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RED TELEPHONE BOX A telephone kiosk for a public telephone designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, was a familiar sight on ...
10/05/2024

RED TELEPHONE BOX

A telephone kiosk for a public telephone designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, was a familiar sight on the streets of the UK.

The paint colour used is known as "cherry red". Despite a reduction in their numbers, the traditional British red telephone box can still be seen in many places throughout the UK.

The red phone box is often seen as an iconic British symbol throughout the world. In 1953 the new Queen, Elizabeth II, decided to replace the Tudor Crown in all contexts with a representation of the actual crown generally used for British coronations, the St Edward's Crown.

This new symbol therefore began to appear on the fascias of K6 kiosks.

[In the picture, K1, K2 and K6 kiosks]

Cambridge It is a city on the River Cam in eastern England, home to the prestigious University of Cambridge, dating to 1...
06/05/2024

Cambridge

It is a city on the River Cam in eastern England, home to the prestigious University of Cambridge, dating to 1209.

University colleges include King’s, famed for its choir and towering Gothic chapel, as well as Trinity, founded by Henry VIII, and St John’s, with its 16th-century Great Gate.

University museums have exhibits on archaeology and anthropology, polar exploration, the history of science and zoology.

1926General StrikeEmbankment, London This photo was actually taken during the 9 days of the 1926 General Strike. Nearly ...
20/03/2024

1926
General Strike
Embankment, London

This photo was actually taken during the 9 days of the 1926 General Strike. Nearly all buses and trams were not running due to strike. Many of the wealthiest Londoners parked their cars here on the Embankment in an attempt at strikebreaking.

On 4 May, more than 1.75 million people were out on strike, bringing the country's transport network to its knees as cars flooded the roads to compensate for the lack of buses or trains operating. The strike would ultimately last for nine days and bring chaos to Britain.

1926 workers across Britain stopped work in support of the miners who faced cuts in pay and longer hours.

The Mr. Bean statue It is part of the Scenes in the Leicester Square that has a lot of statues to do with cinema. Like M...
08/02/2024

The Mr. Bean statue

It is part of the Scenes in the Leicester Square that has a lot of statues to do with cinema. Like Mary Poppins and Harry Potter and can be found in the Heart of Leicester Square.

Leicester Square

It is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England.

It was laid out in 1670 as Leicester Fields, which was named after the recently built Leicester House, itself named after Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester.

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson CBE (born 6 January 1955) is an English actor, comedian and writer. He played the title role in the sitcom Mr. Bean (1990–1995)

19544 JulyFourteen years of rationing during and following World War II comes to an end when meat officially comes off r...
03/02/2024

1954

4 July
Fourteen years of rationing during and following World War II comes to an end when meat officially comes off ration

19 July
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority established by the Atomic Energy Act "to produce, use and dispose of atomic energy and carry out research into any matters therewith"

3 August
No. 1321 Flight RAF formed at RAF Wittering to bring the Blue Danube (nuclear weapon) into service with Vickers Valiant aircraft.

4 August
Maiden flight of the English Electric Lightning P-1 supersonic fighter plane

19 October
Britain agrees to end its military occupation of the Suez Canal

30 November
Winston Churchill becomes the first, and to the present day, the only UK Prime Minister to celebrate his eightieth birthday whilst in office.

PHOTOGRAPH
TAKEN IN LONDON IN 1954

Baker Street in LondonIt is the world's oldest underground stationBaker Street is a London Underground station at the ju...
29/01/2024

Baker Street in London

It is the world's oldest underground station

Baker Street is a London Underground station at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road in the City of Westminster.

It is one of the original stations of the Metropolitan Railway (MR), the world's first underground railway, opened on 10 January 1863

LIVERPOOL Fab four statue The city's most popular selfie spot!An iconic statue of the Fab Four, in their hometown. The B...
23/01/2024

LIVERPOOL
Fab four statue
The city's most popular selfie spot!

An iconic statue of the Fab Four, in their hometown. The Beatles Statue arrived on Liverpool's Waterfront in December 2015.

Donated by the famous Cavern Club, the placement of the statue coincides with the 50 year anniversary of the band's last gig played in Liverpool, at the Liverpool Empire Theatre.

