The Last Gate

Temple Bar Gate --- Paternoster Square in background

At one time, London was surrounded by high walls, a testament to it's stature of a historic prized city worthy of protection and defence. London was a City of monarchs, a seat of Government. From the Romans to the Georgians, London was fortified, intersected by impressive city Gates.

Today, all we can see are remnants of the old walls (in fact, you can even see Roman wall ruins), and no city gates except one, survive.

Temple Bar --- inside Gate, towards St. Paul's Cathedral

Today, I want to talk about the last gate, Temple Bar. Today, Temple Bar survives in a new location in London, in paternoster Square. Paternoster square underwent a major refurbishment in 2003 and now Temple Bar, the last surviving gate in London serves as the entranceway to this square from St. Paul's Cathedral.

If you are visiting London, be sure to check this gate out. I will be adding more information about this gate and the square in due course, including it's history and more pictures.

Until then..... stay tuned!

Until next time.......

Links to more information:-

>Temple Bar --- Wikepedia

Miniature London

Miniature London
Originally uploaded by RichardBlogger2010

Recently, I've had a temporary volunteer job just off Brick Lane in East London; and so I've regularly passed through Spitalfields to either go for lunch or to take the bus home after work.

I really enjoy the walk as I see the changes in architecture as you leave the Brick Lane area (Victorian, Georgian buildings) and enter the City boundaries (modern corporate type architecture and offices).

In Spitalfields, there is a sculpture done in concrete on permanent display, and I really like it. And so, i've taken a picture of it and dressed it up a little.

If you want to find this sculpture or even, explore the Spitalfields market, you will find this off Bishopsgate, just up the road from Liverpool Street Station. Enjoy!

Until next time....

Entertain yourselve at Covent Garden!

Using one of the brilliant apps freely available for the iPhone and the IPod Touch, and with the aid of apple's free wireless, I am writing this blog while sitting on the curb at Covent Garden. As I write, I'm listening to live music at 9:30 pm from an excellent singer with a guitar. He's drawing a large appreciative applause from the top balcony of the Punch and Judy. Covent Garden is well worth a visit at any time. There's always entertainers, always something to keep you entertained. But at night.... There's live music. Well, at least at the times I've visited. At night, the atmosphere is relaxed and calming. Just what you need in the recession when you're feeling low. The singer is just now singing his last tune of the night... Until next time..... Stay tuned. More at Through the eyes of a Londoner (Blog)

Goodge street

Goodge street (Print B)
Originally uploaded by RichardBlogger2010

Hi all,

I just had to write something today as it has been too long since my last post.

Here is a picture of Goodge Street heading West towards Mortimer Street in Central London. Goodge Street is located roughly between Euston Road and Oxford Street / Tottenham Court Road.

All IT enthusisasts, or those interested in electronic gadgets will find plenty to see in this area.

Stay tuned.......

About "Through the eyes of a Londoner"

Hi all, I just wanted to write a quick note outlining the main objectives of this blog.
Basically, this is a blog about London through my eyes. I've lived in London all my life, walked the back streets, seen the hidden corners, discovered the hidden gems that the average visitor (or even resident) have never seen or even noticed.

This is a blog for Londoners and tourists alike (of particular value to tourists) as it is packed to the rafters with valuable, interesting, fascinating and exciting material. Throughout, I literally link to any resources that have a bearing on the posts that I've written, and also cross link my previous posts that have a bearing on what I've written. That way, you get as much information as you want and deserve in that particular subject.

Throughout, you'll notice some photographs that I've taken (and indeed, purchasable prints are available). All photographs featured are of London and are London related.

Finally, let me finish by welcoming you to this blog, and to extend an open invitation to come again. This project has certainly proved to be an exciting one for me, and should prove to be a project that would continue for quite some time as literally, London is so big and so full of hidden gems at every corner that I'm sure this blog could continue for some years to come.

Please be assured, this blog is regularly updated several times a week at least.

Got an idea or place in London that needs researching? contact me.

Queensway

Queensway
Originally uploaded by RichardBlogger2010

This is one of my favourite station interiors on the tube. Recently refurbished. The light, subtle shades, reflections and dark paint really do work well together.

I always use this station to frequent the local queensway computer fair (open all week) and so have noticed the improvement that came with this refurbishment.

Visitors to London will certainly appreciate nearby Kensington Gardens; which is directly across the road from this station.


If you like this picture, prints are available via Redbubble (available for sale as Greeting cards, Matted prints, Laminated prints, Mounted prints, Canvas prints and Framed prints).

The Gherkin

The Gherkin
Originally uploaded by RichardBlogger2010

Taken last Thursday as I passed through Devonshire Square, EC1.

I enthusiastically reccomend anyone visiting London to explore this area (immediatly to the east of Liverpool Street and Bishopsgate) as it has a lot of modern and Victorian / Georgian architecture. Some buildings are Victorian or Georgian in origin but have been refurbished.

Well worth a visit.

