Visiting.... Living in London?.............Want to win an Ipad?

Don't take my word for it...
I'm not giving you the chance to win an Ipad.... I can hardly afford one myself!
                                                     But the Metro paper is!........ read on to find out more.

At this point, let me categorically stress that I'm in no way affiliated with the Metro paper at the present time and so I don't gain from this blog post.
I'm just as interested in this as you. No, not really for the Ipad (but it would be nice), but for the exhibition itself.

The Exhibition

According to the Metro paper on Monday, "Metro has joined forces with the Museum of London," "to give readers the chance to have their pictures (photographs -- italics ours) on display in front of thousands of visitors."

Are you an enthusiastic photographer (I know I am, just check out my Digital Art blog if you don't agree!) ?
Then you would be interested in this exhibition for the chance to submit your work.

Submit your work by February 18th

The exhibition runs from February 18th to September 4th (admisision free). So you have the 18th as the final deadline.

You will need a Flickr account, and you submit your work to the "London Street Photography Metro" group.
Check out the group rules at the group's home page.

Until next time.....

Victorian Road signs circa 1866-1917

I've written previously about Victorian Road signs (or, in particular, a Victorian Road sign) dating prior to 1866. This time, I'm going to talk about Victorian road signs that date from 1866 till 1917 (when the postcode changes again).

What's interesting about these road signs that i'm sharing with you here is that these were found in the Brick Lane area of East London (photographed by me in the middle of 2010). What makes this interesting is that these very signs were up during the time Jack the Ripper were prowling these very same streets. In a way, these signs are the silent witnesses of those bygone days.

As you can see from these photographs, these signs bore the 'E' suffix. As already commented on with my previous post on Victorian road signs prior to 1866, road signs in East London bore the 'NE' suffix.
on this subject, Wikepedia makes this comment:

"The original NE district created in 1858 was in North East London, but this was abolished in 1866; parts were transferred to the N and E districts, while others were removed from the London postal district altogether."

Source: Wikepedia -- NE Postcode

Regarding the E suffix, Wikepedia continues:

"The current E postcode area was originally formed in 1866 as a merger of the E and NE areas created in 1858. In 1917 the postal districts were numbered alphabetically by their location;^[3] the districts usually cover a wider area than their names might suggest. As of 2004, the district names do not form part of the postal address.^[2] Due to high demand, sector 9 of the E1 postcode district was split and recoded in 1999 to create an E1W postcode district around Wapping;^[4] the rest of the district did not gain an additional character. Where districts are used for purposes other than the sorting of mail, such as use as a geographic reference and on street signs, E1 and E1W continue to be classed as one 'district'. The E postcode area contains two non-geographic postcode districts for high-volume business users, E77 and E98.^[5]"

Source: Wikepedia -- E Postcode

A road sign seems very inconspicuous, or very easily missed when going about our daily life, but if you're a history fan like me, sometimes it's worth-while stopping and taking stock of our surroundings. Especially if we're visiting or touring London.

If you want to check out these particular signs for yourself, head on down to the Brick Lane area in East London (a short walk from Aldgate and Liverpool street stations -- A walk I heartily recommend) and see them for yourself. The area is a treasure trove of old buildings and streets dating back not only to the Victorian era but to the Georgian era too!

Until next time.....

Steam train service out of London

Bittern class Mayflower

On September 11th last year at around 10:00 pm, I was standing on platform one at London Paddington station shivering.

No, I wasn't catching a train........... I wasn't waiting for anyone....
                       .................. I was just waiting for a train......

No, not just any train. I was waiting for a steam train. In fact, this particular train was late (not surprisingly given the usual mainline train 'track-record.'); it was due to arrive about an hour earlier. But given that this train had just travelled over 400 miles round-trip from Plymouth over Britain's modern rail-tracks (presumably giving way to the regular services, taking on water, etc -- but don't quote me), I think we can forgive this particular service.

Now, why am I talking about steam trains in this blog?
Well, for one thing, as probably noted already in this blog, I am totally fanatical about history and historical things from the past; and this train fits the bill. Plus, the train has departed and arrived in one of London's busiest rail terminals.

1st Class Carriage

why should this interest you?
Well..... did you know that there are chartered steam services running from London throughout the year?
Until late last year, I didn't even know.
Not only in London, but throughout the United Kingdom. Chartered steam trains also call on major cities up and down Britain's mailine rail system.
This particular train on the 11th called on the following stations:

• London Paddington
• Slough
• Reading
• Newbury
• Plymouth

.... And back again after it's Passengers spent the day at Plymouth.

If you are interested in rail tours for 2011 (it's a new year and a new brochure!), you can book mainline steam  tours via "The Railway touring Company".

You won't be disappointed!

See you onboard!.......

Until next time!..............

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.......