The figures are larger than life size and weigh 1.2 tonnes in total. They were sculpted by Andrew Edwards

The Beatles
They were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time

William Shakespeare* birthday celebrations at Stratford-upon-Avon** in April 2024William Shakespeare*[26 April 1564 – 23...
23/01/2024

William Shakespeare* birthday celebrations at Stratford-upon-Avon** in April 2024

William Shakespeare*
[26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616]

He was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".

Stratford-upon-Avon**

It is a medieval market town in England’s West Midlands, is the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Possibly the most famous writer in the English language, Shakespeare is known for his sonnets and plays such as 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Hamlet'.

The Royal Shakespeare Company performs his plays in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and adjacent Swan Theatre on the banks of the River Avon.

SCOTLAND Winchers StanceA sculpture in Glasgow's Buchanan Bus StationThe bronze miracle of the renowned sculptor John Cl...
22/01/2024

SCOTLAND
Winchers Stance

A sculpture in Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station

The bronze miracle of the renowned sculptor John Clinch.

This is his gift to Glasgow and is entirely typical of his acute sense of humour.

1994
Meet the “Winchers Stance”, created in 1994 for Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive.

The statue depicts the scene of a couple who could be meeting – or parting.

They’re certainly doing what comes naturally: winching.

They seem enormously happy and perhaps there’s a clue on the face of the young woman, for if you take a closer look you will see a tear rolling down her cheek.

John Clinch, from Folkestone in Kent, has won many awards through his sculpting career, including the Arts Council Major Award in 1979.

John Clinch was elected as an associate of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1992 and became a fellow in 1994.

He died in 2001, leaving behind a legacy of great work that brings certainly a smile and perhaps sometimes a tear of joy.

Winching*
It is a Scottish word for counting
The statue was named in a competition in the Evening Times. The winner was Susan Ritchie, out of some 600 entries. She was at the unveiling along with the sculptor himself.

WaterlooIt is a London Underground station located beneath Waterloo National Rail station. It is served by four lines: t...
14/01/2024

Waterloo

It is a London Underground station located beneath Waterloo National Rail station.

It is served by four lines: the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City lines.

It is within walking distance of the London Eye.

1898
The first Underground Line at Waterloo was opened on 8 August 1898 by the Waterloo & City Railway (W&CR)

1863The London UndergroundA drawing of commuters waving their hats in the air as they pass Portland Road station during ...
08/01/2024

1863
The London Underground

A drawing of commuters waving their hats in the air as they pass Portland Road station during a trial trip on the London Metropolitan Underground railway

Earl's Court Tube Station, London It is an important interchange for the District and Piccadilly linesIt is a step-free ...
07/01/2024

Earl's Court Tube Station, London

It is an important interchange for the District and Piccadilly lines

It is a step-free tube station; the Earls Court Road entrance provides lift access between street and platform levels.

1871
The station was opened by the District Railway in 1871, two years after the line was built, and had become a hub to five different local routes by 1874.

1878
It was damaged by fire the following year in 1975, and a new station was constructed on the other side of Earl's Court Road, opening in 1878.

1906
A connection to the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (now the Piccadilly Line) opened in 1906.

1911
Earl's Court was the first tube station with escalators, which were added in 1911.

1915 & 1936
Major redevelopment and rebuilding work occurred in 1915 and 1937

2005
The station underwent major refurbishment works in 2005. Additional lifts for the mobility impaired were added from the District line platforms.

2006
In December 2006, work started on repairing the roof as part of a £10 billion restoration programme.

2009
At the 2009 National Railway Heritage Awards the reconstruction of the station's train shed roof gained a certificate of merit for the quality of the work carried out.

To all those who like and follow this page ❤️
31/12/2023

To all those who like and follow this page

❤️

St Paul's Cathedral It is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedr...
21/12/2023

St Paul's Cathedral

It is an Anglican cathedral in London, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of London.

The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London.

AD 604
Its dedication in honour of Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604.

1710
The present structure, which was completed in 1710, is a Grade I listed building that was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren.

The cathedral's construction was part of a major rebuilding programme initiated in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London.

