London, England, January 2023

Saturday, 21st January 2023

Tony inside the Jack the Ripper Museum in Whitechapel, East London. The room is a re-creation of Whitechapel Police Station as it was at the time Jack the Ripper was active starting in 1888. The photo shows display cases and framed prints of Illustrated Police News.
Tony inside the Jack the Ripper Museum in Whitechapel, East London. The room is a re-creation of Whitechapel Police Station as it was at the time Jack the Ripper was active starting in 1888. The photo shows display cases and framed prints of Illustrated Police News.

The Jack the Ripper Museum is situated in a historic Victorian house in Whitechapel. It tells the story of the notorious Jack the Ripper murders. Jack the Ripper was an unidentified serial killer active in and around the impoverished Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The murders typically involved women working as prostitutes. The victims had their throats cut and their bodies were then mutilated, including in some cases the removal of internal organs, leading to speculation that the killer had some surgical knowledge. It is not known how many women Jack the Ripper murdered. 11 murders were linked by police at the time with five being regarded as highly likely to have been committed by the same person.

Tony inside a re-created Victorian bedroom inside the Jack the Ripper Museum. It is as it would have been around 1888 when the Jack the Ripper murders occurred. Tony is stood next to a fireplace.
Tony inside a re-created Victorian bedroom inside the Jack the Ripper Museum. It is as it would have been around 1888 when the Jack the Ripper murders occurred. Tony is stood next to a fireplace.
Tony inside another Victorian bedroom at the Jack the Ripper Museum. A bedroom dressing table with mirror on top can be seen next to Tony.
Tony inside another Victorian bedroom at the Jack the Ripper Museum. A bedroom dressing table with mirror on top can be seen next to Tony.
A display with information about Annie Chapman, who is believed to have been Jack the Ripper's second victim, at the Jack the Ripper Museum. The display includes a mortuary photograph. Annie Chapman was murdered aged 47 on 8th September 1888. Her throat was cut and her body mutilated including the removal of internal organs.
A display with information about Annie Chapman, who is believed to have been Jack the Ripper’s second victim, at the Jack the Ripper Museum. The display includes a mortuary photograph. Annie Chapman was murdered aged 47 on 8th September 1888. Her throat was cut and her body mutilated including the removal of internal organs.
Tony touching a wooden autopsy table, part of a re-created Victorian-era morgue, in the basement of the Jack the Ripper Museum.
Tony touching a wooden autopsy table, part of a re-created Victorian-era morgue, in the basement of the Jack the Ripper Museum.
Exterior of the Jack the Ripper Museum located in a tall narrow Victorian terraced house at 12 Cable Street in Whitechapel. The building has three main storeys plus attic and basement levels.
Exterior of the Jack the Ripper Museum located in a tall narrow Victorian terraced house at 12 Cable Street in Whitechapel. The building has three main storeys plus attic and basement levels.
Tony on a path by the River Thames in Wapping, East London. There is a good view along the river with both Tower Bridge and The Shard visible ahead. The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the seventh-tallest building in Europe standing at 309.6 metres (1,016 feet) in height. It has 72-stories and is pyramid shaped. The façade is covered with 11,000 glass panels.
Tony on a path by the River Thames in Wapping, East London. There is a good view along the river with both Tower Bridge and The Shard visible ahead. The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the seventh-tallest building in Europe standing at 309.6 metres (1,016 feet) in height. It has 72-stories and is pyramid shaped. The façade is covered with 11,000 glass panels.
Tony in front of the Peace Dove Sculpture located at Hermitage Wharf Riverside Memorial Garden in Wapping, East London. The sculpture and memorial garden are dedicated to the thousands of civilians killed during the London Blitz of 1940 and 1941. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 43,000 civilians were killed during the German aerial bombing campaign. The sculpture by artist Wendy Taylor is in the form of a large rectangular stone panel with the shape of a dove cut through it. The River Thames and The Shard can also be seen in the background.
Tony in front of the Peace Dove Sculpture located at Hermitage Wharf Riverside Memorial Garden in Wapping, East London. The sculpture and memorial garden are dedicated to the thousands of civilians killed during the London Blitz of 1940 and 1941. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 43,000 civilians were killed during the German aerial bombing campaign. The sculpture by artist Wendy Taylor is in the form of a large rectangular stone panel with the shape of a dove cut through it. The River Thames and The Shard can also be seen in the background.
View from the gallery inside the auditorium of Wilton's Music Hall in Shadwell, London. Wilton's Music Hall opened in 1859. It was badly damaged by fire in 1877 but was rebuilt to its original design. This Grade II* listed building is a rare surviving example of a 19th century musical hall that retains many of its original features. The photo shows the stage in front behind a high arch. The gallery seating is on three sides of the auditorium and is supported by the original cast iron pillars.
