Away in April 2011 – Day 14 London walks, Red House & Warhorse

Bexleyheath, Monument Underground Station, Covent Garden Underground Station

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Tube to Monument this morning for the “famous square mile walk”, one of the London Walks

http://www.walks.com/

For £8.00 per person we glimpsed the city of London with a knowledgeable guide. Starting at the Monument commemorating the Great Fire of London, then lots of churches including some designed by Christopher Wren, all with beautiful proportions. We also saw the bombed out church, St Dunstan-in-the-East, now an award winning garden set within the church walls.

We traced the history of the Guilds in London – they are still very influential today. Known collectively as “the livery” (including mercers, grocers, ironmongers, harberdashers and vintners), they own property throughout the city which they rent out to other companies. These properties are all marked with the guild sign or logo. We continued spotting the mercer guild logo long after the tour! The tour culminated at the Guildhall and Guildhall art gallery under which they have uncovered the remains of a Roman amphitheatre.

Finally got to see the Red House at Bexleyheath in the afternoon.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-redhouse/

Kathryn and I came 5 years ago but, after an long drive and much searching, found it was closed for the winter! Not as spectacular as Sissinghurst but certainly well worth the trip as house and garden very picturesque with lovely architecture and interiors the work of William Morris. Shop was disappointing but friendly staff in tea shop in old stables.

Back into the city for a drink at Cafe Rouge, a Parisienne style cafe. Nice atmosphere – not sure how authentic. I had kir with framboise (white wine with strawberry syrup recommended by our French teacher) whilst Anthony had a Breton French cider with a nice roulette (chunky style pate).

Then onto evening performance of Warhorse at the New London Theatre at Drury Lane

http://warhorselondon.nationaltheatre.org.uk/

Moving story of an English boy and his horse who went to war. Set during WW1, with minimal scenery, the production combined actors and puppeteers who controlled life sized horses, a goose and several birds.

	The monument to great fire of London [Map]		London walks – our group [Map]
	When is a church not a church? When it’s a garden [Map]		Award winning architecture [Map]
	The mercer guild logo [Map]		The Guild Hall [Map]
	More mercer guild logos [Map]		Chair at Red House Bexleyheath [Map]
	Painted window at Red House Bexleyheath [Map]		The Red House Bexleyheath [Map]
	Ceiling at Red House Bexleyheath [Map]		Warhorse at New London Theatre [Map]