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The first ice skating report: London 850 years ago

London On The Ground

5 days ago5 min read

The first ice skating report: London 850 years ago

William FitzStephen wrote the world’s earliest description of ice skating in around 1174. Londoners and visitors enjoying outdoor ice...

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London On The Ground

Dec 146 min read

Charles Barry in Islington

The Parliament architect honed his Gothic Revival design skills on four Islington churches. Architect Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860) is...

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Smithfield Market to turn lights out on a millennium of history

London On The Ground

Dec 25 min read

Smithfield Market to turn lights out on a millennium of history

An 850 year old document describes a livestock market for swine, cows, oxen and woolly flocks at Smithfield. Smithfield meat market, the...

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The Royal Agricultural Hall and Christmas past

London On The Ground

Nov 235 min read

The Royal Agricultural Hall and Christmas past

Islington's Business Design Centre has a history of festive family fairs in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Business Design...

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King’s College London’s Maughan Library reveals its secrets

London On The Ground

Nov 164 min read

King’s College London’s Maughan Library reveals its secrets

The site’s 800 year history includes housing Jews converted to Christianity, and legal and national records. During London Open House...

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City of London Street names: a dozen of the best

London On The Ground

Nov 104 min read

City of London Street names: a dozen of the best

The Square Mile has a wealth of unusual, colourful and deceptive street names. Many of London's most curious and unlikely street names...

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George Francis Train, the aptly named American behind London’s first trams

London On The Ground

Nov 25 min read

George Francis Train, the aptly named American behind London’s first trams

The 19th century entrepreneur and real-life Phileas Fogg who ran for US President. London’s first tram services were set up in 1861 by an...

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Lost Gardens of London at the Garden Museum

London On The Ground

Oct 275 min read

Lost Gardens of London at the Garden Museum

Excellent new exhibition of vanished parks, squares and gardens at the museum in Lambeth. Curated by landscape architect and historian Dr...

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The Monument, the relief and its meaning

London On The Ground

Oct 207 min read

The Monument, the relief and its meaning

The sculpture on the Monument to the Great Fire of London is rich with symbolism . It illustrates the catastrophe that destroyed...

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Albert Memorial: a rare look at the undercroft

London On The Ground

Sep 296 min read

Albert Memorial: a rare look at the undercroft

Simple brick arches support one of Victorian London's most elaborate monuments. I recently joined the first ever public tour of the...

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The Islington pub with a carved fireplace more than 400 years old

London On The Ground

Sep 234 min read

The Islington pub with a carved fireplace more than 400 years old

The Old Queen's Head, Victorian on the outside and Tudor inside. The popular North London watering hole on Essex Road appears to be like...

121 views2 comments

Red Sands Maunsell Fort: eerie relic of World War II

London On The Ground

Sep 144 min read

Red Sands Maunsell Fort: eerie relic of World War II

Thames Estuary defences likened to War of the Worlds and Star Wars. The Maunsell Forts were off-shore anti-aircraft defences constructed...

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Then and now: John Thomas Smith's London

London On The Ground

Sep 61 min read

Then and now: John Thomas Smith's London

Ancient London buildings depicted in the 18th century and today. In June, I posted some of John Thomas Smith's engravings of London,...

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London On The Ground

Aug 267 min read

Eltham Palace: Medieval meets Art Deco

From ruined royal residence to magnificent modern mansion. A 15th century gothic great hall, a stunning 20th century Art Deco...

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How the 'Cheesegrater' got its wedge shape

London On The Ground

Aug 185 min read

How the 'Cheesegrater' got its wedge shape

The City of London office block, Richard Rogers and Sir Christopher Wren. Officially 122 Leadenhall Street, or the Leadenhall Building,...

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St Bartholomew's Hospital: see conservators at work in the 18th century North Wing

London On The Ground

Aug 106 min read

St Bartholomew's Hospital: see conservators at work in the 18th century North Wing

See paintings by William Hogarth and climb the scaffolding to admire the Great Hall's stucco ceiling. The 18th century North Wing of St...

262 views3 comments

Queenhithe: one of London's oldest landmarks

London On The Ground

Aug 54 min read

Queenhithe: one of London's oldest landmarks

A mosaic at the ancient harbour illustrates London's history since Roman times. Queenhithe is the only remaining inlet of the Thames in...

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Serenity in the City: Karin Jonzen's sculptures

London On The Ground

Jul 285 min read

Serenity in the City: Karin Jonzen's sculptures

Four works by the 20th century sculptor in the City of London. One of the pleasures of walking around the Square Mile is the wide variety...

93 views2 comments

Islington Cattle Market: lost secret of Essex Road

London On The Ground

Jul 216 min read

Islington Cattle Market: lost secret of Essex Road

The challenger to Smithfield closed in 1837 after less than a year. A couple of years ago, at one of the excellent exhibitions at the...

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Ancient buildings of John Thomas Smith's London

London On The Ground

Jun 291 min read

Ancient buildings of John Thomas Smith's London

Late 18th century engravings of London buildings that were already old then (spot the few that remain today!). John Thomas Smith captured...

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wandering London's wonders since 2021

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wandering London's wonders

Subscribe Form To receive details of walks that are available for booking and new posts from the London blog

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To receive details of walks that are available for booking and new posts from the London blog