Random shots of London

London - Day/Night

Taken Yesterday

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more style, more glamour... more London (photos by John)

These photos were taken by the banned London-based former Lithuanian forumer John. He originally posted them in SSP where he is known as Jonas. It falls to me to post them at SSC as John is banned here (unjustly in my view but that's another story....). Anyway enjoy them....

Jonas said:

A little more of our London

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more livingstone (or chavez)

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more green :tup:

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more swiss re :yes:

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more than just a tower (in fact, it's 42)

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in more detail

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more spying

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no more

(c) uncle Jonas

Click to expand...

London in the Springtime from Jonas

London's best photographer, Lithuanian Londoner John/Jonas (unfortunately banned here at SSC), has taken yet another amazing photo thread of London. I copy and post his photos from SSP here:

Jonas said:

It was about time if you ask me because I was worried that spring would not come anymore, only rain, cold and clouds for the last few months we had. It was about +15, sunny and nice on Friday . So here we go...


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A few shots at Clapham Junction which is said to be Britain's (world's?) busiest railway station in some terms... anyway it's just a short stop on my way

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Newspaper stand in Edgware Road, area known as Little Beirut for it's large Lebanese (and other Arab) immigrant population

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Oxford Street

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I dunno what these two were doing there, seemed like a photo session (what for? no idea...)

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I liked this girl so much that I set my Canon to burst mode and kept bursting until it nearly suffocated with my slow memory card...

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I guess many Londoners would know this restaurant. It's one of the best (or maybe not... depends on the circumstances) places to go to when you're feeling hungry... be prepared for big portions and wacky service

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Contemporary bohemian artist painting some nice stuff on a sidewalk

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Eurostar underway to Paris (or Brussels... how the hell I'm supposed to know?)

And that be it from London for today

Click to expand...

The London Wall Walk Photothread

I’ve been wanting to do this photothread for a while now, but it seems that the weather is not going to be on my side, and that for like three weeks now.hno:
Anyway, it shall wait no longer, so here it comes, the London Wall walk photothread.

The walk that I have undertaken goes through the heart of London along where its ancient wall lay.
Some preliminary information is perhaps necessary.
The Wall was originally built by the Romans in the late 2nd century in order to defend the city of Londinium against attackers. It fell into disrepair during the Saxon period but was rebuilt and refortified during the middle ages. Even though it soon became obsolete as far as its military purpose was concerned, it was not taken down until the end of the 18th century. The gates were maintained for the purpose of levying taxes on goods coming into the city. Many parts of the wall were incorporated into new buildings during this period.
Even though London has grown far beyond, the confines of London’s CBD, known as the city of London is still approximately where the old wall once ran, although not quite. Much of London’s newest skyscraper projects are also situated here, in this oldest part of London. City is also sometimes referred to as the square mile because it measures approx. one square mile.

The City Of London is situate on Thames' northern bank. Here is a view from the southbank.



The walk starts at Blackfriars bridge which can be seen above.
The wall had an approximate C-shape as shown in the diagram below.



On the other side of the bridge youll find a quite large roundabout. I spotted this building at the entrance of Queen Victoria Street. I especially like the fat monk over the entrance.



A closer look.



Its neighbour is Blackfriars train station.



Where the wall ran northward from Queen Victoria Street to Ludgate hill, a series of small lanes have survived. After a devastating fire in 1666, all houses had to be built in either brick or stone. These buildings were probably built by shopkeepers with modest means. The city is dead on a Sunday.



On our way up the hill we pass Apothecaries Hall and a plaque marking the site of the old Blackfriars priory once situated here, originally founded 1278.

These alleys also have a fair bit of modern office buildings as can be seen in this pic, with the churchspire of St Brides, Fleet Street in the background.



At Ludgate, we find this church called st. Martin within Ludgate. The present church was built by Sir Christopher Wren during the reconstruction of the city after 1666. A plaque at the entrance, however, explains that the first church here was built some 1300 years ago by a King Cadwal whose crypt is supposed to be somewhere under the church. There is also a plaque on the church marking the former site of Ludgate.



St Pauls Cathedral can be seen from the site of Ludgate, the crown jewel in Wren’s program to rebuild the city’s many churches. Its west façade mixes a somewhat sober classicism with baroque elements, most notably in the two towers.



The small road Old Bailey takes us up to Newgate.

Newgate used to be a prison and its short street used to be the scene of mass public hangings. Since 1907, the site has been taken by the new Central Criminal Courts. The building is known as the Old Bailey and is crowned by this dome with blindfolded godess of justice atop.



Further down.



Across the street.



Thats all for part 1, stay tuned for part 2.