Walk: Fleet Street Newspapers
Tonight, back with London Literary Walks (LLW) for a walk entitled Fleet Street Newspapers. We met at The Blackfriar pub, where I could eat, conveniently. Now, I didn't book - I know they have a separate dining area, and it tends not to be full. So I schlepped along, in time to have something before the walk.
Sure enough, the pub was jammed, the dining area empty. A sign at the entrance to the dining area asked patrons to "wait to be seated" - HAH! You could grow old and die waiting for that to happen. I queued - for about five minutes - at the bar, until I could get someone's attention, then asked whether I could get a table in there. He asked me to head over to the sign, he'd send someone over. Practically on my heels, she came, and after that, everything was really easy. I ordered quickly, and was served quickly. Interestingly, a flood of people arrived in the dining area shortly after - I swear I caused it! You really do have to catch their attention, though.
It's gorgeous, as is the rest of the pub..
I had the most gorgeous chicken schnitzel - only beaten by that at Bella Italia, and not by much. Was just about finished when our guide arrived - I could see him through a convenient archway, attracted his attention, and he joined me there. Well, he was early anyway - we sat in the dining area until I got the bill and paid, then we headed out. The group couldn't have congregated in there.
With the crowd inside, we ended up outside - but it was a lovely evening, fine and balmy! And I noticed a couple of details of the outside of the building that I hadn't before:
Even a casual observer can't fail to notice that the depictions of the black friars (Dominicans) are all food-related! Certainly, they give the impression that these friars liked their food..
Unfortunately, we missed a couple of attendees, it seems - there was some confusion over the starting place. Nonetheless, we did leave it a little late to start off - and one of our first destinations was what used to be the Bridewell Palace, then the Bridewell Prison. This much I already knew. What came as news to me was that there's an associated theatre - where The Witching Hour is showing! Durnit, this was recommended by someone in The Hideout, who invited people to go with them - looks good, too! Ah well, I can't go to everything..
Of course, we were all the while in the vicinity of St. Bride's Church - apparently founded in honour of St. Bridget! Hmm, never knew that. Also known as "The Journalists' Church"..
Not the only literary reference around:
To think, all these fine buildings were once owned by newspaper moguls..
We had a look at the Reuters Building:
And there's a reference to an earlier writer!
Lots of unexpected twists and turns, if you look closely enough:
And by the way, arguably London's oldest Irish pub:
We duly came across some wall plaques, detailing the history of the area. Really good idea - and this was the first place we came across the man delighting in the name of Wynkyn de Worde. What a fantastic name for a printing pioneer!
They mention a sundial that no longer exists - doesn't stop them having an explanatory plaque for it, though!
Anyway, these are a great way to preserve the local history:
William Hazlitt is little-known now, but was apparently a great critic and essayist in his day, and an associate of many whose names we do remember:
And then we came to this marvellous record of local printing, recorded on the wall:
I have come across this before, but never really had the time to pause over it. It's fascinating, taking us right through - from Wynkyn de Worde, showing the new-fangled printing press to Edward IV, through the Victorian period - and how fascinating it is to see how engaged they were with newspapers:
A map shows Fleet Street c. 1880, with the newspaper offices marked:
And fascinating old photographs show how chaotic it was!
An evocative part of town, indeed:
And another fascinating walk. All the nicer because we got a feel for the spirit of the area, rather than just a dry description of what office was in what building.. the group was great company too! A really enjoyable evening.
Man, I have to get to bed - should have gone hours ago, but I wanted to get this done, and with tomorrow being my day in the office, I couldn't have done it there!
The plan for tomorrow is film again! Utterly delighted that this is still showing, and I can make it - I'll go to see Kinds of Kindness, the latest offering from the esoteric mind of Yorgos Lanthimos, who again has reunited Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, with Jesse Plemons and Hong Chau, in what promises to be a wonderfully odd offering. Showing in the BFI this time (twice that evening), but not selling out, so I haven't booked.
Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and the highest rated film is something called Thelma. This is about a 93-year-old lady who's scammed, thinking she's giving money to her grandson. Ah, how many times have we come across that?! Anyway, she takes an unusual step - she makes a break for it from her care home, and seeks revenge - and to get her money back. I see Malcolm McDowell has a part - I don't recognise anyone else on the cast list. Anyway, seems like a fun revenge fantasy.. and with a mother who's a year off this lady in age, I can relate to any of the age-related stuff! Only showing in Ennis.
The next two days, back with CT for the Bitesize Festival at Riverside Studios - they have a few offerings, but on Monday, I'm going to see Dangled.
And on Tuesday, Namastae Bae - a satirical guru. After booking, I realised that London Baroque Music Lovers has an event that day - they're going to Prom 7, at the Royal Albert Hall. Durnit, forgot about that when I was booking for that day! but I was booking a lot, and it was late at night, so I was tired. Never mind, that's quite a late event anyway. Shame though, I hardly ever meet this group these days - their events aren't very frequent. Anyway, a companion of mine was looking at that event, asked me about mine, and has now expressed an interest in both - I dunno, I think it'd be too much of a rush to get from one to the other..
Next Wednesday, back with LLW for a walk about Newton and Legal London. We're meeting in The Devereux, but they don't do proper meals - I'm eating in The George, up the road, beforehand. At least, after Monday, I have some idea of the complicated street mapping!
The next two days, back with Over 40 Living the Life. On the 25th, it's Afrique en Cirque at the Queen Elizabeth Hall - always love a circus!
On the 26th, it's Slave Play - at the Noel Coward, it got a terrific review. Stars Kit Harington - who apparently gets his kit off! (pun intended). Eating in the nearby Bella Italia.
The 27th was the next date possible for my ex-coworkers' reunion, what with everybody travelling hither and yon, and suffering from jetlag.. I was thinking of going back to Brown's. But then Ivan requested the following day, because he's rehearsing that day - and the others were fine with it. But now it turns out he's needed in Scotland, where his family lives, on the 27th, so kind of has to meet us on Saturday.. and you might ask why I say it's like herding cats! We still have to find out what's feasible for James.. Martin seems to be OK either way..
I'm keeping the 28th free until I know more - I've already booked The Albert. Might well be that I have to meet James separately from Ivan. Ah well, wouldn't be the first time..
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