Mornings Ancient and Modern - a photo on Flickriver

It was a Dark and Large morning - go on, have a look!

At the end of Giltspur Street there's a space where the buses turn around... there's also a kind of mini ambulance station with a hut for the drivers and paramedics and at the back of that, just by West Smithfield, is a telephone junction cabinet... the top of which served as a tripod for this shot looking towards Little Britain and the Barbican.

Yes, for those not familiar with the area the street in the distance running left to right is indeed called Little Britain - there are some pictures on Flickr of the road sign attached to the building on Edward Street (by the old Central Post Office) which is at the other end of the street.

The newest things in the picture are probably the cars and the newly pedestrianised area in the foreground - I say pedestrianised but there's a cycle-way across it just by where this shot was taken and folk zoom across it (including those who think a motorbike is a pushbike) at amazing speed so don't take it for granted that you're safe on foot here!

Also modern is the wonderful Barbican Complex in the distance - a familiar landmark in London designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon in the Brutalist style (did I mention I like Brutalist architecture) and built between, I think, 1965 and 1975 on a former enormous bomb site of around 40 acres. The tower is one of three and are London's tallest residential blocks.. I think they were, at one time, the tallest residences in Europe.

The tudor building is above a Norman gateway and is one of those hidden gems of London as it was once the main entrance of the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great which gives it's name to the hospital which in the foreground to the right.

The story of its founding is an interesting one. Prince William, heir to Henry got wiped out in 1120 which upset the king no end. A courtier named Rahere undertook a pilgrimage to Rome, and while there he contracted a fever. He was treated at the hospital on the Isolo Tiberina, supposedly the site where St Bartholomew's relics rest. He vowed to build a hospital for the poor if he recovered... which he did. On the way back to Blighty he experienced a vision of Bartholomew, who ordered him to build a church at a place called the Smooth Field.... aka Smithfield.

In Norman times Smithfield was unpleasant - used for cattle markets and executions as well as the occasional tournaments. Nevertheless, with the backing of King Henry and the Bishop of London, the Priory Church of St Bartholomew - and the Hospital of the same name - began to rise in 1123.

The Priory was never particularly wealthy but still attracted the attention of Henry VIII during the dissolution when the nave was demolished. The remaining portion still stands and is a refreshing change to the architecture of Wren which abounds elsewhere in The City.

The church is well worth a visit and contains numerous impressive monuments - it was also used in the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Shakespear in Love" and quite a few others.

The hospital, on the right, has been there for over 900 years and there's history a plenty there - more on that later since it's not really in view... but what is, although not clearly, is a plaque on the wll (just by the light on the right) marking the site of the execution of William Wallace - aka 'Braveheart' - which took place there in 1305.

The shot here is a tad smaller than I'd like due to the fact that it the original has quite a jaunty angle - the top of the cabinet not being level. Personally I'd like the sky to have captured the deep blue of the dawn sky better.. but there you go.

Enjoy!

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / London / Farringdon (show map)

Taken on: October 22, 2008

Tags:

St Bartholomew

St Barts

church

priory

london

William Wallace

Braveheart

Four Weddings and a Funeral

St Barts Hospital

Norman

St Bartholomews Hospital

Norman Church

Barbican

Brutalist

architecture

Historical London

vacation

holiday

England

Europe

Historical

King Henry

Henry VIII

dissolution of the monasteries

londonist « less

Sets appears in: • Most viewed • Buildings as Tripods more » • Smithfield and Clerkenwell • The reality of London • All the Canon EOS 400D photos « less

Groups appears in: • * CityScapes & City Life • United Kingdom more » • London: The Square Mile • History is All Around Us • Historic UK and Ireland • Smithfield, London • England's Heritage • London - The big Smoke « less

Camera: Canon EOS 400D, f/4.0, 1 sec, 30mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 400D
Lens:	EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	1
Focal Length:	30mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0.1 Macintosh
Show full info

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