🇬🇧 TRAFALGAR SQUAREIt is one of London’s most vibrant spaces in the middle of the cityTrafalgar Square is surrounded by ...
14/12/2023

🇬🇧
TRAFALGAR SQUARE

It is one of London’s most vibrant spaces in the middle of the city

Trafalgar Square is surrounded by museums, galleries, cultural spaces and historic buildings. It also has the café on the square

We had been visiting it regularly since 1991. You can see me with the pigeons in the first photograph from 1991. However, the pigeons are no more there. Concerned that the birds’ were damaging Nelson’s Column and other structures, authorities started installing anti-pigeon wires and spikes. Feeding the birds in the main square was criminalised in 2003, but animal rights protesters continued to feed pigeons on its North Terrace. Westminster City Council extended the ban to the wider area in 2007, and whacked a potential £500 fine on top. So the pigeons disappeared to a great extent!

HISTORY OF TRAFALGAR SQUARE

14th to 17th century
Most of the area now occupied by Trafalgar Square was the courtyard of the Great Mews stabling, which served Whitehall Palace

1812
The architect John Nash began to develop ‘a new street from Charing Cross to Portland Place’. He wanted it to be a cultural space open to the public

1830
The site was officially named Trafalgar Square

1832
Work began on the National Gallery

1838
Sir Charles Barry presented a plan to develop Trafalgar Square. This included the Nelson memorial statue and two fountains

1843
Nelson’s Column, designed by William Railton, was erected

1845
The fountains were built

1867
Sir Edwin Landseer designed the bronze lions placed on guard at the base of Nelson’s Column

1876
The Imperial Measures were set into the north terrace wall

TRAFALGAR SQUARE TODAY

July 2003
A huge project to transform Trafalgar Square was completed. The north terrace was pedestrianised, so that the square is now linked to the National Gallery. The changes also included a cafe, public toilets and a lift for disabled access

Trafalgar Square is a centre of national democracy and protest. Rallies and demonstrations are frequently held at weekends on different political, religious and general issues. The Mayor supports this democratic tradition, and gives access to the square for such causes

STATUES AND FOUNTAINS

● Nelson’s Column

William Railton designed the column and statue to honour Admiral Nelson, after his victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
The granite statue was sculpted by E. H. Baily. It is five metres high and stands on a bronze platform made from old guns from the Woolwich Arsenal Foundry.

The four bronze panels at the base of the column depict some of Nelson’s battles. The lions, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer, are said to protect Nelson’s Column.

---> Restoration of Nelson’s Column

Nelson's Column is Grade 1 listed. It is inspected every two years to assess its condition. Recent inspections found that the column was in sound condition, but recommended conservation work to preserve it for future generations

This work includes repairs to the stonework, cleaning areas of corrosion, protecting the bronze with wax, general cleaning to remove pigeon guano, and pigeon-proofing minor areas

The restoration team was able to repair damage to the statue using Craigleith sandstone, the original material used to make it. When the Craigleith quarry in Scotland closed sixty years ago it made getting hold of the stone almost impossible, so previous restorers patched Nelson up using a mixture of mortar and cement

However, some Craigleith stone was found during a restoration of Donaldson's School for the Deaf (an A-listed building in Edinburgh). It was donated to Nelson’s Column restoration by Scottish company Watson Stonecraft

● Fountains

The fountains were added in 1845. The mermaids, dolphins and tritons (the male figures with tails like fish) were installed later.

The fountains operate on most days.

STATUES AND BUSTS

● Admiral Beatty

The bronze bust by William MacMillian, Royal Academician is mounted on a granite pilaster against the north wall of the square.
Date of monument: 1948
Materials : Bronze
Statutory Status : Grade II

● Admiral Jellicoe

The bronze bust by Charles Wheeler, Associate Member of the Royal Academy is mounted on a granite pilaster against the north wall of the square.
Date of monument: 1948
Materials : Bronze
Statutory Status : Grade II

● Admiral Cunningham

The bronze bust by Franta Besley, is mounted on a granite pilaster against the North wall of the square.
Date of monument: 1967
Materials : Bronze
Statutory Status : Grade II
There are four plinths for statues in the square. Bronze statues stand on three of them:

● General Sir Charles James Napier

The bronze statue by G G Adams stands on a granite pedestal on the South West Corner of the square
Date of monument: 1856
Materials : Granite & Bronze
Statutory Status : Grade II

● Major General Sir Henry Havelock

The bronze statue by W Behnes stands on a Dartmoor granite pedestal on the South East corner of the square.
Date of monument: 1861
Materials : Granite & Bronze
Statutory Status : Grade II

● King George IV

The bronze equestrian statue by Sir Francis Chantery stands on a granite pedestal to the North East corner of the square.
Date of monument: 1843
Materials : Granite & Bronze
Statutory Status : Grade II

---> The Fourth Plinth

The fourth plinth, in the northwest of the square, was empty for many years. It is now managed by a Commissioning Group Panel of specialist advisors. This group guides and monitors the commissions for the plinth. The content presents world-class contemporary artworks in the public realm.

