Helter-skelter

By Juli

Good riddance...or the end of an era?

As their topics this term are the Great Fire of London and the Romans, today we took the kids to see where the fire started in Pudding Lane, then on to the Museum of London. Had a great day and, of course, I took loads of photos.

I took this one on our way home because of the contrast between the old and new. I like buildings and often think that if I'd had any creative flair, drawing ability or an eye for design I would have made a great architect, ha, ha!

Trying to settle a difference of opinion between my husband and I as to whether the ruins were part of the old Roman wall or an ancient church, I discovered that actually the tall, glass building behind it was far more interesting, being described on one website as "the last remaining International style tower block on London Wall from the 1955 masterplan to have its original cladding [curtain wall] still intact.". OK, so it's not that interesting, but apparently this building (called St Alphage House after the church, as the ruins turned out to be) is earmarked for demolition and a huge new development is planned for the whole area. Inside, it's already supposedly stripped bare.

Who would have thought that this ugly, glass and steel eyesore (let's be honest about it!) represented a piece of architectural history about to disappear?

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