Monthly Archives: January 2016

Palace of Westminster by Brewer

Posted on January 29, 2016 by

Above: The amazingly detailed drawing by Brewer of the Palace of Westminster, showing how it would have looked about 1500. Henry William Brewer (1836-1903) was a London based architectural illustrator active in the late 19th century. Brewer is little known … Continue reading →

Posted in /Westminster (Wes) | 8 Comments

Ninety Years of Television

Posted on January 27, 2016 by

The 26th of January 2016 marked the 90th anniversary of the first ever demonstration of television. It was given by John Logie Baird. Remarkably, the demonstration was with a large mechanical machine acting as the ‘television camera’. It was connected … Continue reading →

Posted in /Piccadilly (Wes), Soho | Leave a comment

Spring Gardens

Posted on January 25, 2016 by

Above: Spring Gardens (shaded yellow) shown on Morden and Lea’s map of 1682. Trafalgar Square was laid out (after the famous battle in 1805) where the large number ‘4’ is shown on the map. Towards the SW of Trafalgar Square … Continue reading →

Posted in /Strand (Wes) | Leave a comment

Exeter Change

Posted on January 22, 2016 by

Above: An unusual map of part of the Strand – mainly plan but also showing the fronts of some buildings – published by Strype in 1720. It shows Exeter Change jutting out onto the pavement on the north side the … Continue reading →

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Bull Inn Court, Strand

Posted on January 20, 2016 by

Those of you who came on the last walk around this area will realise that two points made on the walk need to be corrected. (1) The Corps of Commissionaires in Exchange Court is still in existence but it does not … Continue reading →

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Exchange Court, Strand

Posted on January 18, 2016 by

Above: View in Exchange Court looking south to the Strand. Exchange Court is one of the last remaining alleyways in the Strand area. It is a pedestrian turning off the north side of the Strand that leads up to Maiden … Continue reading →

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Temple Bar

Posted on January 15, 2016 by

Above: Modern map showing the original site of Temple Bar, now a monument (in red). While the City boundary has moved over the centuries, the two streets called Strand and Fleet Street have not altered in their positions or boundaries. … Continue reading →

Posted in /Fleet Street (City), /Strand (Wes) | Leave a comment