Wednesday 28 August 2013

RIDE & STRIDE - 14th September 2013 Countrywide Church Viewing Fest!

I am very pleased to be involved offering my services free of charge to raise money for the City Churches.

Ride and Stride with the Heritage Trust are organising a great walk and ride opportunity on the 14th September .http://www.rideandstrideuk.org/rs-near-you/

I will be taking a group of you around ten churches within the Square Mile, starting at Holborn and then leaving you at the border to visit St Mary's Spitalfields.

Sponsor forms are not everyone's cup of tea (refreshments also on offer) but you can make a one off donation or choose your church if you prefer. Hope you will join us on this interesting and worthwhile event.

Some of the churches usually closed on a Saturday will be specially open for the event.

Check out the Ride and Stride web site -
or follow on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/LondonRideStride and Twitter @LondonRandS.

Just to add, I'm doing the 'striding' part not the 'riding'.


St Michael's Ludgate with St Paul's Cathedral
Sketch S R Jones by kind permission of his Estate

What makes a good Guided Walk or Tour? Read on ...

My attention was drawn to this blog article and it discusses various issues that Guides often to discuss among themselves.

A fair conclusion, and I prefer to go with the small groups and/or exclusive.

http://www.livingthedreamrtw.com/2013/08/falling-in-love-with-guided-walking.html


Friday 23 August 2013

Baroness Thatcher - no statue request denied! (Possibly)

English: The house where Margaret Thatcher was...
The house where Margaret Thatcher was born (Grantham) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


Grantham, in Lincolnshire the birthplace and humble beginnings of the first woman Prime Minister of United Kingdom and Northern Ireland is discussing the possibility of raising funds to set up a statue of late Baroness Thatcher.  Article here:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-2797832


Interestingly the party who opposed her, Labour, are keen to participate, as tourism within the area has increased beyond their modest expectations. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-21647525

In respect of this last article I would just like to put the record straight as to the whereabouts of the 'beheaded' version of the Margaret Thatcher sculpture, it is not in storage at the House of Commons but standing resplendent and proud in the Guildhall Art Gallery and that is where she will remain until further notice, safe behind bullet and cricket proof glass!

The annoying point of the article is that the writer could have easily found out where this sculpture is located. All they had to do was put Mrs Thatcher's name and 'statue' and up it pops - also the name of the sculptor Neil Simmons (which is not mentioned in the article) and hey presto all the information would have appeared, particularly as the decapitation of the statue made national news!

There is a bronze statue of Baroness Thatcher in the House of Commons, a  recent commission. The marble sculpture was supposed to have been installed there too, but a rule existed when it was completed that 'no living' person's sculpture could be displayed in the lobby of the House of Commons, so it was, and is exhibited at the Guildhall Art Gallery where it will remain indefintely.

Margaret Thatcher is one of the ladies who 'appear' in my 'Women Through Time' walk in the City of London, specially commissioned for International Women's Day in March this year. Please feel free to make contact if you would like to book this for a private walk.


Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


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Monday 19 August 2013

Frank Holl: Emerging From the Shadows (1845-1888)

Francis Montague ('Frank') Holl, by Francis Mo...
Francis Montague ('Frank') Holl, by Francis Montague ('Frank') Holl (died 1888), given to the National Portrait Gallery, London in 1932 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An excellent day out organised by London Historians to the Watts Gallery at Compton introduced us to the wonderful artist Frank Holl, it is the first major retrospective exhibition of his work in more than 100 years.

This eminent Victorian artist died  young and thankfully his great talent was recognised at an early age when he entered the Royal Academy at 15.

Holl won a travelling scholarship with his painting The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord a picture rarely seen and was happily loaned by my favourite Guildhall Art Gallery to ensure it saw the 'light of day' after being in storage for many years!  The trip to Italy was a turning point for the young Holl, the south did not appeal to him as he had 'an unconscious preference for the graver, greyer aspect of life'. He was at heart a northern artist in sentiment and character and comes through in much of his art.

