 12th century and is the oldest hospital in the country, still operating from the same site. It is not an A&E hospital (for that you’d need to go to the Royal London in east London) but is a world leading ‘teaching hospital’ for cardiac and cancer care:

St Bartholomew's Hospital: Our history

Find out more about the history of St Bartholomew's Hospital.

www.bartshealth.nhs.uk

One thing I do want to go to see, is Barts’ painted ceilings, newly restored and open to the public for near enough the first time in 300 years:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c701y97xj70o

More to follow,,,,

 

[Wapping]

Wandering on, we get our first view of Wren’s masterpiece of St Paul’s:



We wander past the statue of Sir Rowland Hill, the man who revolutionised post by proposing a single modest charge to post a letter. This in turn brought about the ‘Penny Black’ stamp. His simple idea was copied around the world, leading to mass communication. He stands, appropriately enough, outside a grand building, which used to be the headquarters of the nation’s post:



There’s an equally grand plaque on the building:



Nearby, there are some stone blocks:




The notice board explains that the stones are a part of the ‘Thames to Eternity’ project:



I hope that they gather all the stones up and turn them into seats. Yes, a bit hard and maybe a little rough at first, but with time and use they will smooth out.

If, for the next 1,000 years, only 10 people a day sit on just one of the stone seats, that is 3,650,000 people as a minimum. Given that the stone has already been used in a huge 19th century project and is itself already I guess maybe millions of years old, it does match in with the reuse and sustainability ethics of the commendable project.

Wander just a few yards further and there’s a reminder that the Great Fire of London, swept westwards from its source in Pudding Lane, maybe a quarter of a mile east of where we stand now, taking the original St Paul’s church (it was huge and dominated the London’s skyline at the time) with it in the conflagration:



Poulters were and still are, a livery company:

Home | The Worshipful Company of Poulters

The Poulters’ Company is one of the oldest Livery Companies of the City of London. Although venerable in age, it prides itself in being a progressive and friendly organisation with an emphasis on philanthropy and fellowship.

www.poulters.org.uk

The original St Paul’s:

Old St Paul's Cathedral - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Greg Masters]

We wander past the statue of Sir Rowland Hill, the man who revolutionised post by proposing a single modest charge to post a letter. This in turn brought about the ‘Penny Black’ stamp. His simple idea was copied around the world, leading to mass communication. He stands, appropriately enough, outside a grand building, which used to be the headquarters of the nation’s post:

View attachment 522976

From the roof of this building, if I am not mistaken, Marconi first demonstrated radio in 1895.

 

[Wapping]

From the roof of this building, if I am not mistaken, Marconi first demonstrated radio in 1895.

Not far away, apparently. Toynbee Hall, which is in East London, not far from the eastern edge of the City. It’s still there and has an interesting history of its own:

Toynbee Hall - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I walk past the place several times a month, but had no idea of its links with Marconi.

 

[Wapping]

Wandering on, past the remains of Christchurch Greyfriars and its gardens, laid out to recreate the church’s original outline:

Christ Church Greyfriars - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And the home of the original Christ’s Hospital School:

Christ's Hospital - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Along with a reminder of the huge fire from the Blitz, that ravaged the area around St Paul’s, with one of the most iconic pictures from the war:



The board also refers to a church being outside of the City’s wall, ‘St Sepulchre without Newgate’:



It’s Newgate, where we are headed next.

 

[Wapping]

Wandering past the Cutlers’ livery hall:

https://cutlerslondon.co.uk/

We can detour into the oddity of Amen Corner. We shouldn’t really go through the gate, as it’s private. But, temptation proves too great:



One of the houses, has an old fire hydrant marker, showing that the hydrant is within eight foot, six inches; which indeed it was:



Another of the houses carries some chalk markings, which I hadn’t seen outside of Germany:

Chalking the door - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Amen Corner, London - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Out we come, thankfully not arrested for trespassing. It’s a reminder that the City of London has its own police force, separate to that of the Metropolitan Police:

 

[Wapping]

We are close, but we are not at Newgate yet. We are off on a small detour first….

To be continued…..

 

[wessie]

Out we come, thankfully not arrested for trespassing. It’s a reminder that the City of London has its own police force, separate to that of the Metropolitan Police:

View attachment 523024

presumably on the RH side of Waterstones is a branch of Gregg's or Krispy Kreme

 

[Wapping]

presumably on the RH side of Waterstones is a branch of Gregg's or Krispy Kreme

Close on.