Imperial Measures

In 1876 the Imperial Measures were set into the north terrace wall. Surveyors can still check ‘Perches’, ‘Chains’ and other archaic measures against feet and yards. When the central staircase was added, the measures were relocated, and you can now find information about them outside the café on the square.

Police box

Probably the smallest police box ever built can be found on the southeast corner of the square. There was originally a lamp, built in 1826. In 1926, Scotland Yard installed a telephone line and light which the police could use to call for assistance. It is now used for storage.

Events

Many events are hosted at Trafalgar Square, including cultural celebrations, commercial events, rallies and demonstrations, filming and photographic shoots.

WestminsterIt is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in London, England. It extends from the River Thames to ...
19/11/2023

Westminster

It is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in London, England.

It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and much of the West End cultural centre including the entertainment precinct of West End Theatre.

The name (Old English: Westmynstre) originated from the informal description of the abbey church and royal peculiar of St Peter's (Westminster Abbey), west of the City of London (until the English Reformation there was also an Eastminster, near the Tower of London, in the East End of London).

The abbey's origins date from between the 7th and 10th centuries, but it rose to national prominence when rebuilt by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century.

Westminster has been the home of England's government since about 1200, and from 1707 the Government of the United Kingdom.

In 1539, it became a city.

Westminster is often used as a metonym to refer to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, in the Palace of Westminster.

🇬🇧 A game changerLabour was "redrawing the political map".---    Sir Keir StarmerMid Bedfordshire and TamworthThe Conser...
20/10/2023

🇬🇧
A game changer

Labour was "redrawing the political map".
--- Sir Keir Starmer

Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth

The Conservatives have suffered two heavy by-election defeats, with Labour overturning huge majorities to take Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth.

The party saw off a challenge from the Liberal Democrats to make history in Mid Bedfordshire, overcoming a 24,664 Tory majority to win the seat for the first time.

In Tamworth there was a 23.9% swing to Labour from the Tories.

TEMPLE BARIt was the principal ceremonial entrance to the City of London from the City of Westminster. In the middle age...
27/09/2023

TEMPLE BAR

It was the principal ceremonial entrance to the City of London from the City of Westminster.

In the middle ages, London expanded city jurisdiction beyond its walls to gates, called ‘bars’, which were erected across thoroughfares.

Temple Bar was situated on the historic royal ceremonial route from the Tower of London to the Palace of Westminster, the two chief residences of the medieval English monarchs

TEMPLE BAR MEMORIAL 1880

Following the removal of Wren's gate, Horace Jones, Architect and Surveyor to the City of London, designed a memorial to mark Temple Bar, which was unveiled in 1880.

The Temple Bar Memorial stands in the street in front of the Royal Courts of Justice.

The elaborate pedestal in a neo-Renaissance style serves as the base for a sculpture by Charles Bell Birch of a dragon supporter (sometimes erroneously referred to as a griffin) bearing a shield of the arms of the City of London.

The pedestal is decorated with statues by Joseph Boehm of Queen Victoria and her son the then Prince of Wales, the last royals to have entered the City through Wren's gate, which event is depicted in one of the reliefs which also decorate the structure.

--------------------------------------------

Durness It is a village and civil parish* in the north-west Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north coast of the cou...
16/09/2023

Durness

It is a village and civil parish* in the north-west Highlands of Scotland.

It lies on the north coast of the country in the traditional county of Sutherland, around 120 miles north of Inverness.

The area is remote, and the parish is huge and sparsely populated, covering an area from east of Loch Eriboll to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of the Scottish mainland.

In his childhood, John Lennon took summer holidays in the village.

Tourists are catered for by a campsite spectacularly sited on the cliffs above the beach (with easy access down to the beach), an SYHA hostel, housed by some converted army buildings, bed and breakfast accommodation and two hotels and restaurants

Parish*
The smallest unit of local government in Britain, constituted only in rural areas.

