For my ‘culture’ day out last week, I had the honour of being accompanied by Peter – a dear old mate of mine, who I worked with at Barclays in Wardour Street, Soho W1 back in the mid 1970’s (I worked there from the age of 17 to 21 during the years 1974 to 78).
Peter, who hails from Bishopbriggs, Glasgow – was part of a scheme that Barclays used to operate back in the day, when they recruited people from all four corners of the British Isles, to help staff branches, mainly in the City and West End of London – and so, in his honour, and to make him feel at home – the topic of this particular ‘culture’ gig was “Scottish London”!!!
Summarised below are some of the Scottish related London landmarks that we covered-off on this trek:-
- Baker Street tube station – where there are murals depicting Sherlock Holmes – novels that were written by Edinburgh born Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle.
- The London Scottish Regiment – base in Horseferry Road
- The Robert Burns Statue – Victoria Embankment Gardens
- Royal Mile Whiskies – Bloomsbury
- St.Columba’s Church – Pont Street
- The William Wallace Memorial – Smithfield
- Great Scotland Yard
- Eduardo Palozzi’s mosaics – Tottenham Court Road tube station
- The Edinboro Castle Pub – Mornington Terrace
- The Dundee Courier Building – Fleet Street
- Drummonds Bank – Charing Cross
- Crown Court Church of Scotland – Russell Street
- The Caledonian Club – Halkin Street
- Caledonian Road – Holloway
- JM Barrie’s “blue plaque” – at the authors former London home at 100 Bayswater Road (JM Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland – and was the author of the legendary Peter Pan novels)
- The Peter Pan Statue – Kensington Park Gardens (which was commissioned by JM Barrie)
- Baker Street – the subject matter of the iconic record by signer songwriter Gerry Rafferty, who was born in Paisley, Scotland.
I have provided a little bit of background of the landmarks to each of the photos posted.
The famous literary character Sherlock Holmes was created by Edinburgh-born author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – and of course, Holmes resided in Baker Street – and this is referenced throughout the tube station
St Columba’s Church, Pont Street SW1 – One of London’s only two Scottish churches, that was named after the Irish saint who helped bring Christianity to Scotland. The original church opened in 1884 but was destroyed during the Blitz. The present building was reconstructed in 1955 and is now a popular venue for Highland dance meet-ups
Me outside St Columba’s Church
The ‘Royal Mile Whiskies’, Bloomsbury Street WC1 – which stocks literally hundreds of Scottish malts and whiskies
The Royal Mile Whiskies shop front
Me outside the Royal Mile Whiskies shop in Bloomsbury
Outside the Crown Court Church of Scotland
Crown Court Church of Scotland, Russell Street, WC2 – located in Covent Garden, this little church is believed to have been founded during the reign of James I. The current building dates back to 1711.
The plaque on the wall of Drummonds Bank – Charing Cross
Drummonds Bank, Charing Cross, SW1 – Is located opposite Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square. Drummonds Bank was founded in 1717 by Edinburgh-born Andrew Drummond. This seems mental nowadays, but back in the 1960s the area beneath the Drummonds Bank plaque contained a window offering drive-through banking.
A bit of a Dali’esque photo of a plaque at the entrance to Drummonds Bank – Charing Cross (note old Horatio looking down on me!!)
Caledonian Club, Halkin Street, SW1 – was established in 1891 to provide a base for Scots in London. Membership is pretty exclusive, and apparently they apparently have one of the finest collections of malts in the UK.
Another shot of the Caledonian Club, Halkin Street, SW1
Signage at the Caledonian Club, Halkin Street, SW1 – I know my place!!!
The London Scottish Regiment are based in Horseferry Road SW1– they are nicknamed the ‘Cockney Jocks’ and boast one of the oldest pipe bands in the world. The London Scottish Regiment dates back to the 1850s.
Great Scotland Yard SW1 – Was the home to the Met’s HQ in the nineteenth century, I would guess that Great Scotland Yard is probably the most globally known address in the history of policing. Its name is believed to derive from the fact that buildings once located here were used by Scottish diplomats when in London on business.
Eduardo Palozzi’s mosaic type art at Tottenham Court Road tube station WC 1 – Palozzi was born in Leith to Italian parents, and was an artist noted for his modern, mechanical-like style.
Dundee Courier Building, Fleet Street EC4 – The Dundee Courier is the last building on Fleet Street to maintain a link with the printed press that once dominated the area. It’s now owned by DC Thomson – the Scottish company who gave us The Beano and The Dandy comics.
The DC Thomson office adjoined to the Dundee Courier building in Fleet Street
William Wallace (e.g. ‘Braveheart’) Memorial, Smithfield EC1 – It was at Smithfield Market in August 1305 that legendary Scotsman Sir William Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered after being accused of treason. Once dead, his severed head was dipped in tar and stuck on London Bridge for all to see.
The Edinboro Castle, Mornington Terrace, NW1 – when the railway into Euston was being constructed, the labourers working on the project were well known for their hard drinking and brawling. In attempt to keep trouble to a minimum, bosses gave the workers segregated boozers – the Dublin Castle for the Irish, the Pembroke Castle for the Welsh and the Oxford Castle for the English. The Edinboro Castle was built for the Scottish labourers.
Baker Street – The legendary song/record of the same name, was written and performed by Gerry Rafferty who hailed from Paisley. Interestingly, the iconic and instantly recognised saxophone intro to the song, was performed by the session musician Roger Ravenscroft, who made the decision to forego the usual session fee paid to musician, in favour of a very small percentage of any royalties that the record ‘may’ generate, when released!!!! From a financial perspective – probably one of the best decisions ever made.
JM Barrie’s “blue plaque” – at the authors former London home at 100 Bayswater Road. JM Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland – and was the author of the legendary Peter Pan novels
The Peter Pan Statue – Kensington Park Gardens (which was commissioned by the author JM Barrie)
Blue plaque – at Scotland Yard
The Robbie Burns statue – on the Embankment