Admiral Arthur Phillip
Phillip (1738-1814) was the man chosen to set up Britain’s first penal colony in Australia, when he was appointed the first Governor of New South Wales. He founded the city of Sydney and his farming background - and pragmatism - was essential to the colony’s survival in its first few years.
Long a symbol of London, the current St Paul’s Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 – after the Great Fire of 1666 – by architect Sir Christopher Wren. Here are a few of the interesting things you can see in this historic area of the City. You might also enjoy the history here: James Leigh Hunt, 1848
Tube: St Paul’s
Any comments - or a suggestion for a London secret? Please e-mail me.
The City of London 1 2
Rowland Hill
Unveiled in 1882, this bronze is of the man who pioneered the Penny Post, the world’s first prepaid postal system. Since Great Britain was the first country to print them, British stamps are still the only ones in the world to carry no country of origin. Even earlier, Britain was the first country to have a postmark.
City Information Centre
Information on guided walks, events at the Barbican or City churches, or tickets to West End shows and tour buses are among the services on offer at this impressive building in front of St Paul’s. It also has Tube, bus, boat and cycle maps or can sell you a guide book from its range.
The Panyer Boy
‘When ye have sought the citty round yet this is still the highest ground.’ This alley was once the centre of London’s bakeries - and said (wrongly) to be its highest point. This boy on his breadbasket has been hereabouts since 1688 and now sits just beside
St Paul's Tube Station.
Queen Anne
Anne was Queen when St Paul’s was built in 1710. The weather-beaten original of this 1712 sculpture by Francis Bird was replaced with this replica by Richard Belt in 1885. The figures on the base represent England, Ireland, France, Ireland and North America - all of which Queen Anne laid claim to.
Shepherd And Sheep
This bronze, entitled Paternoster, is by Dame Elisabeth Frink RA. noted for her works based on nature. Perhaps her most famous is the Eagle on the JFK memorial in Dallas. Inspired by Giacometti, you can see his influence in the clean stylised lines of her art.
Paternoster Square EC4
St Faiths Parish Pump 1819
The church of St Faith stood to the east of St Paul’s but was demolished when the first cathedral was enlarged between 1256 and 1312. After the Great Fire, it vanished completely although its parishioners still held certain rights - such as special pews and burials - within the cathedral.
Paternoster Square EC4
Ye Olde Watling
This rambling old pub is said to have been built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1666 for workers on his St Paul’s Cathedral and constructed with wood from old ships timbers. Although it looks ancient enough, it was restored in 1901 and again after the Blitz of World War II.
29 Watling Street EC4
Tel: +44 (0)20 7653 9971
Police Call Box
Long before the days of radios or mobile phones, London’s police on the beat - or members of the public in need - were linked to police stations by a chain of phones, either in blue boxes, like Dr Who’s famous Tardis, or in simpler structures such as this one. It is just outside Postman’s Park.
Postman's Park
Familiar from the film Closer, three churchyards combine to make this park, once popular with postmen for their lunchbreak, hence the name. Painter and sculptor George Frederick Watts started a gallery of ceramic Doulton plates in 1887 that mark fatal feats of bravery by ordinary men, women and children.
