London Architecture

 

London panorama from atop St Paul’s Cathedral

Today, I am reprising a couple of important historical and architectural sites in London, England.

Unfortunately, photography has been restricted and inhibited by a combination of poor weather conditions and restrictions at the two sites visited. However, all was not lost because I was able to obtain a selection of a aerial views of London city and the Thames from atop St Paul’s Cathedral. Grey clouds and rain featured throughout most of the day.

St Paul’s Cathedral

This was first call. This building was designed by famous English architect, Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1711. Christian places of worship have stood on the same site since 604 AD. The design deliberately departed from the traditional Roman Catholic style to emphasise England’s switch to Protestantism (Anglican). There are few burials and memorials other than those to such famous Britons as Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.

St Paul’s is built in the shape of a cross with a large dome crowning the intersection of its arms. At 111.3 metres high it ranks as one of the world’s largest cathedral domes and weighs approximately 65,000 tons. Visitors can climb the 528 steps to the dome and benefit from superb ‘helicopter’ views over London.

The banning of visitor photography is, perhaps, a blessing in disguise as the interior lighting presents challenges and expensive wide-angle lenses would be required to do justice to the elaborate and richly decorated features incorporated within the restrained Baroque style.

St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral.

River Thames from atop St Paul’s.

River Thames from atop St Paul’s

London’s business district from atop St Paul’s

Private House in Chelsea

Chelsea is one of England’s wealthiest locations where properties attract astronomic valuations.

Here, by appointment, I joined a small group tour of an extremely well presented and preserved property which has links to artists and collectors of art dating back to the turn of the 20th century. This tour was arranged through auspices of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society. Mackintosh made his mark in Glasgow, Scotland in the early 20th century but his style of architecture and design fell out of favour prompting him to move and England and then France. Mackintosh was involved in design work for the subject property and lived close by for a while.

King’s Road, Chelsea, London at night.