Virtual Walk to Nowhere: Central London Footways
Virtual Walk to Nowhere: Central London Footways
SPAB London
Free (donations welcome)
Event details
When: Thursday 27th August, 6.30pm
Join us, virtually, for a tour from St Pancras to Covent Garden.
Amenity groups have been successful in the last 50 years in protecting historic buildings, but less so in ensuring that buildings are set and can be enjoyed in a high quality public realm. In London this is beginning to change as progressive local authorities and TFL are reducing the domination of our streets by motor vehicles and creating new public spaces. London Living Streets has created a network of walking routes, called Central London Footways, based on characterful, historic streets and taking advantage of the changes. The routes are to be published in a beautiful map funded by TFL in mid September
Our walk will explore one of the routes on the Central London Footways network. Beginning in St Pancras Station (train shed by William Barlow, 1866-8, hotel by Sir George Gilbert Scott, completed 1873) we will go past several other major structures, including Lincoln's Inn (buildings dating from the medieval Old Hall to Philip Hardwick's Victorian Great Hall), the remains of the 18th century Foundling Hospital (most of which was, alas, demolished in the 1920s), the art deco Freemasons' Hall and and the modernist mixed-use Brunswick Centre of the 1960s. Many of the streets on the route have 18th century houses, there are 19th century shop fronts, 17th aristocratic homes and the John Soane Museum. Unsurprisingly, as this is a SPAB walk, we will make a brief detour to see the first office of William Morris and Co.
Most of the walk will be along streets where Camden Council has created new public spaces and hugely reduced motor vehicle traffic. making the route much more attractive for pedestrians. We will also point out streets, in particular, Great Queen Street where improvement is urgently needed.
Please pre-register so we can email you the link to the event: clicking the book now link will take you to eventbrite to register.
IT requirements: Please note that this is an online session and will be held via a webinar platform called CrowdCast. You will be sent instructions on how to join the session when you book. To participate, all you need is an internet connection, and a laptop, computer or phone with the ability to play video and audio.
We will be hosting monthly Virtual Walks to Nowhere including areas of Central London and further afield!
About the London Group
The SPAB London group was formed in 2015 and it brings together over 1,000 SPAB members living or working in the metropolitan area. London’s diversity of built heritage gives members the opportunity to share knowledge of historic buildings, conservation projects and craft skills. The SPAB London group offers visits to see conservation works on historic buildings, lectures, concerts and its monthly Walks to Nowhere, guided walking tours discovering London’s many distinctive neighbourhoods and ending at an historic pub. Recent walks traversed Bloomsbury, Smithfield and Borough.