Today it was supposed to rain. We had a few sprinkles around 12:30pm, otherwise we were rain free though still a bit muggy.
We took a walk around the Bloomsbury Square area. I found a nice selection of interesting row houses and doorways.
With my usual sense of mis-direction, we ended up in a Bengali neighborhood. I liked this women's clothing shop.
Back on track again we passed by several nice pubs...
...and the University of London.
Gordon Park is close to the university. It looked like a couple of professors were holding classes out on the lawn.
And what's a London park without a rosebed or two?
I think this is the park feature that amuses me the most - a Garden Kiosk.
Our eventual goal - the Bloomsbury Farmers' Market.
I'd characterize it as more of a food market than a Farmers' Market.
We split a sausage roll from the Giggly Pig (top row-2nd from right). Two small sausages with grilled sweet onions and HP sauce.
Lunch finished, we strolled over to the British Museum to book our tickets for the Pompeii and Herculaneum exhibit.
Children's books are one of the many things I collection. Thus it was thrilling to see a blue plaque honoring the illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Beginning in 1937 the Caldecott Medal has been awarded to the "preceding year's 'most distinguished American picture book for children'". Most people are familiar with award winner Maurcie Sendak's book "Where the Wild Things Are". If you are not familiar with the award or the books you can read more about them here.
Blue plaques abound in the area surrounding the British Museum.
History trivia geek that I am, I've been taking pictures of pillar mailboxes. Why on earth you might ask. well each mailbox bares the cypher of the regent at the time the mailbox was placed on the street. I'm pleased with my little collection.
Top row: GR with franked mail slot - George Rex (1910-1926 or 1936-1952) , EIIR with franked mail slot - Queen Elizabeth II, VR - Queen Victoria, GR - George Rex, EVIIR - King Edward the VII (Queen Victoria's son - Edwardian Era named after him).
Bottom Row: EIIR, EVIIR, EIIR with franked mail, VR, EIIR.
(Franked mail - in the 18th through the early 20th centuries nobles could 'frank' their own mail with their "privilege" signatures in the place of a stamp. Now there are franking machines that ink-stamp envelopes and parcels with a code that corresponds with an account with Royal mail.)
16 comments:
I found this post most interesting Beth. =)
I am surprised they did not remove Edward VII's pillar box...he was treated so poorly, I think. Great photo collection.
You really do know your history as well as your horticulture and nature Beth. Even though it was a quieter day you still filled it with interesting places.
Oh that's so cool about the mailboxes!!!! OMG! And Caldecott! Wow! I feel like I can't collect children's books anymore cause I don't have young kids anymore. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who likes them. Fun fun post!
Wonderful detour! I love the clothing store window. Where the Wild Things Are is one of our favorites. DSon practially wore the words off the pages. Again, thank yo for the wonderful photo tour and sharing your trip.
How interesting about the pillar mail boxes. Having taught for 30 some years, I find the blue plaque honoring Caldecott interesting. Another wonderfully interesting post.
Again - more great pics! What a lovely trip!
Прекрасно! Красивые фотографии!
nice walk today ... and loved those flowers ,... and I bet you got some strange looks photographing the pillar boxes ..lol .... looking forward to seeing where you get to next :) love mouse xxxxx
Another lovely blog post Beth, you certainly are filling every day with interesting tours. We have a VR postbox set in the wall right outside our home - I love it! Have a good weekend x
What a lovely trip x
Looks like another lovely day.
Interesting post. I like the mailboxes. Also, the sign honoring Caldecott. Was he British?
It was Edward VIII who abdicated (Edward VII's grandson, and elder brother to George VI). And I think (but not 100% sure) that both the GRs you caught are George V - George VI had a more ornate monogram, with the VI in it. It's surprising how little the shape of the pillar box changed, over that long span of monarchs. I remember coming across a blue plaque honoring George Orwell, which was a thrill.
How is it that they can even make MAIL so special? All we've got is regular ole blue boxes. *pout*
I don't collect children's books but I still have my Little House book set from when I was small. God, I love those books. I'm pretty sure I've read those and a Tree Grows in Brooklyn a minimum of a dozen times each during my lifetime. Minimum.
(Also, I think you missed a sausage - that dog's back end is a chunker for sure. lol)
Interesting about the pretty, bright red mailboxes, and I continue to love all the hanging baskets around the pubs!
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