Saturday 19th April a day of discovery in London

We settled into our B&B with Duncan and Barbara and after a few hitches, blocked shower drain, no hot water, we enjoyed a great breakfast including fresh smoked salmon from Norway that her friend brought over.

We headed for the city and got off the bus at Trafalgar Square.   The first thing that came to mind was, where were the pigeons?   Last time Joshua was 19 months old and he ran through all the birds.  There were none today, but a huge blue rooster instead.

There has been some competitions held as to what to put on the spare plinth in the square, and they came up with a Blue Rooster.

Just to be different!

 Apparently the Lord Mayor got rid of all the vendors selling food in the square and employs some falcons to rid the pigeons, and it works.

Across the square we walked to get a photo of St Martin's in the Field Church where great grandfather Rev James Sedgwick was curate and lived there in 1891, according to the census.  I opened the door and we didn't expect that it would be so interesting.

There were people polishing the brass, ladies making flowers, and inside a cafe.
I spoke to an old lady who told me that it was the Queen's church, and one day she was there when The Queen Mother was attending.  We spoke with a church elder who was fascinated that Rev James Sedgwick had both been at the church and also involved with the Chinese congregation so long ago, as the church has for 50 years had a Chinese arm, which meets in a different section.  They also use the church for classical concerts.

We really were walking in our ancestor's footsteps.

 This was the original whipping post when the area was a market.

 The original Pearly King, enjoying cup of tea in the crypt. This surprised us as we were walking over gravestones, and many more were displayed on the walls, some from 1600.

Outside was the residence, now three flats Rev James Sedgwick lived here with young Harold.

A bus ride on a 60 year old London Bus followed, the conductor reminded us of Reg in On The Buses

We arrived at Tower of London.  The first building was built by my 25th g. grandfather William the Conqueror.  To say that the complex is large is an understatement, not only large but wall to wall tourists.  Not a word of English to be heard.  The lines were long but with our pass we could avoid lining up.

I don't think I have ever walked or climbed steps as I did today, I am glad I was not living in the past centuries.  We went into the White Tower, which is the Armories exhibition, one way in up stairs, to the top before you can come done the other side.  Not to littlies or those who cannot walk, all the stairs were spiral, which tested me.

There have been ravens guarding the Tower for centuries these ones are about 18 months old, the ravens are bred, and are free, but remain inside.

Some of the armour

A neck brace of torment

I visited my 25th G grandfather's toilet! From 1077

And his chapel

Chopping block for executions

Was this my great grandfather?

We tagged along with the Yoeman's tour so that we could get to visit the Chapel where the graves of King Henry's wives were, and where my g.grand uncle Sir Richard Creagh was buried.  He had been held a prisoner for about 30 years and the Queen poisoned him.  Didn't like his religious beliefs.

They certainly were cruel to prisoners as these photos show, 

We visited the chapel, but could not take photos.  Then we lined up for the Crown Jewels.  Firstly past the guard who we thought was a dummy, as he hadn't moved all day, then they had a small changing of the guard.

There were such long lines into the Crown Jewels

We felt that the display was quite disappointing, while the crowns and other items were beautiful, there were so few.  The whole thing features films on Queen Elizabeth's coronation, and for the most part those visiting would have never seen that before.  Her gown was incredible and the diamonds, rubies in the crowns were breathtaking.  We thought that we would be seeing all the Queen's jewels, but not so.  Just glad we didn't line up with an active toddler when we came last time.

Last stop to the Royal Fusilier's Museum, those fought in the Crimean War, where one of my grandfather's also saw action.  

The oldest church in London next to the entry

We left about 3.45 and the lines to the Crown Jewels were even longer than the one hour we waited.  The entry gates were still full of long lines of people who were paying to enter, when the place closed we were told about 6.00.

The bus system is great and so is our pass, when you work out where you need to go, and what route to use, something we didn't do fully.  Our trip took us up Fleet Street, and we were able to get off at the Starbucks cafe, 131 Fleet Street, the place where grandfather Thomas Mudge had his watch and clock shop.  Got a bit confused, as I had thought that the St Dunstan's Church was next door, but we couldn't find the cemetery.

Very disappointed in the shop front, the old lace has been covered up with framing. You would never know that the shop was a couple of 100 years old.

Back to Trafalgar Square, and into a phone shop, got a sim card for my old mobile for John, and a data pack (without calls) for my tablet.  

We found a restaurant called Garfunkels.  Great food, good prices.  Chicken leek and bacon pie with the most delicious butter pastry.

By the time we were back to our house, I was completely worn out, my feet swelled, and I was fatigued.

A glass of wine and a cup of tea with our hosts and I think I slept very well.