New Tour - 'Posh London'

After the success of his previous London walks, the SVS Foundation's archivist, David Pickard (Staff 1977-2001, 2009-2015) invites you to join him for the sixth in his series of walks, this time entitled 'Posh London'. For those who have not taken part previously, the walks provide an opportunity to learn more about the city, incorporating a range of historical themes as well as SVS-specific aspects.

The walk will begin at Charing Cross station and, via an examination of Pall Mall and ‘clubland’, will go to St James’ Square and St James’ Church, Piccadilly learning about highly specialised shopping outlets before a traverse of the Burlington Arcade and Bond Street in order to look at how Handel and Jimmy Hendrix ‘bonded’ musically . We will consider how Mayfair became established as a premier address, before crossing Oxford Street and heading via Wimpole Street and Regent’s Park to Camden Market and the Lock on the canal there to learn about the greatest transport hub the UK had in the 19th Century.

Specific details for each walk will be sent out to those coming along closer to the walk date but, as a rough guide each walk will begin at about 11.45am. The walk will last approximately four hours including an opportunity for refreshment. David is offering tours on the following dates:

• Sunday 14th May (Fully Booked)
• Tuesday 16th May (currently 5 places available)

If you are interested in any of the above dates, please get in touch with David directly by email. Do not hesitate to seek clarification - and feel free to bring guests along, if you wish - please just make sure they are included in your booking.

Past Tours

Given their continued popularity though, David is also proposing to lead ad hoc walks at any time in April or May 2023. Bookings will be available for parties of four or more, where a convenient date can be arranged - just email David directly at pickardd@svs.org.uk to ask. The current choice of walks is as follows:

1. 'The Once Great Industrial Thames'
Greenwich to Tower Hill (4-5 miles - flat terrain)

This is a walk along the northern bank of the Thames (once having traversed the foot tunnel at Greenwich) to Tower Hill, which examines the role of shipbuilding and ship-fitting, as well as industry based on local agricultural activities. The specialisation of the docks and their recent transformation into a major financial centre is also a point of interest, as are the various residential developments replacing the warehousing of Limehouse and Wapping, where thoughts turn to pirates and hydrological engines. Most will have a lot of knowledge of St Katherine’s Dock and The Tower of London complex but perhaps we might find something new to explore here too.

2. 'Hidden Gems of The City of London'
Holborn to Tower Hill (3-4 miles mostly flat and downhill)

This is a west-east traverse from the RAF church in Holborn to Tower Hill, with a possible extension into Shad Thames. It hopes to give an insight into the newspaper industry before computerisation, as well as looking at law institutions and the printing industry. ‘Daddy’ Hill and the development of the Post Office is examined and a visit is made to the very moving memorial of ‘Postman’s Park’ (nothing to do with postmen). The role of the guilds is considered and the development of the financial district of the city via its ‘exchange’, pubs, coffee houses and banks. The influence of the East India Company plays a role here and, after a look at Pepys’ London and a visit to Leadenhall Market, we learn of the heroic achievements of an OS merchant mariner in the Second World War.

3. 'Lambe’s London'
Coram Fields to The Golden Hind on the South Bank (3-4 miles downhill)

A north-south walk traces the route of Lambe’s Conduit (another of William Lambe's charitable works) and also looks at others who have organised help and comfort to the needy of London in the past. We hope to learn of the London that Lambe inhabited, and his daily routines are suggested. The highly colourful nature of London in Elizabethan times (and Victorian) is examined as we pass through Hatton Garden, before we immerse ourselves once again in the Fair at Smithfield and the specialisations that surrounded that place at the southern end of The Great North Road. Lambe as landlord is considered as well as Lambe the religious zealot, before crossing the Thames to the south bank, where we look at the workings of Southwark in the 1500s and obtain hints as to how Lambe might have made his fortune.

4. ' Royal London'
A circular walk from St James’ Park via Green and Hyde Parks and Kensington Palace Gardens (5 miles flat terrain)

A round-trip from and to Trafalgar Square reaches Kensington Palace at its extremity.  Along the way, we learn of the warring house of Hanover and how ‘ceremonial’ has become a stock-in-trade for out tourist industry. Ghosts and a SVS connection with royalty, the role of the military and the origin of The Grand Old Duke of York are all illustrated. How monarchs trying to please their consorts helps to explain many of the features seen along the route, and how consorts and royal children trying to please the monarchy explains other features.  And the oxygen! On a Sunday the route is hardly ever closer to traffic that 100 yards.

5. 'In The Shadow of the Wall'
A circular walk from London Bridge Station following the route of the Roman wall of London (3-4 miles flat terrain)

A round trip to discover some interesting facts about Borough Market and the southern approach to medieval London and how success in the ‘South Sea Bubble’ enabled Guy to establish his hospital. The role of ethnic minorities in spurring London’s effort to be a major financial and manufacturing centre is examined, as is the role of terrorists in trying to destroy what was created. In the Guildhall we see the old Roman amphitheatre and learn of the part played by the Guilds in establishing ‘rules and regulations’ governing London’s behaviour as well as growth. We finish by looking at the role of the Fleet River as the major boundary to the City in the west.