LONDONA major settlement for two millenniaTHE CAPITAL CITY It is the capital and largest city of England and the United ...
15/09/2023

LONDON
A major settlement for two millennia

THE CAPITAL CITY
It is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of about 9 million.

ON THE RIVER THAMES
It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a 50-mile estuary down to the North Sea and has been a major settlement for two millennia.

THE CITY OF LONDON
The City of London, its ancient core and financial centre, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and retains its medieval boundaries.

THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER
The City of Westminster, to the west of the City of London, has for centuries hosted the national government and parliament.

GREATER LONDON
Since the 19th century, the name "London" also refers to the metropolis around this core, historically split among the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire, which since 1965 has largely comprised Greater London, which is governed by 33 local authorities and the Greater London Authority.

STRONG INFLUENCE
As one of the world's major global cities,
London exerts a strong influence on it's arts, entertainment, fashion, commerce and finance, education, health care, media, science and technology, tourism, transport, and communications.

BIG BENIt is the largest of the tower's five bells and weighs 13.5 long tonsBig Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell o...
10/09/2023

BIG BEN
It is the largest of the tower's five bells and weighs 13.5 long tons

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England, and the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower.

COMPLETED IN 1859
The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style. When completed in 1859, its clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world.

The tower stands 316 feet tall, and the climb from ground level to the belfry is 334 steps. Its base is square, measuring 40 feet on each side. Dials of the clock are 22.5 feet in diameter.

All four nations of the UK are represented on the tower on shields featuring
■ A rose for England
■ Thistle for Scotland
■ Shamrock for Ireland
■ Leek for Wales

OFFICIAL NAME ELIZABETH TOWER 2012
The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

TOWER BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION STARTED 1886It is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, built bet...
08/09/2023

TOWER BRIDGE

CONSTRUCTION STARTED 1886
It is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry with the help of Henry Marc Brunel.

CLOSE TO TOWER OF LONDON
OWNED BY BRIDGE HOUSE ESTATES
It crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust founded in 1282.

BETTER ACCESS TO EAST END OF LONDON
The bridge was constructed to give better access to the East End of London, which had expanded its commercial potential in the 19th century.

1894 OPENED BY PRINCE & PRINCESS OF WALES
The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales in 1894.

FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY Queen Elizabeth II (21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022)Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-servin...
08/09/2023

FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY
Queen Elizabeth II
(21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022)

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, had died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years on 8 September 2022

The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.

Charles, the former Prince of Wales is King since last year

Queen Elizabeth II's tenure as head of state spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK's entry into - and withdrawal from - the European Union

15 PRIME MINISTERS
Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Liz Truss, born 101 years later in 1975, and appointed by the Queen only a few days before her death

The Camden marketsThey are a number of adjoining large retail markets, often collectively referred to as Camden Market o...
07/09/2023

The Camden markets

They are a number of adjoining large retail markets, often collectively referred to as Camden Market or Camden Lock, located in the historic former Pickfords stables, in Camden Town, London.

It is situated north of the Hampstead Road Lock of the Regent's Canal (popularly referred to as Camden Lock).

Famed for their cosmopolitan image, products sold on the stalls include crafts, clothing, bric-a-brac, and fast food.

It is the fourth-most popular visitor attraction in London, attracting approximately 250,000 people each week.

King’s CrossIt is a major rail hub, with national trains at King’s Cross station and Eurostar services from St. Pancras....
07/09/2023

King’s Cross

It is a major rail hub, with national trains at King’s Cross station and Eurostar services from St. Pancras.

Bisected by the Regent’s Canal, the former industrial area to the north is dotted with garden squares and art installations.

The Coal Drops Yard complex is home to upmarket boutiques, lifestyle brands, hip bars, and trendy eateries.

Offices house global tech giants, and apartments overlook the canal.

MIND THE GAP"Please mind the gap between the train and the platform"The phrase was first introduced in 1968 on the Londo...
07/09/2023

MIND THE GAP
"Please mind the gap between the train and the platform"

The phrase was first introduced in 1968 on the London Underground in the United Kingdom.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II BIRTH PLACEBruton Street is a street in London's Mayfair district.It runs from Berkeley Square in the...
05/09/2023

QUEEN ELIZABETH II BIRTH PLACE

Bruton Street is a street in London's Mayfair district.

