Author: Blake Foster

It’s no great mystery that the London landscape has changed drastically over the last 100 years, having been battered during the Blitz and later rebuilt following the end of the Second World War. But images from Panoramas of Lost London by heritage expert Phillip Davies OBE highlight just how dramatically the capital’s streets have evolved. A view from the south-west of London Bridge, around 1900. (Image: Historic England) The book features more than 300 black-and-white photographs documenting London’s past, capturing its people, buildings and neighbourhoods, to paint a vivid picture of how the city changed between 1870 and 1945. From 17th-century buildings…

The Star pub, with a history dating back over a century, was more recently the first pub in Plumstead to host a full Pride event. According to local historian, Philip Windeatt, the pub originated as a smaller establishment before evolving in the 1930s, with the addition of the saloon bar and an extension. There are rumours about the back bar being hand-built by a landlord. The Star (Image: The Star/Luke) The Star even has a “secret office” behind the bar, an observation post of sorts for keeping an eye on patrons and staff. The pub’s connection to Royal Arsenal FC,…

Nuviea Ramsay, 29, of Newacres Road in Thamesmead, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place.  The court heard that on September 21 he was caught with a knife on Creek Road, close to the Cutty Sark.  Ramsay appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Monday, December 1, for sentencing.  He was handed six month sentence which was suspended for one year.  As part of the sentence Ramsay will be monitored for alcohol abstinence for 120 days.  Source link

The boat rental company has launched a new ‘winter pod’ at Canary Wharf this year, offering a one-of-a-kind way to experience the capital. As someone who often fusses about the weather during winter, I was excited when I heard about this new cosy way to get around. The winter pod takes the traditional self-drive rental boats and covers it with a polycarbonate roof. The GoBoat winter pod (Image: Joseph Reaidi / NQ) It gives clear panoramic views of the skyline as you cruise around the wharf. Of course, I took the opportunity to be captain to steer around the Docklands.…

Environmental health officers visited sites across the borough during the month, issuing ratings based on cleanliness, food handling, and safety management. All three businesses received a rating of 2, meaning some improvement is necessary. The ratings form part of the Food Standards Agency’s national scheme, which ranks premises from 0, meaning urgent improvement is necessary, to 5, meaning very good. Although businesses in England do not need to display their score, all ratings are available to view online. The rating doesn’t assess food quality or customer service, and it focuses solely on hygiene and food safety management. Hygiene ratings in…

It features two reception rooms, one of which is a 17ft living room with bay windows to the front, as well as a 10ft sitting room. The kitchen/diner, extending over 18ft, has patio doors opening to a rear garden, which spreads across around 103ft. Front reception room with bay window and decorative fireplace (Image: Andrews – Romford) The property in The Avenue also has an integral garage and off-street parking for multiple vehicles. There is a ground floor bathroom, whilst above, there are five bedrooms and a shower room. Rear sitting room with gas fire and parquet flooring (Image: Andrews…

Sicilian Avenue is a beautiful pedestrianised arcade tucked away in Holborn which has just undergone a major restoration into a shopping and eating destination. Hackney roastery Flying Horse Coffee, which has cafes in Shoreditch, White City and Notting Hill, became the first to open there on Monday (December 1). It is now serving up premium roasted beans alongside breakfast and brunch items ranging from pastries, to toasties and bagels. They will be joined in spring by Matchado, which offers matcha teas and sweet baked treats such as gluten free matcha brownies, dorayaki pancakes, and cheesecakes. The café uses ceremonial-grade matcha…

Haringey Libraries has announced that residents, especially young people, will be able to use premium music production tools at Coombes Croft Library, Marcus Garvey Library, and St Ann’s Library. The project, known as ‘Logic in Libraries,’ gives people access to industry-standard equipment and software on high-specification iMacs. ‘Logic in Libraries’ project opens creative doors for Haringey residents (Image: Haringey Council) Councillors Zena Brabazon and Emily Arkell, along with the head of Haringey Music Service, Daniel Earley, and Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE, the director of culture and communities, attended the launch event at Marcus Garvey Library. They were treated to sample…

Sitting 98 metres high, Parliament Hill boasts legendary views over London’s skyline, and may once have been a Bronze Age burial site. But its name is thought to date back to the bitterly fought English Civil War between the Parliamentarians led by Cromwell, and the Monarchists backing King Charles I. It was perhaps a camp or lookout point for troops loyal to Parliament, but legend also has it that Traitor’s Hill comes from Gunpowder plotters Guy Fawkes and Robert Catesby, who planned to watch the destruction of Parliament from the vantage point on November 5, 1605. The name Traitor’s Hill…

West Ham United donated 70 themed hampers to frontline workers at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel as part of the Secret Hampers ‘Thank You NHS’ campaign, which aims to deliver hampers to 70 hospitals across the country. The hampers were personally funded by club chairman David Sullivan. Club chairman David Sullivan funds hamper delivery to thank frontline workers (Image: Arfa / Griffiths Photographers) Kenny Brown, West Ham United’s academy director, said: “Supporting our community is so important to us as a club so it’s a real privilege to be here, on behalf of the chairman and everyone at West…