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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,...
London On The Ground
Sep 6, 20241 min read
73 views
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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...
London On The Ground
Aug 26, 20247 min read
111 views
2 comments


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,...
London On The Ground
Aug 18, 20245 min read
167 views
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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...
London On The Ground
Aug 10, 20246 min read
270 views
3 comments


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...
London On The Ground
Aug 5, 20244 min read
86 views
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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...
London On The Ground
Jul 28, 20245 min read
147 views
3 comments


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...
London On The Ground
Jul 21, 20246 min read
90 views
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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...
London On The Ground
Jun 29, 20241 min read
112 views
0 comments


Walking in Geoffrey Fletcher's London: Islington and the City
See some of the London that the artist and writer feared was disappearing in the 1960s and 1970s. Best known for his 1962 book The London...
London On The Ground
Jun 3, 20243 min read
112 views
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Fire, Air, Water and Earth: stone relief for Lloyd's
Fire, Air, Water and Earth: stone relief for Lloyd's. The carving, in a hidden City of London alleyway, represents the Four Elements.
London On The Ground
May 27, 20243 min read
180 views
1 comment


Art on a plate: Temple Bar's hidden treasures
Unique, architect-designed plates recognise support for the Architects Benevolent Society. City of London livery companies are known for...
London On The Ground
May 12, 20244 min read
134 views
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The Brunswick Centre, a pioneer in 20th century architecture
The Bloomsbury structure has proved highly influential, but is it modernism, brutalism or something else? The Brunswick Centre is a...
London On The Ground
Apr 29, 20243 min read
1,564 views
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Arsenal's Art Deco Highbury, Herbert Chapman and me
The North London stadium was unique in football architecture, motivated by an innovative manager and inspiring generations of Arsenal...
London On The Ground
Apr 20, 20248 min read
270 views
1 comment


'Work' by Ford Madox Brown, a painting to rival a Dickens novel
The artist tackles Victorian social attitudes, the class divide and urbanisation in this Hampstead scene. On a visit to Manchester last...
London On The Ground
Apr 13, 20247 min read
90 views
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Poster art and design on the London Underground
A personal selection from the London Transport Museum. The London Transport Museum's Global Poster Gallery, which only opened in October...
London On The Ground
Apr 8, 20245 min read
328 views
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Old houses of John Thomas Smith's London
Engravings of London of more than 200 years ago. John Thomas Smith was an artist, engraver and writer who captured London in the late...
London On The Ground
Mar 25, 20242 min read
251 views
0 comments


Senate House: Stalinist or Art Deco?
The University of London's 1937 landmark by Charles Holden: views differ. Senate House in Bloomsbury is the administrative centre of the...
London On The Ground
Mar 16, 20245 min read
216 views
3 comments


St Olaf House: an Art Deco classic at Hay's Wharf
Striking 1930s entrance hall and staircase, sculpted river front panels and other fine architectural details. I recently took some...
London On The Ground
Mar 4, 20245 min read
356 views
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The Royal Exchange frieze: a freeze frame of history
Sculptures on the Victorian building tell of the City of London's past It is easy to miss the sculpted details on the the Royal Exchange,...
London On The Ground
Feb 24, 20246 min read
147 views
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Ward Lock's City of London 1929
A 95 year old illustrated guide book shows many recognisable views. Ward, Lock & Co began publishing a series of illustrated guide books...
London On The Ground
Feb 17, 20243 min read
95 views
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