A walk around Bloomsbury and Holborn
Part two of my Saturday stroll
(Photos © urban75, Saturday 14th June 2008)


Georgian terrace on Southampton Row.


Swedenborg House, a Grade II listed building at 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1.

The building is home to the the Swedenborg Society. They didn't like our original caption and mailed us to tell us so. Here's how they like to describe themselves:

Your description of the society is misleading! We are NOT part of the Swedenborgian church or preach any 'Swedenborgianism', as such; we are in fact an academic/historical/cultural society, interested in the influence and general philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg - our books and lectures cover everything from science, to religion, to literature and psychology. We profess no absolute faith in Swedenborg's writings, only an intention to bring his work into the canon of the history of ideas.

That told us, alright!


Feeding the flying rats in Bloomsbury Square Gardens.


The park has been considerably redeveloped and improved - compare with this 360º panorama from 2001.




Work on the entrance to the disused tram underpass which originally ran from this Holborn entrance, down into an underground station and then along the length of Kingsway, running through another station at Aldwych before emerging to the surface immediately under Waterloo Bridge.


You can clearly see the tramway rails, set in the cobbled road.


Elaborate lamp stand above the tunnel portal.
Kingsway tram underpass - history and photos


Statue of Christian writer and preacher John Bunyan (1628-1688) complete with short inscription from his most famous work, The Pilgrim's Progress:
"As I walkd through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, Where was a Denn;
& I laid down in the place to sleep:
And as I slept I dreamed a dream"




Spiky thing on High Holborn.


Attractive sign for The Enterprise pub, 38 Red Lion Street, Holborn WC1R 4PN.


There's a good old fashioned boozer inside, with a proper bar, lots of carved wood and some comfy seats.


Traditional Georgian doors off Lamb's Conduit Street.


Glass detail, Lamb's Conduit Street.




Very relaxed, The Perseverance pub, Lamb's Conduit Street.


A general view of Lamb's Conduit Street.

This old text from 26th March, 1577 explains how the street got its unusual name:
"One William Lamb, citizen and clothworker, born at Sutton Valence, Kent, did found near unto Oldbourne a faire conduit and standard; from this conduit, water clear as crystal was conveyed in pipes to a conduit on Snow Hill". The conduit was taken down in 1746.


High Stakes - a bookstore entirely dedicated to gambling pursuits.


Tasty healthshop fare on Lamb's Conduit Street.


View from a bus. Oversized living room furniture outside the National Theatre on the South Bank.


The famous Old Vic Theatre on The Cut, Waterloo.

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