Feet First Walking

 

This walk is from an old Reader's Digest ring binder, Town Tours in Britain, published in the 80s. It is full of interesting, short trails around cities and towns, beautifully illustrated maps and interesting historical facts.

 

Walk 96, one of 6 walks around different areas of London. Note at the bottom of the map, there is no Millenium bridge.

 

The walk starts at St Paul's tube station, and goes past the cathedral.

 

The walk takes you through interesting, quieter streets, away from the bustle of St Paul's Cathedral.

 

At the Cockpit pub, I turned right into Ireland Yard.

 

Paternoster Vents, is an outdoor 2002 stainless steel sculpture by Thomas Heatherwick. Installed on the west side of the Paternoster Square, near to Ave Maria Lane. The sculpture provides ventilation for an underground electrical substation.

 

The remains of Christ Church Greyfriars on King Edwards Street, which was bombed during WW2.

 

Also on King Edwards Street, a statue of Kidderminstonian Rowland Hill. He who founded uniform penny postage. It is in front of the old postal museum, which has now moved.

 

In Postmans Park there is a covered area lined with ceramic tablets recording acts of heroism by ordinary people which cost them their lives. Victorian painter, G.F. Watt put the first 13 tablets up, followed by his widow who put up another 34. Each tell moving tales of acts of selflessness.

 

Perhaps one of my favourite buildings in London. St Alban, Wood Street was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, and rebuilt, in a Gothic design by Sir Christopher Wren, but was severely damaged by bombing during WW2 and the ruins cleared, leaving only the tower.

 

First of the painted Morphs I spotted on my walk. This one is next the Guildhall.

 

Morph with George Peabody on Threadneedle Street.

 

The Bank of England, where they are no doubt pondering the next interest rate increase!