Sunday, December 26, 2004

Foubert's Place

Around Carnaby Street, Foubert's Place, Soho, London

Around Carnaby Street
Foubert's Place, Soho
City of Westminster
London, September 2003

Saturday, December 25, 2004

Joshua Reynolds

Bust of Joshua Reynolds by Henry Weekes, Leicester Square, London

Bust of Joshua Reynolds by Henry Weekes, 1874
Leicester Square
City of Westminster
London, September 2003

Friday, December 24, 2004

William Hogarth

Bust of William Hogarth by Joseph Durham, Leicester Square, London

Bust of William Hogarth by Joseph Durham, 1875
Leicester Square
City of Westminster
London, September 2003

Thursday, December 23, 2004

Dick Whittington’s Cat

Dick Whittington’s Cat by Jonathan Kenworthy, Highgate Hill, Archway, Islington, London

Dick Whittington’s Cat by Jonathan Kenworthy, 1964
Highgate Hill
Archway, Islington
London, September 2003

“Dick Whittington and His Cat is the English folklore surrounding the real-life Richard Whittington (c. 1354–1423), wealthy merchant and later Lord Mayor of London. The legend describes his rise from poverty-stricken childhood with the fortune he made through the sale of his cat to a rat-infested country. However, the real Whittington did not come from a poor family of common stock, and there is no compelling evidence supporting the stories about the cat, or even whether he owned one. Another element in the legend is that Dick attempted to flee his service as a scullion one night, heading towards home (or reached Highgate Hill in later tradition), but was dissuaded by the sound of Bow bells, which promised he would be mayor of London one day. Since the pre-Victorian era, the story has been a favourite subject of British pantomime, especially during Christmas season.” (Dick Whittington and His Cat, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Highgate United Reformed Church

Former Highgate Presbyterian Church, later known as Highgate United Reformed Church, Hornsey Lane, Cromwell Avenue, London

Former Highgate Presbyterian Church
(later known as Highgate United Reformed Church)
Hornsey Lane / Cromwell Avenue
London, September 2003

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Kenwood House

Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, Camden, London

Kenwood House
Hampstead Heath, Camden
London, September 2003

“Kenwood House (also known as the Iveagh Bequest) is a former stately home in Hampstead, London, on the northern boundary of Hampstead Heath. The house was originally constructed in the 17th century and served as a residence for the Earls of Mansfield during the 18th and 19th centuries. The house and part of the grounds were bought from the 6th Earl of Mansfield in 1925 by Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, and donated to the nation in 1927. The entire estate came under ownership of the London County Council and was open to the public by the end of the 1920s. It remains a popular local tourist attraction.” (Kenwood House, Wikipedia)

Monday, December 20, 2004

The Spaniards Inn

The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead, Barnet, London

The Spaniards Inn
Spaniards Road
Hampstead, Barnet
London, September 2003

“The Spaniards Inn is a historic pub on Spaniards Road between Hampstead and Highgate in London, England. It lies on the edge of Hampstead Heath near Kenwood House. It is a Grade II listed building, dating back to the 16th century. The pub is believed to have been built in 1585 on the Finchley boundary, with the tavern forming the entrance to the Bishop of London's estate—an original boundary stone from 1755 can still be seen in the front garden. Opposite it there is a toll house built in around 1710. Today, the pub is in Barnet and the tollhouse is in Camden, both are now listed buildings and traffic is reduced to one lane between the two. A suggestion in 1966 to demolish the tollhouse was successfully resisted, partly on the grounds that it would lead to more and faster traffic.” (Spaniards Inn, Wikipedia)