The Gherkin: Open House Weekend Wrap-Up

The Gherkin was one of the buildings I first connected with when I moved to London. Completed in 2003 at a cost of £130m, alongside Tower 42 the Gherkin boldly stood out of the known skyline, a skyline which now seems littered with skyscrapers with nicknames of inanimate objects such as the ‘Cheesegrater’ and ‘Walkie Talkie’.  London’s skyline has the ‘Boomerang’ and ‘Scalpel’ to look forward to next.

 
Photo of London Skyline, 2003

Spriggan, a guardian of abandoned ruins in Crouch End

Spriggans, a guardian of abandoned ruins in Crouch End

The sculpture depicts a Spriggan - a mythical creature, usually of rather ill disposition, which is said to be a guardian of abandoned ruins, barrows and buried treasures. Sometimes Spriggans would even steal human children and leave their own ugly offspring behind, so be on guard if out walking with your kids!

This particular Spriggan is a work of an internationally acclaimed London-base...

Hampstead Village has a rich history of intellectual and artistic associations and, of course, Hampstead Heath. With Hampstead having attracted the rich and famous over the last two centuries it's not surprising there are plenty of historical plaques which show a glimmer of its glamorous inhabitants.

This guided walk starts at Hampstead Tube station (Northern Line). There will also be a post walk drinks option too. The terrain does have a few inclines (Hampstead is on a hill you know). Ther...

Where does the name Barnsbury come from?

The name ‘Barnsbury’ comes from the de Berners family, which owned the medieval manor that occupied the site until the early C16th. The Manor of Barnsbury (also called Bernersbury or Iseldon Berners) was held in 1086 by Hugh de Berners.

Who owned The Manor of Barnsbury?

The Berners family retained the manor until 1502 when it was sold to a Merchant, Thomas Fowler. He passed the manor on to his son Edmund (d 1560) who left it to his son Sir Thomas (d 1...