#waterloo place

[thepastisalreadywritten]

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Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist, and film director.

He has never publicly confirmed his identity.

Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stencilling technique.

His works of political and social commentary have appeared on streets, walls, and bridges throughout the world.

His work grew out of the Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians.

—

[thesobsister]

(Kin Cheung/AP)

Banksy installs a statue in central London

Banksy confirms new statue installed in central London is his work

The statue in Waterloo Place, which appeared early Wednesday, depicts a man proudly hoisting a flag— but the flag is blinding him.

Confirmation via Banksy’s IG

View this post on Instagram

[and-not-waving-but-drowning]

The artist Banksy appears to be taking credit for a large statue that was erected in London under the cover of darkness. It displays a man in a suit marching with a flag that billows onto his face, covering it entirely.

The statue, interpreted by many observers as a comment on blind nationalism, depicts the man striding off the edge of the plinth on which he stands. It appeared in Waterloo Place, a street in the St. James’s section of London, where there are many statues of 19th-century British military and colonial figures.

[anatomic-girl]

Stumbling onto unexpected Good Omens filming spots

Imagine you're staying in Piccadilly, and you decide to walk down to St James Park (bc obviously!). You walk down a really cool street filled with beautiful buildings and statues, then you walk around the giant statue that the street dead-ends into...only to see the stairs that Aziraphale and Crowley are walking up in the first episode of Season 1! Yeah, okay, I had no idea that that spot was famous (didn't even know if it was real or set!), but the second I rounded the corner, I froze. Grabbed my friend's arm. "Wait! I know this place!"

And then, imagine realizing that just behind that statue is where the Bentley was illegally parked, and you stood RIGHT THERE, and the street it rockets up afterwards is the street you walked down, where you sat down to have lunch in a cute little Uzbek restaurant...

[scotianostra]

I pride myself in knowing my Scottish history, and especially Edinburgh, not boasting but among my friends on Facebook  I know more than average, Alistair Dawson and Mark McDonald are up there with me, and then there is the main man  in the first pic here, Colin Cargill. Colin took me for lunch on Monday, Haggis Neeps and Tatties at the Guildford Arms, it was delicious. We took a wee walk after to Old Calton Burial Ground on Waterloo Place, that's the one you see when crossing North Bridge, with the obelisk that is The Martyrs Monument, which remembers Scots who  strived for political reform in the 18th century. Anyway, Colin told me the history of the graveyard, after the part of Edinburgh we know as the New Town was built you still had to go through slum areas on the Canongate and High Street to get there, this was until they built a road, which ran/runs from Portobello, London Road. This  now splits at Montrose Terrace going up Regent Road to what is now Waterloo Place, they had a problem here as the graveyard barred their way to Princes Street. They solved this by building the road right through it in 1818. Don;t worry the graves on that part were dug up and moved down Regent Road to a "new" site,  now known as New Calton Burial Ground. Now until Monday it amazes me that I did not know that on the other side of Waterloo Place, next to Howies restaurant is a small part of Old Calton Burial Ground, I can't for the life of me know how I missed this, having more or less walked past the gates on Calton Hill, literary hundreds of times, the entrance is tucked between the rear of Howies and The Parliament House hotel. It's the wee road that comes out at Calton Road/Leith Street is, The Black Bull pub sits there. So it shows that coming up for 58 years old I am still learning things about the city I love. Colin is a guide on the Tour buses you see around Edinburgh, one of the few with a live guide, rather than a recording and headphones. He is also involved with Edinburgh World Heritage an independent charity that aims to ensure the city's World Heritage  status benefits everyone. Colin has also guided tours through Greyfriars Kirkyard, working closely with, now correct me if I wrong Colin, Dr Susan Buckham Graveyards Project Manager with the charity. Colin has invited me to jump on the tour bus with him sometime in the spring, I look forward to doing so and grabbing pics from a perspective I would not normally enjoy.

[embraphotos]

Waterloo Place, EH1

[londiniumlundene]

Wellington’s Steps

The Athenaeum Club and the Institute of Directors are a pair of rather exclusive clubs, situated opposite each other on fancy Waterloo Place. Outside each building sit a couple of blocks, each bearing a plaque stating “This horseblock was erected by the desire of the Duke of Wellington 1830”.

The first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley – commanding officer at the Battle of Waterloo and later Prime Minister – was a member of the Athenaeum Club during his political career, and would often arrive on horseback. Being more advanced in years and therefore less agile than when serving in the military, the Duke suggested that the horseblocks would allow all members of the clubs to mount and dismount with greater ease – and presumably also more grace.

Today of course, the blocks are rarely used by horse riders, though many a tourist guide can be spotted atop the steps telling tales of Wellington’s exploits.

[embraphotos]

Waterloo Place, EH1