It runs from Berkeley Square in the south-west to New Bond Street in the north-east, where it continues as Conduit Street.

On 21 April 1926, Queen Elizabeth II was born at No. 17, the London home of her maternal grandfather, the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.

The house was commonly thought to have been damaged in the Blitz and demolished in the aftermath, but archival documents at the British Library prove that the house had been demolished by property developers between 1937 and 1939, before the start of the war.

LONDON BUSESThe bus is London’s oldest form of public transportThe big red double decker bus is a powerful symbol of Lon...
03/09/2023

LONDON BUSES

The bus is London’s oldest form of public transport

The big red double decker bus is a powerful symbol of London

1829 PADDINGTON TO BANK
The coachbuilder George Shillibeer began his service from Paddington to Bank in 1829, but unlike the long-established stage coach services, passengers did not need to book in advance and could hail the vehicle at any point on the route.

Shillibeer called his service Omnibus (meaning ‘for all’ in Latin), though it was not affordable to most working people at the time. He gave us the abbreviation ‘bus’, now an internationally recognised term.

1832 HORSE BUSES
The idea caught on and by 1832 there were 400 horse buses operating in London. The vehicles came from the same workshops as stage coaches, private carriages and agricultural vehicles, fashioned from wood and painted by hand in a variety of colours.

The first ‘horseless’ buses had similarly crafted bodies, now attached to factory-built chassis with motors.

For decades London’s buses were designed and built especially for the city’s unique conditions.

1850s LGOC
The leading operator in the 1850s, the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) was soon the largest bus company in the world.

1900s
LGOC developed its own motor bus designs in the 1900s and spawned another successful business, the Associated Equipment Company (AEC), making buses, lorries and vans for London and other cities at home and abroad.

This in-house capability meant buses were increasingly standardised in design, manufacture and maintenance, each advance built on the last to deliver a huge and reliable bus fleet.

B TYPE OF 1910 TO ROUTEMASTER OF 1954
Relaxation of controls on the size of vehicles and rapid innovation produced successive standard types, from the B type of 1910 to the Routemaster (RM) of 1954.

1960s AND 1970s
In the late 1960s and 70s, as bus ridership fell, London Transport chose cheaper off-the-peg buses and driver-only operation on some routes to reduce costs.

1980s
The new buses were intended to replace the Routemaster, but they were not always successful. In the end the RMs outlived many of them, but one-person-operated (OPO) buses were the norm by the 1980s.

Buses have evolved from basic wooden open-topped vehicles to highly sophisticated and intricately designed pieces of computerised technology.

They have been pulled by horses, and powered by steam, electricity, petrol, diesel oil and pollution-free hydrogen fuel cells.

INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF LONDON
They have become an international symbol of London that has waged war, been serenaded by pop stars, targeted by disability and protestors, and appeared in London’s opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.

They have kept London moving through wars and pandemics, have been privately owned, nationalised and privatised again, but the big red double decker bus is as powerful a symbol of London as ever.

Birling Gap and the Seven SistersA popular coastal hub, where the South Downs meet the seaEast Dean, near Eastbourne, Ea...
03/09/2023

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

A popular coastal hub, where the South Downs meet the sea

East Dean, near Eastbourne, East Sussex,
BN20 0AB

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters are located south of the A259 midway between Eastbourne and Seaford.

Birling Gap is sign-posted from the A259 at East Dean, Crowlink car park, is accessed from A259 using the lane between Friston Pond and Friston Church.

Warrington It is an industrial town in the borough of the Warrington in Cheshire, England. The town sits on the banks of...
31/08/2023

Warrington

It is an industrial town in the borough of the Warrington in Cheshire, England.

The town sits on the banks of the River Mersey and until 1974, was part of Lancashire.

It is 19 miles (31 km) east of Liverpool, and 18 miles (29 km) west of Manchester.

Warrington was founded by the Romans at an important crossing place on the River Mersey.

A new settlement was established by the Saxon Wærings.

By the Middle Ages, Warrington had emerged as a market town at the lowest bridging point of the river. A local tradition of textile and tool production dates from this time.

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