London Adventuring

Finding secret and not-so-secret places in the Big Smoke.

[lundenwic-bitch]

Since we're now at the bit in Dracula where Renfield has made his way to Purfleet chapel (a real-life place), I thought I'd show you folks what it looks like today. Dracula's house, Carfax, is gone, but the chapel is still (barely) standing:

There is currently a proposal going through planning permission to tear the place down and build a housing estate there, but it seems to be stuck in development hell at the moment, partly due to the archaeogical interest of the site.

And a video I managed to get from inside the building:

[dduane]

Meanwhile, in London...

Via @oldenouughtosay over at the Ex Bird Place:

"The National Gallery in London is renovating its Sainsbury Wing and they’ve just found a secret letter from one of the original donors, sunk into a concrete column, saying that he hates the columns and is glad they’re being demolished. 10/10 unhinged rich man behaviour, no notes"

Here are the columns...

And here's the letter.

[lundenwic-bitch]

Since we're now at the bit in Dracula where Renfield has made his way to Purfleet chapel (a real-life place), I thought I'd show you folks what it looks like today. Dracula's house, Carfax, is gone, but the chapel is still (barely) standing:

There is currently a proposal going through planning permission to tear the place down and build a housing estate there, but it seems to be stuck in development hell at the moment, partly due to the archaeogical interest of the site.

And a video I managed to get from inside the building:

[lundenwic-bitch]

Spot this chandelier and beautiful ceiling moulding at Hall Place in Bexley. It's quite far out from the tourist hotspots, so a definite hidden gem, particularly if you're interested in the Tudor period, which is not well represented in London's buildings.

[lundenwic-bitch]

These 300-year-old memorial stones can be found in the Deadhouse, underneath Somerset House.

[lundenwic-bitch]

It might not look like much, but this was once the Grand Entrance for the very first tunnel under a river anywhere in the world.

These days the entrance is bricked up, but the tunnel is still used by the Overground. You can find the Brunels' handiwork for yourself at the Brunel Museum.

[lundenwic-bitch]

This incredibly detailed high-relief wood carving commemorating the life of Julius Caesar can be found at Carpenter's Hall.

[dilara19-blog]

St. Dunstan-in-the-East Church, London, England, UK

[lundenwic-bitch]

This is your daily reminder to look up! This beautiful half-dome can be found at Bush House on the Strand.

[lundenwic-bitch]

These beautiful interiors can be found at the wonderfully-ceilinged Lloyds Register Building.

[lundenwic-bitch]

This strange pyramid tomb can be found at St. Anne's Limehouse.

[lundenwic-bitch]

The secrets of this old nursery can be found at Rainham Hall, at the very edge of London.

[lundenwic-bitch]

This beautiful chandelier can be found at Trinity House, near the Tower of London.

[lundenwic-bitch]

If you can find your way to this non-descript terraced house in Clapham, you can enter into an intensely, furiously decorated dwelling covered throughout in homemade fretwork.

Due to the fragile nature of the décor, they only let in 2000 people a year. You have to walk around in your socks and there's no photography allowed, which is why I had to take a photo of a postcard.

575 Wandsworth Rd is available to view only by pre-booked tour via the National Trust.

[lundenwic-bitch]

There are so many evangelical places with weird names in East London. Here's "Peculiar People Ministries" in Dagenham.

[lundenwic-bitch]

This is so exciting. I love cherry trees, the more the better, and there is no downside to this.

[adore-london]

Photograph by jscorreia

[More London here →]

[lundenwic-bitch]

Ah, I was there yesterday! I'm not such a good photographer, though...