View from the gallery inside the auditorium of Wilton’s Music Hall in Shadwell, London. Wilton’s Music Hall opened in 1859. It was badly damaged by fire in 1877 but was rebuilt to its original design. This Grade II* listed building is a rare surviving example of a 19th century musical hall that retains many of its original features. The photo shows the stage in front behind a high arch. The gallery seating is on three sides of the auditorium and is supported by the original cast iron pillars.
Information boards inside Wilton's Music Hall giving details of acts who performed here in the 19th century: these include Sam Collins, Madame Senyah and Champagne Charlie.
Information boards inside Wilton’s Music Hall giving details of acts who performed here in the 19th century: these include Sam Collins, Madame Senyah and Champagne Charlie.
A large advertising poster depicting musical hall singer and entertainer Champagne Charlie. Champagne Charlie was a stage name of singer George Leybourne (1842–1884) and Champagne Charlie was originally the title of one of his many songs.
A large advertising poster depicting musical hall singer and entertainer Champagne Charlie. Champagne Charlie was a stage name of singer George Leybourne (1842–1884) and Champagne Charlie was originally the title of one of his many songs.
A memorial plaque inside Wilton's Music Hall which reads 'David Pennock chairman 1999-2015 and the team that restored Wilton's with thanks to all donors'. Wilton's was restored in the 1990s having fallen into disrepair. It closed as a music hall in the 1880s and was subsequently used as a Methodist church and later a rag storage warehouse. The building was scheduled for demolition as part of slum clearances during the 1960s but was saved following a campaign with support from persons such as Sir John Betjeman, Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.
A memorial plaque inside Wilton’s Music Hall which reads ‘David Pennock chairman 1999-2015 and the team that restored Wilton’s with thanks to all donors’. Wilton’s was restored in the 1990s having fallen into disrepair. It closed as a music hall in the 1880s and was subsequently used as a Methodist church and later a rag storage warehouse. The building was scheduled for demolition as part of slum clearances during the 1960s but was saved following a campaign with support from persons such as Sir John Betjeman, Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.
Outside the main doors into Wilton's Music Hall. A pair of weathered double wooden doors with floral decoration carved into the stone surrounds.
Outside the main doors into Wilton’s Music Hall. A pair of weathered double wooden doors with floral decoration carved into the stone surrounds.
Tony feeling a stone archway. This arch is a surviving remnant of London's 3rd-century Roman city wall. It is located at Cooper's Row close to Tower Hill and the Tower of London. The wall here appears to be well over one metre in thickness.
Tony feeling a stone archway. This arch is a surviving remnant of London’s 3rd-century Roman city wall. It is located at Cooper’s Row close to Tower Hill and the Tower of London. The wall here appears to be well over one metre in thickness.
Tony by another surviving section of London's city wall close to Tower Hill. This section is again Roman. The Roman wall was originally 2 miles (3.2 km) long and defined the boundaries of the city. The wall was renewed and extended during the medieval period to protect the city from attack and to control access to the city.
Tony by another surviving section of London’s city wall close to Tower Hill. This section is again Roman. The Roman wall was originally 2 miles (3.2 km) long and defined the boundaries of the city. The wall was renewed and extended during the medieval period to protect the city from attack and to control access to the city.
Tony stood by a bronze statue of Sir John Betjeman inside St Pancras railway station. The statue is the work of sculptor Martin Jennings and was unveiled in November 2007. Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984) was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1972 until his death. He was also a writer, broadcaster and passionate defender of Victorian architecture. He helped to save St Pancras railway station from demolition hence this statue inside the station. The statue is slightly larger than life-sized and depicts Betjeman in a suit, mackintosh and trilby hat. He holds his hat as he gazes up at the roof of the station.
Tony stood by a bronze statue of Sir John Betjeman inside St Pancras railway station. The statue is the work of sculptor Martin Jennings and was unveiled in November 2007. Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984) was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1972 until his death. He was also a writer, broadcaster and passionate defender of Victorian architecture. He helped to save St Pancras railway station from demolition hence this statue inside the station. The statue is slightly larger than life-sized and depicts Betjeman in a suit, mackintosh and trilby hat. He holds his hat as he gazes up at the roof of the station.

