You may remember that a little while ago I posted an entry in this journal about Little Britian. I referred to it as a rather uninteresting side-street that I encounter on my short walk from the tube station to my office in the City. Well - that was my description when I used to walk right past the part of Little Britain that meets a thoroughfare called St.Martin’s Le Grande - which is the road that leads up to St.Pauls Cathedral from the London Wall.
A few days ago I decided to walk down this street called Little Britain - in order to discover a bit more about it. It turns out that this narrow, ancient street strangely bends and turns and forms a perimeter to the famous St.Bartholomew’s Hospital - which (according to the history books) dates back to the year 1123. This is the only hospital in the ancient City of London - which is now the modern financial district of London. It is quite peculiar to see a busy working hospital made of oddly scattered buildings surrounded by modern office blocks in this area. The hospital has several entrances - each one leading to different faculties and clinics. On Little Britain itself - there are several entrances - one of which catches my attention as I walk past:
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If you walk further up Little Britain you will come across the famous Smithfield Market - which is a meat market slap bang in the heart of the City of London. This has been here for over 800 years! The market is one of the oldest markets in London - and was granted official Royal charter in the 13th century. The building that currently accommodates the market is quite spectacular - and was built in Victorian times. It is quite amazing that something of such historic value is a real working environment for traders - and any members of the public can roam freely within it. The architecture is truly magnificent.
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(Ignore the error - the comment will still be added - I just haven’t got round to fixing the problem yet)
The things you find… The coagulation people probably make black pudding on the side to sell at the market round the corner. Obvious, really.
Posted by: David on August 18, 2004 11:05 PMAnticoagulants: for thinning the blood so that it doesn’t clot up and cause blockage.
Loved the Smithfield market. Will definitely visit it when I’m in your city next time.
Posted by: Amrita on August 19, 2004 12:42 PMHi Jag, havn’t been here for a while. It sounds boring I know but that picture of Smithfield market is fabulous. Really like it. Amazing colours. Don’t tell me, it’s the camera. Somebody behind the camera tells the camera what to do… : )
Posted by: Konstantin on August 19, 2004 07:28 PMSo when the hospital guys want something urgently from another department in another building, do they go running around the roads mad?
The metal work on the supporting frame is quite exquisite.
Posted by: sat on August 19, 2004 07:37 PMGreat pictures. You have a keen eye.
Posted by: Fritz on August 20, 2004 03:16 AMDavid: great “connection” there! I’ve never tried black pudding myself - but the though to of it just puts me off completely!
Amrita: thanks - yes - be sure to visit it - it’s really very fascinating.
Konstantin: thanks for your comment re the Smithfield pic. The colours are truly amazing - it’s definitely worth seeing for real. And yes: you know that I’m going to say that it’s the camera at work - I might be the person behind the camera - but I have to give credit to the camera for such quality and good colour saturation. I don’t do anything in Photoshop except for auto-levels and sharpness - the colours are all the work of the camera.
Sat: I can only presume so! And I agree that the metalwok in the Victorian Smithfield market roof is extremely ornate and beautiful.
Fritz: many thanks!
Posted by: Jag on August 22, 2004 11:22 PMSomehow reminds me of another victorian structure: Mumbai’s Crawford Market! BTW Jag, I will be in London on the 21st of Sep. Going to study film at Bristol.
Posted by: Anand on August 25, 2004 07:03 AMHi Anand - how long you going to be studying at Bristol?
Posted by: Jag on August 26, 2004 10:16 AMA year Jag!
Posted by: Anand on August 27, 2004 06:02 PMI LOVE LITTLE BRITION BUT I GET TOLD OF AT SKOOL COZ MY TEACHER DONT LIKE IT I LOVE ANDY AND VICKY YEAH I KNOW SHUT UP EH EH EH DONT FORGET ANN AND MARGIRIE DUST FAT GITS
Posted by: Ford on February 14, 2005 08:51 PM