 

[Greg Masters]

Not far away, apparently. Toynbee Hall, which is in East London, not far from the eastern edge of the City. It’s still there and has an interesting history of its own:

Toynbee Hall - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I walk past the place several times a month, but had no idea of its links with Marconi.

It seems that more than one place claims the Marconi honour.

This is 81 Newgate Street.

 

[Wapping]

It’s a good job Mr Marconi knew where he’d set up his kit, or it’d never have happened.



I think I might have worked it out. The Newgate Street transmission was maybe the home of the first public display of his wonders. I guess earlier transmissions were ‘private’?

Anyway, the great Italian was out and about in the EC and E postcodes, for sure.

 

[brianmaslen]

Fabulous write up as usual Richard. Memories come flowing back of my time working for ITT Creed in the “City” and surrounding areas as a field engineer repairing TELEX machines. As a single man in my mid twenties the city’s banks were awash with opportunities to socialise with the fairer sex.
I also recall, as you mentioned the Nat West Tower going up and it was the first time I had seen foundations of such depth, it was officially named as Tower 42 and was completed in 1980 I believe. Prior to this the BT Tower was the tallest.
Thanks for reviving some great memories.

 

[Wapping]

Thank you.

I remember the construction crane on top of the Nat West Tower. A rumour was started that they didn’t know how to take it down. The contractors played along and put a suggestion box on the site’s hoarding.

Then, one Monday, there it was…. Gone.

Happy days.

 

[Wapping]

We are going to go a little off piste, here.

Those that have kept up so far, will know that we are doing the gates, anticlockwise around the wall, finishing with Newgate and finally Ludgate. I did though deviate as I am out on Ludgate Hill. It has one of the best spots to take a picture of St Paul’s from, though it does mean standing in the the road:



It did mean that I could literally then turn around to my right and take a snap of the site of Ludgate gate. But, that would then miss out Newgate.

Instead, let’s not take the snap of Ludgate, but instead take a wander through the arch, named ‘Ludgate Square’:

 

[Wapping]

Through the arch, you come across a world of very small streets, lanes, yards and alleys, probably unchanged in layout since Lord knows when:





This brings us to the Cockpit pub, which (in truth) I didn’t even know was there:




It is excellent.

Just outside, there is a reminder that Shakespeare would have known these same streets, too:

 

[Mzokk]

These walks and wanders should be published for the benefit of tourists wanting to do other than the main "sights" at walking pace. "London Quirks, Curios and Hidden Gems" perhaps?

 

[Aidan1150]

It’s a good job Mr Marconi knew where he’d set up his kit, or it’d never have happened.



I think I might have worked it out. The Newgate Street transmission was maybe the home of the first public display of his wonders. I guess earlier transmissions were ‘private’?

Anyway, the great Italian was out and about in the EC and E postcodes, for sure.

He (Marconi) is also closely connected with Valentia Island off our south west coast from where the first transatlantic cable was laid to Newfoundland and was successfully used for the first time in 1866. An interesting diversion if you had time before or after Leenaun.

 

[Mzokk]

Also with this place. A short ride (22-23miles) from Leenaun to Clifden and the site of Alcock and Brown's landing. I say landing, they walked away from the remains of the crashed plane!

The Marconi Station History, Walks & Interesting Facts 📻

The Marconi Station heritage site of wireless transmission near Clifden with interesting facts, photos, maps, opening times and when to visit

www.galwaytourism.ie

 

[wessie]

View attachment 523031

It seems that more than one place claims the Marconi honour.

This is 81 Newgate Street.

it would not be a public transmission of there were not two sites, one to broadcast and the other to receive ...

 

[Wapping]

Gate 6 - Newgate

Newgate | The History of London

Newgate was the original London gate on the west side of the city.

www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk

Newgate sat, near enough under what is now the country’s most senior criminal court, The Old Bailey. It was of course the site for the infamous, Newgate prison.





The statues (I guess that’s the word) have taken on a somewhat Halloween look, covered in black netting, presumably to protect them from further environmental damage and, not least, pidgeon muck:

Old Bailey - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Newgate Prison - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org