Pickering Place, St James's

The entrance to Pickering Place.

London has roughly 600 public squares, spread throughout the city. The largest of these is Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn, at 300,000 square feet. This is the largest public square both in London and the United Kingdom.

The smallest public square is Pickering Place, St James's, at roughly 500 square feet. It is also the smallest square in Great Britain. For its small size it is full of history.

The square was originally known as Stroud's Court. In 1698, the Widow Bourne, whose first name has been lost to time, opened a grocer's shop at No. 3 St James's Street, with her two daughters. This was the same year that St James's Palace became the official residence of the monarch. This grocer's shop would go on to become 'Berry Brothers & Rudd', which is still run by descendants of the same family, to this day.

The Widow's daughter, Elizabeth, married William Pickering and the two carried on the mother's business. They also supplied coffee to the fashionable Coffee Houses of St James's. 'Berry Brothers & Rudd' still trades under the sign of the coffee mill, as they have done for centuries. 

Georgian architecture.

In 1731, William Pickering set about rebuilding Stroud's Court, which was originally a garden, with new, taller houses. after which the square was renamed Pickering Court. Their business, at No. 3, remains as it was from when it first opened.

As Pickering Court was 'off the beaten path' it became known for its bear baiting, gambling dens and prostitution. The square was also used as a duelling ground. It is said that the Prince Regent's close friend, Beau Brummell, fought a duel here, in the nineteenth century. Some claim that London's last duel took place here, but this is incorrect. London's last duel took place in a small field near Camden Road in Camden Town.

The Division Bells of Westminster

For Whom The Bells Toll.

If you are ever enjoying a drink in a pub near the Palace of Westminster, such as The Marquis of Granby, The Red Lion, St Stephen's Tavern or the Westminster Arms, among others, and you hear a shrill, insistent ringing that isn't the fire alarm... don't panic. That distinctive, urgent chime is the sound of democracy in action: The Parliamentary Division Bell.

It's one of the most charmingly archaic, yet fundamentally critical, pieces of infrastructure in the UK's political landscape. Far from being a mere novelty, the Division Bell is the key to how votes are cast in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, dictating the pace of political life in Westminster.

In the UK Parliament, a formal vote is known as a 'Division' because members literally divide into two opposing lobbies to be counted. 

The Speaker Puts the Question: A debate then ensues and, when it ends, the Speaker of the House of Commons asks for "Ayes" (in favour) and "Noes" (against) to shout for their support. If the result isn't clear, or a Member challenges the Speaker's judgement, the Speaker announces, "Division, clear the lobby!" or, "Clear the Bar!" in the Lords. This is the moment the Division Bell springs to life.

Walking with Erin: British Film Institute to Crossbones Graveyard... and beyond

A 'Small Car Big City' Mini Cooper.

Saturday October 18, 2025.

It had been a while since Erin and I had taken a trip to London, so we needed to plan something. Erin found out about 'A Wicked Celebration' taking place at the British Film Institute, on the Southbank, so we decided that that would be our starting point.

We left home and made the short walk to Watford Metropolitan station and boarded a train for Baker Street. We changed at Finchley Road, where we boarded a Jubilee line train to Waterloo. 

Paddington Bear mural.

As we had plenty of time before the exhibition opened, we took a slow walk from Waterloo station, along Concert Hall Approach, and passed a great mural to Paddington Bear on the way. We then  explored the various external floors of the Southbank Centre. I have walked along the Southbank before, but never visited the various raised plazas that make up the Southbank Centre.

Water feature sculptures at the Southbank Centre.

The views from these raised walkways offered nice views of the River Thames, while different sculptures were dotted around, too.

Once we had seen enough we made our way down to street level and Theatre Road. For an exhibition about the phenomenon that is 'Wicked', there were no advertising signs or posters to say that it was on, which was a surprise. 

Vickers (Charlize Theron) EVA Suit, from Prometheus (2012).

We made our way into the BFI, via the Cinema and Box Office entrance, and climbed the stairs and joined a small queue of about twenty people.