If you're interested, You may purchase this picture via Redbubble.

Sunrise over Victoria Park

Sunrise over Victoria Park
Originally uploaded by RichardBlogger2010

I thought that you would like a shot of Victoria Park in the early morning light. Not only was it a nice view to be had, but the fresh early morning air was a close second.

For those who are visiting London, Victoria Park is one of the places to go. I will talk more on the reasons why at a later date. Stay tuned.


You may purchase this picture via Redbubble

Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound
Originally uploaded by RichardBlogger2010

Back in May 2006, I was doing my regular commuting stint from Croydon into Central London and decided to capture this shot from out of my window.

I quite like how it turned out as it captures the atmosphere and tension of the rush hour period.

Fancy a free lunch?

According to the Londonist, you can come along to the Polo bar, Bishopsgate (176 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4NQ) for a free Bacon roll!

From 7.30am Thursday 2nd September to 7.30am Friday 3rd September 2010.

Check the link bellow for more information.

24 Hours of Free Bacon Rolls at One of London's Oldest Caffs - Londonist

Unearthing the past: Rediscovering Victoria Park Station

It always amazes me what I find when I look more closely at the old buildings, viaducts, bridges, roads and places that literally dot and saturate London.

For example, we take for granted the North London line (now London overground from Richmond to Stratford), and yet there's so much that was a part of that railway that now is lost to time and redevelopment.

The London overground line (previously the North London line) used to be part of a much bigger railway of Victorian invention and initiative. This was way before the UK railways came under Government control. Back in Victorian times, they built railways everywhere.

But now, what's left of them can be seen in old buildings and perhaps signs, stairs and walls.

I've managed to unearth an excellent site with full pictures and history of these disused stations and lines that at the very least, can be seen online.

It's clear that much time and attention has been given to this project and I've read with fascination things that I've walked past but never knew was there!

Here's an article about Victoria Park station: "Disused railway stations: Victoria Park

I hope to have more to share about this station later. Stay tuned.

Related posts

>

Victorian Road signs circa pre 1866

Where I live, in Hackney East London, for some time I used to pass by this old sign in Cassland Road (E9 postcode). For a while, I never really took note of it just noting that it appeared quite old.

It was only in March of this year that I really wanted to know just how old this sign really was. So I dug around came across these sites in Wikedia (London Postal District" - Wikepedia, "N.E Postcode area" - Wikepedia).

I was actually rather fascinated at the age of the sign (and there are more dotted around the East End! just look up from time to time). Apparently, according to Wikepedia, the postcode came into use around 1856 till 1866 when the area was merged with the 'e' postcode (look around Brick Lane, and you will still see the 'E' suffix signs still up). London at that time, got so big that they had to portion london up into different postal codes instead of having one big system as you would for a town at that time.

This is really an interesting piece of postal history and a relic of the time.

Check back often, as I will be adding more images of signs from this time period.

Related Posts -- Through the Eyes of a Londoner

• Victorian Road Signs circa 1866-1917

Related sites:

• "London postal District" - Wikepedia
• "N.E Postcode area" - Wikepedia

Broad Street - Dalston BR

Further to my recent post, I've just seen this article while googling. For the history enthusiasts among us, this is well worth a read. Especially after my last post!

Related Sites

> "Abandoned Stations:" Broad street.

Dalston to Broad Street (What there was before the overground extension)

While travelling on London overground from Dalston Junction to Whitechapel last week, I overheared a conversation between two people who sat opposite me. As we all know, the stretch of the line between dalston Junction and just before Shoreditch High Street was closed for quite some time (the line used to stretch from Dalston Junction to Broad Street (Terminal next to London Liverpool Street station).

Now this guy was quite excited and animated about the new line (I share his sentiments) and he could see that the line was built over the old line and he wondered what was there before it. His partner didn't know. I had a dig around youtube and found an old clip dating from the late 1970's of the route from the driver's cab. I thought that I'd share it with you here (hope you don't mind the music --- Looks like it was from an old radio station).

Anytime you take a ride on the overground, look out for remnants of the old line!






Related posts:

>Through the Eyes of a Londoner: Broad Street - Dalston BR

Welcome to London!

Hey all,

Just a quick welcome note as this is the first post of what I hope would be a long and successful blog.

London holds a special place in my heart, purely for the reason that I was born, raised and grew up in this city. I have travelled through virtually every corner of this huge city, had a passion for it's mass transit systems and been totally enthralled by its rich history; still seen in the form of antiquated buildings dotted about.

So if you're a tourist, someone interested in history, or a person who takes an interest in the city in general, this is the blog for you. On a regular basis, as I go about my daily life, I will be taking pictures, discussing the history, culture, places to visit, everything.

If you have pictures that you've taken, perhaps of an old building, an old sign, etc and would like information on what you've taken, feel free to send a copy to me and i'll dig up some information for you or relate personal experience on that particular area or building in this blog.

Stay tuned for more posts....