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I know the photo accompanying this tip doesn't look very exciting, especially taken on a dismal September day in London, but what you are looking at is, in fact, the first "flyover" in London, of which there are now literally hundreds. Designed by William Heywood, it was opened in 1869 by Queen Victoria. Personally, even leaving aside the hideous concrete slabe now lining it, I find it an awful looking structure but it does, I suppose, fulfil it's original purpose of easing traffic flow between the West End and the City.
If you want the tech spec, it is 1400 feet long and 80 feet wide. You may be wondering why, in a relatively flat city like london, such a thing is needed. Well, Farringdon Street, which runs underneath, is effectively the course of the covered over Fleet River, form where the name Fleet Street derives. I presume it must have cut a course for itself before mbeing "tamed".
If you care to look closely, unlike the tens of thousands of office slaves who trudge or bus across it daily, you will find statues dedicated to Commerce, Science, Fine Arts and Agriculture, although how much agriculture was going on hereabouts in the mid 19th century is debatable.
I would suggest it is hardly worth a special trip to see but if you are passing htis way, you may wish to stop and take a look.
Written Oct 3, 2011
Address: Holborn Viaduct
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Imagine, if you can, a couple of beautifully preserved 18th century London townhouses, overlooking a pleasant square. Now imagine these beautiful buildings filled with every concievable sort of painting and artefact that would have been available to the ardent collector of those days. If you have successfully done this, you have just imagined the Sir John Soane Museum in Lincolns Inn Fields.
Sir John, of humble birth, rose to be a wealthy and influential man, designing, amongst other things, the Bank of England and the Masonic Central Hall. On his death in 1837 he left a sum of ?30000 ( a fortune in those days) to retain his house as it was upon his death, and to display his collections. This has happened and, although the museum is free, donations are gratefully received, the money having long run out.
Given that there are only 2047 characters provided for each tip, I couldn't begin to list all the exhibits which crowd every room , but the sarcophogus of King Sethi I of Egypt, original paintings by Turner, Rafaelle and Canelotti along with an untold amount of items "plundered" from classical Greek and Roman sites must rank high amongst the attractions. A particular favourite of mine is the first known portrait of Napoleon, commissioned by Josephine.
Incidentally, students of Freemasonry will find much to appeal to them, Sir John being a prominent member.
Having said that I couldn't possibly list all the wonders contained here, I can only exhort you to go and see for yourself - you will not be disappointed.
Updated Nov 24, 2005
Address: 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3BP
Phone: 0207 831 3957
Website: http://www.soane.org/
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Imagine, if you can, a couple of beautifully preserved 18th century London townhouses, overlooking a pleasant square. Now imagine these beautiful buildings...
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Holborn today is a busy thoroughfare running East to West from the City towards Oxford Street and the West End and now gives it's name to the areas surrounding it. We first hear of it as...
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VT goes Dutch in Holborn, London
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