Ozian coins.

After about ten minutes we were climbing the stairs to the Mezzanine Gallery and exploring 'A Wicked celebration'. Large panels, containing photographs and snippets of information, lined the wall, detailing the behind-the-scenes making of the movie. 

Erin with Glinda's costume.

Then there were the four small glass cabinets that held replica props, such as Ozian coins and Glinda's wand. At the end of the gallery were Elphaba and Glinda's dresses, protected behind glass, that allowed people to see the intricacy of their design.

Once we had seen everything, which didn't take long, we headed outside and sat and ate our lunch by the National Theatre.

Once we had eaten we decided to head towards London Bridge, by following The Queen's Walk. As Erin doesn't enjoy walking, as much as Keilyn, I thought that it would be easier if we walked towards underground stations, should she suddenly tire. Wooden huts, selling their wares, were already open and decorated for Christmas. 

Blackfriars Station commemorative plaque.

We passed Gabriel's Wharf, Thames Beach, Oxo Wharf and Sea Containers House, before we turned down Marigold Avenue onto Upper Ground. We then turned south, onto Blackfriars Road, passing the original entrance to Blackfriars station, heading to The Cut, where we stopped at a Tesco Express for some more snacks.

The Mint & Gospel Lighthouse Mission Shaftesbury Society.

From here we headed along Union Street, passing the London Fire Brigade Headquarters, an original tram shelter, which is now a 'Heard' burger restaurant, that looks rather nice. We then passed the old Ragged School building and, opposite, discovered that Crossbones Graveyard and Garden of Remembrance was open. So, we went in. 

La Catrina, donated by the Mexican Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Besides a few volunteers, and a handful of other visitors, the place was remarkably empty. While Erin picked up an information booklet I made a donation and, soon, we were exploring this historic place. As we walked slowly around I told Erin about its history.

'Liberties of the Tower' and Tower Liberties Boundary Markers

Liberties of the Tower plaque.

At various distances from the walls of the Tower of London, there were thirty-one Liberty Markers, of which twenty-two can still be found (I believe). These markers denoted the outer limits of the 'Liberties of the Tower'.

The Tower Liberties area was an administrative and defensive zone set up around the Tower of London, separating it from the City of London.

This 'Liberties of the Tower' area was to be kept free of buildings, so that those in the Tower of London could see any approaching forces, and was set up after 1200.

Marker Number 23, Tower Hill Garden.

The boundary points were placed in an arc around the Tower of London, at a distance of an arrow's flight from its walls.

The Tower of London ran its own courthouse and police force and, in 1687, the people, living within the Liberties, were granted certain special privileges. These included being able to claim any beast that fell from London Bridge and freedom from the jurisdiction of the City of London.

'A Wicked Celebration' at BFI Southbank Mezzanine Gallery

Saturday October 18, 2025.

Erin, and to a lesser extent Keilyn, have a fascination with 'Wicked'. Both have seen the movie, while Erin has seen the 'Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz', or, more simply, 'Wicked the Musical', at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

So, Erin was exceedingly excited when she discovered that there was a free exhibition of behind-the-scenes photography, costumes and replica props from the forthcoming movie 'Wicked: For Good', being held in London.

So, off Erin and I set.

The exhibition was to celebrate Jon M. Chu's 'Wicked: For Good', the follow-up to the award-winning 'Wicked'.

Set on the mezzanine gallery at the British Film Institute, there were photographs on display, showing glimpses of what goes on behind-the-scenes. This included set design, costume design and more.

Then there were the glass display cabinets, where  a model of the Emerald City Express, Ozian coins, the Grimmerie, Glinda's wand and Elphaba and Glinda's costumes could be admired.

It was a small but informative exhibition, with roughly thirty people walking through the gallery, at any one time.

Erin thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition, filling her with anticipation for the film's release on November 21, 2025.

The exhibition has been running since October 9, at BFI Southbank Mezzanine, and finishes on October 19 at 17:00.

Being a free event, no tickets are required. But, capacity is limited, so entry is on a first-served basis.

Gallery