Sunday, 22nd January 2023

Tony stood beneath a Transport Trust red memorial plaque dedicated to the 'Mail Rail' Post Office railway. 'Mail Rail', also known as the Post Office Railway, was an underground driverless electric railway which was used to transport mail between London sorting offices between 1927 and 2003. The plaque is attached to the exterior of the Postal Museum at Phoenix Place, London, near to Mount Pleasant sorting office in Clerkenwell. Since mid-2017 tourist trains have run on a 0.62 mile (1 km) circular section of the 'Mail Rail' line from the Postal Museum. The journey time is around 15 minutes.
Tony stood beneath a Transport Trust red memorial plaque dedicated to the ‘Mail Rail’ Post Office railway. ‘Mail Rail’, also known as the Post Office Railway, was an underground driverless electric railway which was used to transport mail between London sorting offices between 1927 and 2003. The plaque is attached to the exterior of the Postal Museum at Phoenix Place, London, near to Mount Pleasant sorting office in Clerkenwell. Since mid-2017 tourist trains have run on a 0.62 mile (1 km) circular section of the ‘Mail Rail’ line from the Postal Museum. The journey time is around 15 minutes.
Tony stood by a poster of Evan Evans, the first Post Office Railway manager.
Tony stood by a poster of Evan Evans, the first Post Office Railway manager.
Tony in front of small red 'Mail Rail' wagons formerly used for transporting letters and parcels between London sorting offices. The Post Office Railway originally had eight stations and ran for 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from Paddington Sorting Office in the west to Eastern Head District Sorting Office at Whitechapel in the east. Millions of letters and parcels were transported each day.
Tony in front of small red ‘Mail Rail’ wagons formerly used for transporting letters and parcels between London sorting offices. The Post Office Railway originally had eight stations and ran for 6.5 miles (10.5 km) from Paddington Sorting Office in the west to Eastern Head District Sorting Office at Whitechapel in the east. Millions of letters and parcels were transported each day.
Tony by a poster of Lester Russell, a former Platform Worker, who unloaded mail from the underground 'Mail Rail' trains.
Tony by a poster of Lester Russell, a former Platform Worker, who unloaded mail from the underground ‘Mail Rail’ trains.
An early pillar box on display at the Postal Museum. This is a Penfold letter box, named after John Penfold, the architect who designed it. Penfold pillar boxes are hexagonal in shape and were installed from 1866 to 1879. This one is green in colour: green was once the standard colour for mail boxes, but this was replaced by red in 1874.
An early pillar box on display at the Postal Museum. This is a Penfold letter box, named after John Penfold, the architect who designed it. Penfold pillar boxes are hexagonal in shape and were installed from 1866 to 1879. This one is green in colour: green was once the standard colour for mail boxes, but this was replaced by red in 1874.
A red and yellow Royal Mail Post Bus at the Postal Museum. These minibuses once provided public transport as part of local mail delivery services. These services operated in rural areas where a normal bus service would be uneconomic or inefficient.
A red and yellow Royal Mail Post Bus at the Postal Museum. These minibuses once provided public transport as part of local mail delivery services. These services operated in rural areas where a normal bus service would be uneconomic or inefficient.
A display about how people used the postal service during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Various letters and other items sent through the post are shown.
A display about how people used the postal service during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Various letters and other items sent through the post are shown.
A K4 red telephone box displayed outdoors at the Postal Museum in London. These K4 telephone boxes, designed in 1927, include a letter box and stamp machine incorporated into their exterior. A Victorian red pedestal mail box can also be seen in the photo.
A K4 red telephone box displayed outdoors at the Postal Museum in London. These K4 telephone boxes, designed in 1927, include a letter box and stamp machine incorporated into their exterior. A Victorian red pedestal mail box can also be seen in the photo.
A bronze statue of Sir Nigel Gresley near the booking office at King's Cross railway station in London. The statue was designed by Hazel Reeves and was unveiled in 2016 on the 75th anniversary of Gresley's death. Sir Nigel Gresley (1876-1941) was a British railway engineer. He designed steam locomotives, including the LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard, which still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world. On 3 July 1938 it reached a speed of 126 mph (203 km/h).
A bronze statue of Sir Nigel Gresley near the booking office at King’s Cross railway station in London. The statue was designed by Hazel Reeves and was unveiled in 2016 on the 75th anniversary of Gresley’s death. Sir Nigel Gresley (1876-1941) was a British railway engineer. He designed steam locomotives, including the LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard, which still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world. On 3 July 1938 it reached a speed of 126 mph (203 km/h).