London Curiosities: The Capital's Odd & Obscure, Weird and Wonderful Places - Softcover

Wade, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1473879116 ISBN 13: 9781473879119

Publisher: Pen and Sword History, 2017

Synopsis

London is full of curiosities. Who knew that beneath the Albert Memorial lies an undercroft resembling a church crypt? Or that there are catacombs under Camden? Who would expect to find a lighthouse in East London, sphinxes in South London, dummy houses in West London, or a huge bust of film director Alfred Hitchcock in North London?

How many of those who walk past Cleopatra's Needle pause to consider why a 3,000-year-old Egyptian monument stands beside the Thames? How many know that what was once London's smallest police station can be seen in Trafalgar Square? Or that pineapples are used in the architectural design of so many buildings? Or why there are memorials to the 'Mayflower' and Pilgrim Fathers in Rotherhithe?

These are just a few of the facets explored, described and illustrated here for anyone in search of the oddly obscure, wonderfully weird and surprisingly strange in this capital of curiosities.

About this title

About the Author:

John Wade is a freelance writer and photographer, with more than forty years’ experience in both fields. He has written, illustrated, edited and contributed to more than thirty books, plus numerous magazine articles, for book and magazine publishers in the UK, US and Australia. His specialties are photographic history and techniques, as well as social history.

Review:

"This amazing book will be of interest mainly to people who live in London or who intend visiting for pleasure. Some real gems inside, genuine surprises, too!" (Books Monthly)

About this edition

• Publisher: Pen and Sword History
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1473879116
• ISBN 13: 9781473879119
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224