Month: June 2022

A new walk! Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace. Yes, you might even see the pelicans, a gift from the Russian ambassador in 1664 and still going strong today. The story goes that when a pelican dies we make a quick call to Vladimir for a replacement. Not sure this tradition continues at present.

The new walk introduces you to fabulous buildings in the area, their occupants and the stories that go with them. Plus landmarks and their significance.

We cover 500 years of Westminster history giving you a fresh appreciation of the area and a more detailed awareness of the history of monarchy.

No set dates as yet. If you are interested simply email: info@walkinglondonhistory and we can organise a private tour to suit your schedule. Minimum two guests.

The previous blog was about a lucky escape. It referred to the Duke of York, the future James II who survived the 1682 shipwreck of the ‘Duke of Gloucester’ about 30 miles off the coast from Great Yarmouth. The man who chose to board a different ship was none otehr then Samuel Pepys.

He had been to the races at Newmarket and intended to return to Edinburgh to collect his wife and then return to London. It didn’t quite go as planned. He lived to tell the tale but a couple of hundred died, some dogs were saved, and another famous individual made a lucky decision which probably saved his life. So what was the event and who are the two survivors?

Charles Henry Driver, hardly a household name, but you may be familiar with the wonderful ‘dolphin lamp-posts’ along the Victoria Embankment of the Thames. Designed by George Vulliamy, they were made by Charles Driver, the leading exponent of ornamental iron work at the time.

Question: are they dolphins? Or sturgeons? What do you think?

I came across Mr Driver again recently when visiting the Crossness pumping station by the Thames near Abbey Wood, developed for the Metropolitan Board of Works by Driver and the rather better-known Joseph Bazalgette. Although the pumping station was likely to be seen only by workers and anyone else involved in the process of sewage disposal, Bazalgette and Driver created an outstanding example of Victorian splendour with an attention to detail and artistic flair which makes for a very worthwhile visit.

Driver also designed Westhumble and Boxhill station in Surrey, and much of nearby Dorking town centre; plus stations in north-east London, Lancashire, the Midlands and East Anglia. And more stations in Argentine and Brazil! And the Slade drinking fountain in Kennington Park, London; an infirmary in Banbury; the West Pier Pavilion at Brighton; as well as contributing to the piers at Llandudno, Nice and Southend. He was aso involved in the design of the aquariums at the old Crystal Palace and in Vienna.

Any areas of the country I have not covered?! I hope at least one of these places is near you.

On a personal note he designed the Italianate Denmark Hill railway station near me here in south London and was buried in West Norwood cemetery just a couple of minutes from my home.

So, dolphins or sturgeons?!