Memorial day - 53

The City of London with a resident population of less than 10,000 is one of the smallest cities in the United Kingdom. The smallest being St David's in Wales with a population of less than 2000. The City is the financial heart of the UK and one of, if not the financial centre of the World. During the working week its narrow roads and allays come to life with the 350,000 bankers, financiers and investment workers, while during the weekend it is like a ghost
town.

The City is also known as the Square Mile, due to its physical dimensions.

To mark its boarder stand on its main thoroughfares the emblem of the City of London, supported by two dragons.




The bollard in the photograph at the top of the page, is one of two identical status that stand on the north and south side of the Victoria Embankment and mark the south western boundary of the City, adjacent to the River Thames. The dragons were formerly mounted above the entrance to the City of London Coal Exchange, which was demolished in 1963.

Just north and running parallel with the Victoria Embankment stands the Strand. The statue on the right stands outside the Royal Courts of Justice, opened by queen Victoria in 1882. When the ruling monarch visits the City, on formal Royal occasions, the Lord Mayor of London stands by the monument to great the monarch.

Not a good night for photography

Tuesday night after dark, I went out to take photographs for the Digital Camera Review's Canon Forum Mini Challenge - shots to be taken between dusk and dawn.

I started at the Royal National Theatre foyer. There is live music there every night to entertain the audiences before they go to see plays in the three theatres.



The Theatre is on the South Bank, next to Waterloo Bridge. When I got onto the bridge I realised I had made a big mistake. The wind was gusting so strong I couldn't use a tripod. I had to cling on to the railings to prevent myself and camera being blown into the river.

Looking east from the bridge, St Paul's Cathedral can be seen together with the office lights in the City of London.

Looking west, you can see the Queen Mary, which is permanently moored there - I think its a bar and restaurant, though on Tuesday it was closed. In the distance you can see the London Eye Wheel and on the right the Houses of Parliament.

Walking north, I was glad to get off the bridge and stand in the entrance to Somerset House.

Parts of Somerset House date from the eighteenth century. Though the east wing shown in the photograph dates from the 1830's.

The building has a long and interesting history with a varied usage.


By now I was feeling cold and windswept, so I decided to go home, passing on the way The Royal Courts of Justice.

I saw these railings, when taking a short cut through Milford Lane, which is in spiting distance of the Temple Church, made famous by Dan Brown in his book the Da Vinci Code.

Walking along the Victoria Embankment, I came across these workers, doing preparation work before resurfacing one of the road lanes.


I was glad to leave them to finish their work and hurry home to get warm.