Frank Holl used family members as models in
'The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken way'
(c) Guildhall Art Gallery

Holl began his career as a painter of subject paintings and was considered a central figure in what is known as Victorian art's social-realist movement. Often derided for their pathos and sentimentality at the end of the Victorian era. They are beautiful in their composition perhaps not the word to use to describe such heart-rending subject matter as the death of a child or parent, or the evident loss and distress of a family when the breadwinner is not coming home as in 'No Tidings from the Sea'.

The use of deep shadow and considered directional beams of glowing light enhance the melancholy emanting from the paintings, and the viewer has to admire the chirascuro and its execution. A feature of several of Holl's paintings is the symbolism of the empty pair of boots, or bare feet often in the 'viewer's face', and something that an admirer of Holl's felt drawn too in particular, Vincent Van Gogh no less!

Van Gogh had come across Holl through his work for The Graphic illustrated weekly (first edition 1869) withg ood quality wood engravings and became particularly noted for highlighting the poor of London. The editor of the magazine approached not only engravers and illustrators but fine artists too. Holl submitted many pieces and his work for The Graphic which moved him from his favoured rural depictions towards the urban scenes of poverty that were all around him in London.

Luke Fildes 'Homeless & Hungry' 1869

Frank Holl came from a family of engravers and this is likely to have influenced his style from the beginning, the hard work of the engraver, the power of black and white, dark and light. However for all his talent as social commentator he moved toward portraiture as a means to supporting his family and standard of living.

From his first tiny portrait of his brother Edgar (1860-5) to his final work of William Gladstone his talent at capturing the sitter, their energy, status and intimacy is a thing to behold. The facial features are minutely detailed, but the clothing and background has an almost impressionistic feel to them. Everything was in the face. The Gladstone portrait  is said to have exhausted him and led to his early demise at the age of 43. Holl who's nervous energy would not let him rest ensured he followed a punishing schedule of work with complete disregard of his serious heart condition, which was never known to the public at large.

Other interesting items of note Queen Victoria had wished to purchase the 'Lord gave ...' but it was already sold and the owner was not prepared to give it up. So the Queen commissioned Frank Holl to paint her another subject matter left it to him, it resulted in 'No Tidings from the Sea' a grieving woman would no doubt have suited the great Queen's own frame of mind.

For Guides who tour the Guildhall Art Gallery, you may also like to know that a certain young model posed for Holl at the age of four as the young girl holding father's hand in I am the Resurrection and the Life (The Village Funeral)'  1872 - She is Connie Gilchrist - who features in the Leighton portrait The Music Lesson (currently on tour).  Ada, Holl's daughter writes at some length about Connie in her biography of her father, 'with great sympathy for the hard-working life she led as a child model contending with a harsh mother'.  Luckily Connie was to escape to become the Countess of Orkney!

Also look out for the 'two hour' portrait, apparently all the rage in Victorian England and a rare example of what can be achieved in a short space of time by a talented portraitist.

Paul Falconer Poole, by Francis Montague ('Fra...
Paul Falconer Poole, by Francis Montague ('Frank') Holl (died 1888), given to the National Portrait Gallery, London in 1932. S(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Please do go to this exhibition it is likely to be another 100 years before another retrospective so go along, you have until 3rd November 2013 to visit!

Also another member of the London Historians has written a delightful blog (see link below) about the work of the G F Watts and his talented wife who created the extraordinary Mortuary Chapel at Compton, Guildford Surrey GU3 1DQ.

http://carolineld.blogspot.co.uk


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Tuesday 13 August 2013

Walk - Fish, Flesh, Fasting and Feasting - AD43 - 1603 - 18th August 2013



Once the food for servants and cats!

Fish, Flesh, Fasting and Feasting - AD43 - 1603
A food and drink walk through several centuries, what people ate and drank, how it ruled their lives, and how it got to the table, if you had one that is!

Starts 11.00am -  St Paul's Underground Station and
Ends 1 pm - London Bridge close to Borough Market.

Book here:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/7223966077/?ref=ebapi

Children under 14 go free.

