London Day 3: The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey

Winston Churchill

---

Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. Bronze by Ivor Roberts-Jones, installed in 1973. IMG_2073

George Canning

---

Statue of George Canning (1770-1827) in Parliament Square. DSC_0771

Robert Clive

---

Statue of Robert Clive (Clive of India). Robert Clive (1725-1774) laid the foundation for British India through three expeditions to South Asia. The statue is located next to the former India House. DSC_0772

St. Margaret's Church

---

St. Margaret's Church. Dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch.The present church was rebuilt between 1482 and 1523. The church was intended to be the parish church of Westminster, distinct from the Benedictine abbey that became Westminster Abbey. "On the W. side of Westminster Hall, and to the N. of the Abbey, stands St. Margaret's Church, the parish church of Westminster, which, from 1614 to 1858, used to be officially attended by the House of Commons on four days in the year, as then prescribed in the Prayer Book. It was erected in the time of Edward I. on the site of an earlier church built by Edward the Confessor in 1064, and was greatly altered and improved under Edward IV".--Baedeker 1915 Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church UNESCO World Heritage site. DSC_0999

Westminster Abbey

---

Westminster Abbey. West Front. The West Towers were completed in 1745 to designs by Nicholas Hawksmoor. "The Abbey was entirely rebuilt in the latter half of the 13th cent. by Henry III. and his son Edward I., who left it substantially in its present condition, though important alterations and additions were made in the two succeeding centuries.--Baedeker 1915 Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church UNESCO World Heritage site. IMG_2067

Duty Chaplain

---

A Duty Chaplain greets visitors to Westminster Abbey. He is identified by his black cassock and red sash. DSC_1001

Chapter House

---

Westminster Abbey. Entrance to the Chapter House. "From the E. walk of the cloisters we enter the Chapter House, the 'cradle of all free parliaments', an octagonal room with a central pillar, built in 1250, and from 1282 to 1547 used for the meetings of the House of Commons, which Edward VI., in the latter year, appointed to take place in St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster Palace&".--Baedeker 1915. DSC_1010

Chapter House

---

Westminster Abbey. Stained glass windows in the Chapter House. Coats of arms of people associated with the Chapter House from the 13th to the 19th century. The centre pillar supports the vaulted ceiling. The Chapter House was constructed between 1246 and 1245 under Henry III. "From the E. walk of the cloisters we enter the Chapter House, the 'cradle of all free parliaments', an octagonal room with a central pillar, built in 1250, and from 1282 to 1547 used for the meetings of the House of Commons, which Edward VI., in the latter year, appointed to take place in St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster Palace. ... The stained-glass windows were erected in memory of Dean Stanley: the E. window by Queen Victoria, that adjoining on the S. by American admirers, and the rest by public subscription".--Baedeker 1915. DSC_1008

Chapter House Floor Tiles

---

Westminster Abbey. Medieval floor tiles from the 13th century in the Chapter House. Animal patterns. The old tiled pavement is well executed".--Baedeker 1915. DSC_1003

Chapter House Floor Tiles

---

Westminster Abbey. Medieval floor tiles from the 13th century in the Chapter House. Geometric patterns. "The old tiled pavement is well executed".--Baedeker 1915. DSC_1004

Chapter House Wall Pantings

---

Westminster Abbey. Paintings on the wall of the Chapter House. The Revelation to St. John the Divine. The Apocalypse series was painted in the 14th century. "On the wall of the Chapter House are remains of a mural painting of Christ surrounded by the Christian virtues".--Baedeker 1915. DSC_1007p1

Cloisters at Westminster Abbey

---

Westminster Abbey. Cloisters. "A door in the S. Aisle, adjacent to the angle of the Poets' Corner, leads from the abbey to the beautiful Cloisters, dating in their present form from the 13-15th cent., though they include work of as early as the 11th century. The cloisters may be entered also by a passage in the N.E. corner of Dean's Yard. They contain the tombs of numerous early ecclesiastics connected with the abbey, and many other graves ..."--Baedeker 1915. IMG_2060

Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

---

Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Neoclassical design by James Gibbs, built in 1722-1726. Trafalgar Square. "Parish Church. 1722-26 by James Gibbs. Portland stone, leaded roof. Highly influential design combining (incongruously) Vitruvian temple with steeple and very restrained, minor use of Baroque detail (in tactfully judged political contrast to St Mary-le-Strand)". "... the church of St. Martin in the Fields, with a noble Grecian portico, erected in 1721-26 by Gibbs, on the site of an earlier church. The tower and spire are 185 ft. high".--Baedeker 1915. DSC_0572p1

Nelson's Column

---

Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. Built in 1840-1843 to commemorate Admiral Horaio Nelson (1758-1805). "Trafalgar Square, one of the finest open places in London is, so to speak, dedicated to Lord Nelson, and commemorates his glorious death and victory at the battle of Trafalgar (21st Oct., 1805), when the English fleet defeated the combined armaments of France and Spain. By this victory Napoleon's purpose of invading England was frustrated, for the fleet which was to have covered his passage of the Channel was completely destroyed. In the centre of the square rises the massive granite Column, 145 ft. in height, to the memory of the hero. It is a copy of one of the Corinthian columns of the temple of Mars Ultor, the avenging god of war, at Rome, and is crowned with a Statue of Nelson, by Baily, 17 ft. in height".--Baedeker 1915. DSC_0574p1

Hippodrome Casino

---

Hippodrome Casino. Opened as the London Hippodrome in 1900. Rebuilt as the Talk of the Town nightclub in 1958. Renovated as the Hippodrome Casino in 2012. Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road. I saw the New Seekers here in 1972 when it was the Talk of the Town. IMG_2075p1

Noël Coward Theatre at Night

---

Noël Coward Theatre at night. Opened in 1903 as the New Theatre. Renamed the Albery Theatre in 1973 and Noël Coward Theatre in 2006. St. Martin's Lane. IMG_2085

Half A Sixpence

---

Noël Coward Theatre. Stage set for Half A Sixpence. IMG_2080