eastern illinois @ london town

On Tuesday, Eastern Illinois University student, Erin Crawley, flew into a snow-bound Heathrow airport to fine-tune her research for her MA thesis in History. On Wednesday, I travelled down from Harlaxton College, where I am teaching this semester, in order to introduce Ms. Crawley to the Institute of Historical Research, the Center for Metropolitan History, and the British Library. As Ms. Crawley's research project is on the London Irish ca. 1800, we also made a quick circuit of Irish environs in the late Hanoverian metropolis: from Seven Dials near Covent Garden, to Fleet Street/Holborn/Clerkenwell (latter just in passing), to Wapping in the East End. Walking from Covent Garden to Fleet Street took us through Lincoln's Inn Field.


Here is the Great Hall of Lincoln's Inn itself, looking quite old, but mid-19th century. (We did walk through the 16th century Gate House, however).

And, for Postman Pat afficianados, Erin pointed to the Royal Mail van in Lincoln's Inn.


In a niche off of Fleet Street ISt. Dunstan's), is this Elizabeth (is there another statue of the Queen?), which was removed from Ludgate, when that was demolished in 1760. Forgotten in a basement for almost a century it stands regally, if a bit out-of-the-way, today.
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Wapping is, of course, the beginning of the East End docklands. Much of it is relatively tranquil as is this Bluecoat School, founded in 1690, but refounded in 1760, from which date, I assume these statues on its entrance date.

On our way back West, a quick stop to view the Tower of London from afar (and snap a pic of myself).

Finally, back to the British Library, where Erin offered a shoutout to the EIU History Department and Graduate School, before re-entering the books and manuscripts ca. 1800.