No meat or diary allowed on Fasting Days and there were many of them!

Friday 9 August 2013

City Garden Walk - 24th August 2013 at 11.00am



Also see the new installation by Konstantin Dimpoulos  Blue Trees in celebration of 20 years of the Trees for Cities organisation.

Two hundred greens spaces!  


This walk was created for the Open Garden Squares Weekend which celebrated a successful 15 years  last month. A summer walk in shady gardens, amongst ancient and modern, hearing the story of the City on our way.

This glorious weather after such a long 'winter' has the City blooming, and a delight to view. We will visit the 'blue' trees installation too, so blue Frida Kahlo would have loved it! frida kahlo blue house

Book here :http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/7224152635/?ref=ebapi

OR contact direct


Price per person £10.00 (Concessions: £7.50 and children under 14 go free)
missbtakesawalk@gmail.com
or text: 07963 778213

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Stephen Fry 'Key to the City' - ITV 6th August 2013


Cart Marking Ceremony - Guildhall Yard - 2013

Dear Readers

Stephen Fry may not be known to some of you from abroad, but he is a well known and loved personality here in the UK. He was made Freeman of the City last year, as was MissB.

Stephen's reason for making the documentary was his ignorance of the civic and ceremonial that is an integral part of the City of London and it would seem that the programme did not enlighten many. This may be due in part to time constraints but it has resulted in a couple of reviews from newspapers which shows their complete lack of knowledge of  the workings and history of the Corporation of the City of London.

I hope some of you can download this programme and watch it. It is amusing and it's just the tip of the iceberg of the 'goings on' in the City. If you should ever visit London, I hope you will call on me and my colleagues to take you for a walk, once you've done the usual highlights of course.

https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/stephen-fry-s-key-to-the-city/series-1/episode-1-stephen-fry-s-key-to-the-city

Here are the newspaper reviews too - you will see MissB has left a 'comment' on each.

Image of Stephen Fry
Image of Stephen Fry (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10225330/Stephen-Frys-Key-to-the-City-review.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-viewing--stephen-frys-key-to-the-city-itv-extreme-ocd-camp-bbc3-8748976.html

P.S. The bee keeping is part of a plan to encourage bio-diversity in the City through its parks and gardens, of which there are many.

The Beadles - the group of gentlemen looking like something out of a Dicken's play play an important part in 'caretaking' the Livery Company Halls, and ensuring ceremonial procedure followed to the letter. Many are ex army, navy and airforce men.
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Walbrook Where Art Thou? Evening Walks - August & September 2013

Walbrook where art thou?
Meet at Moorgate Underground Station (Brittanic House exit)
Ends: Millienium Bridge (this may vary)
Duration: 1.5 hours
In search of the one of the lost rivers of London. Learn how the Roman's adapted it. How it's course dictated the footprint of the streets we walk today. Why three livery companies shared its banks? Discover the harbour and enjoy the finds of the archaeological dig at Bucklersbury.
Walbrook springs eternal ...
Photo: Steve Duncan


Locate the end of it's journey to the Thames and decide for yourself whether it is lost or just hiding.  Bookings can be made through http://footprintsoflondon.com/







Evening Walk Dates

Thursday, 15th August  - http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/7223946017/?ref=ebapi

Thursday, 5th September - http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/7655015357/?ref=ebapi

City Gardens Evening Walk - Thursday 8th August at 6pm

Also see the new installation by Konstantin Dimpoulos  Blue Trees in celebration of 20 years of the Trees for Cities organisation.


Two hundred greens spaces!  You've read it here, join us and see what is achieved for yourself!

This walk was created for the Open Garden Squares Weekend which celebrated a successful 15 years  last month. A summer walk in shady gardens, amongst ancient and modern, hearing the story of the City on your way.

This glorious weather after such a long 'winter' has the City blooming, and a delight to view. We will visit the 'blue' trees installation too, so blue Frida Kahlo would have loved it! frida kahlo blue house

Book now - https://www.facebook.com/events/689234694435973/