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The Royal Academy's Wartime Vision for a New London
In 1940 Sir Edwin Lutyens, President of the Royal Academy, formed a committee to prepare a report on the “ideal” possibilities that could...

Peter Berthoud
Feb 7, 2012


The Royal Academy's Plan for London 1942
In January 1940 Sir Edwin Lutyens, President of the Royal Academy (RA), invited architect members of the RA, and others, to form a...

Peter Berthoud
Jan 31, 2012


London's Largest Letterbox
I recently spotted this monster of a letter box, or more correctly letter-plate, in Manette Street, Soho. The aperture is a massive 21...

Peter Berthoud
Jan 23, 2012


Uniquely Enlightened in Mayfair
The excellent Londonist recently ran a feature on the Top 10 Lifts In London. I was surprised yesterday to discover yet another, little...

Peter Berthoud
Jan 13, 2012


Duke of Cambridge Puts on the Feed Bag in Whitehall
In Whitehall stands an equestrian statue of Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. At Christmas-time, the horse is given a bale of hay and a...

Peter Berthoud
Dec 29, 2011


A Wreath for Turner and an Unmet Deadline
Yesterday, the 19th December 2011, was the 160th anniversary of the death of J.M.W. Turner. At a small evening ceremony a wreath was laid...

Peter Berthoud
Dec 20, 2011


Londonist's Amazing Victorian Heritage Revealed
I feel sure that most modern Londoners would associate the word Londonist with the all-encompassing London website Londonist. The one...

Peter Berthoud
Dec 16, 2011


London Souls Enliven Crypt
A new exhibition of paintings and drawings, London Souls by London artist Ed Gray opened in a crypt yesterday. I came across it purely by...

Peter Berthoud
Dec 14, 2011


The Seven Noses of Soho: The End of an Era
I will always remember where I was when I heard that Rick Buckley had revealed the secrets of The Seven Noses of Soho. I picked up a...

Peter Berthoud
Oct 14, 2011


Rave Review - But £650 a Ticket?
Glancing through "London of Today - An Illustrated Handbook for 1891" by Charles Eyre Pascoe I found a rave review of Mr Maskelyne's...

Peter Berthoud
Oct 7, 2011


A Man with a Plan for London
Arthur Cawston, ARIBA, was a lesser known Scottish architect with huge ambitions but thankfully little influence. In 1893 he published A...

Peter Berthoud
Sep 27, 2011


The London Library: If Carlsberg did Libraries
Today I had my induction at The London Library. This induction wasn't compulsory but it proved to be a really useful introduction to this...

Peter Berthoud
Sep 19, 2011


VC Holder Felled by Kerb
This bronze plaque commemorates the untimely death of Arthur P. Sullivan VC. It is mounted on the railings of Wellington Barracks,...

Peter Berthoud
Sep 16, 2011


Endangered Species on Northumberland Avenue
The Endangered Species Doorway by sculptor Barry Baldwin can be found at Grand Buildings, in Northumberland Avenue, near to Trafalgar...

Peter Berthoud
Sep 7, 2011


London's Most Beautiful Shelter?
Outside Green Park station work to relocate this statue and fountain is almost complete. Diana of the Treetops in new location outside...

Peter Berthoud
Sep 1, 2011


Less is More in Pimlico
The church of St James the Less stands on Vauxhall Bridge Road, just a short distance from Pimlico Tube. This month it will celebrate its...

Peter Berthoud
Jul 15, 2011


Unseen Images of Tower Bridge Under Construction
These images show Tower Bridge under construction in the 1880s. At the offices of one of the original contractors, management had decided...

Peter Berthoud
Jul 9, 2011


Royal Heritage of a Pimlico Curry House
July 1st 2011 will mark what would have been Princess Diana's 50th birthday. For one Pimlico Curry House her memory is ever present. Many...

Peter Berthoud
Jun 27, 2011


The Seven Noses of Soho Discovered
After many hours of tramping around Soho and the surrounding area, I have finally managed to locate all the "Seven Noses of Soho". This...

Peter Berthoud
Jun 17, 2011


E J Clack to Move Centre Stage at Green Park Station
This water-fountain and statue that stood in The Green Park for over 50 years has been permanently removed from it's original location....

Peter Berthoud
Jun 14, 2011
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