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Tuesday 5 January 2016

Charing Cross


The scenes depicted on the walls of Charing Cross Station got me thinking about what the current centre of London may have been like in times gone by.

 Charing comes from the old English word "cierring" meaning to turn, which referred to a bend in the River Thames.  The Cross was added to the Hamlet's name after the memorial cross to Eleanor  was erected in 1291-94.  

An inn stood in the area now known as Trafalgar Square, a chapel and hospital occupied the land from Northumberland Avenue to the river.  Much of the land in the area was seized by the King a few years later during the crusades.  In later centuries houses of nobility were built in the area, no doubt due to the proximity to the Palace of Westminster.  

7 comments:

Mandy said...

Love this photo Mo. I really like the platform walls at Charing Cross. Fascinating post too. I'd definitely travel to medieval London if I had a time machine.

Billy Blue Eyes said...

It would be interesting if one could see what it was like back then, no doubt very grimm

Sharon said...

An interesting bit of history today. I did not know where the name came from. I remember this mural at the station. I like the way you've photographed it.

William Kendall said...

So that's the root of the name. I've heard of this area, but didn't know where the term came from.

Angie said...

Great ART!!! The original Cross was destroyed by the Puritans in 1647 the present copy was put up in 1863. Those were the days - rampant sickness,, chopping peoples heads off, nasty smells and all that!

Victoria said...

I wento to London last october and spent 20 days there. Mi first time ever. And the day I visited that station I was very surprised to see that mural, I took pics of the Guy Fawkes part. I had no idea about the origin of the Charing Cross thing, thank you for explaining it!
I have to tell you, i really enjoy your blogposts, bring so many memories of my time there. I miss London terribly.

have a great year and keep strolling around London for us!
Victoria
(argentina)

Jack said...

And I always thought Charing Cross had something to do with a used bookstore.

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