Come with me as I explore London's history, hidden gems and unusual places. "Not all those who wander are lost..."
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Crystal Palace Dinosaurs
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Walking with Keilyn: Euston Square to the City of London... and beyond
Monday, June 09, 2025
'Ancient Lights'
Thursday, June 05, 2025
'Alunatime' by Laura Williams
Monday, June 02, 2025
Mosaics and Ceramics, Black Prince Road
Friday, May 30, 2025
Walking with Erin: Kensington to Piccadilly... and beyond
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Nathaniel Bentley, 'The dirty hardware merchant of Leadenhall Street'

Nathaniel continued to occupy the 46 Leadenhall Street warehouse, until his lease expired in 1802. Mr Gosling took over the lease and leased the building to Nathaniel for another year.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Walking with Keilyn: Waterloo to Lambeth... and beyond
Monday, May 26, 2025
"Was this Piano played by Charles Chaplin Senior?"
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Walking with friends: Bethnal Green to Spitalfields... and beyond
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Grave of Joseph Grimaldi, "King of Clowns"
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Joseph Grimaldi: King of Clowns. |
His name may be familiar to some, while others will have no idea who he was. Those with coulrophobia will probably be terrified, for Joseph Grimaldi changed the role of the clown, in pantomimes and plays, earning him the title 'King of the Clowns'.
Born in 1778, Joseph Grimaldi came from a family with a long history as entertainers and performers.
His first appearance on stage was at the age of 3, when his father took him onto the stage at Sadler's Wells Theatre.
As soon as Joseph was old enough he became an actor, working at Drury Lane Theatre and Sadler's Wells Theatre, quickly becoming one of the most popular actors of his day.
In 1806, Joseph Grimaldi was hired for a role in the pantomime 'Harlequin and Mother Goose', at Covent Garden Theatre. It was here that Grimaldi created a new style of clown, a style that we still know today. He used white face paint, with red paint around his lips and on his cheeks and he painted his eyebrows thick and black. To finish the transformation he wore bright, oversized clothes and got up to all sorts of mischief on stage. So good was his performance that he upstaged the Harlequin. The name 'Joey' passed into the modern language to mean a clown.
Joseph Grimaldi worked at Sadler's Wells Theatre for over 40 years, as a performer and part-proprietor.
In 1823, Joseph was forced to retire due to poor health. His joints were giving him problems and, along with a respiratory condition, he could no longer perform as he wished.
Following the death of his wife he fell into debt and became an alcoholic, which didn't help his depression. He died in 1837, penniless and alone.
He was buried in the churchyard of St James's Anglican Chapel.
Monday, May 19, 2025
Cheapside Plane: Possibly the Oldest Tree in the City of London
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Historic Vessels, Trinity Buoy Wharf
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'Diana' built in 1890. |
Not only is Trinity Buoy Wharf home to historic buildings and home to various artists and sculptures, but it also home to some historic vessels. These vessels are of national importance, so it is important that they are preserved.
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'Knocker White' built in 1924. |
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'Knocker White' built in 1924. |
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'Lightship LV95', built in 1939. |