Fire in the City Guided Walk

Posted on: November 14th, 2023 by wrenEditor

To complement London Fire Brigade’s pop-up exhibition, Fire in the City: Artists in the Blitz Peter Zymanczyk will lead a walk around the City. Starting at the Firefighters’ Memorial this walk will focus on the impact of the Blitz, and the firefighters who fought to save the City, taking in some of Wren’s City churches which were damaged or destroyed in the Blitz.

Peter Zymanczyk served in London Fire Brigade for 31 years, retiring in 2010.  His love of London history encouraged him to train as a City of London Tour Guide.  While interested in all aspects of the City’s history he has a special interest in both fire and architecture.  This walk will bring out the links between the City’s Wren churches and fire, from medieval times to the Blitz.

Fire in the City: Artists in the Blitz is a pop-up display across a series of City Churches. A group of volunteer firefighters in London were also artists who became known as the ‘Firemen Artists’ and had exhibitions in London throughout the Second World War.

Fire in the City Guided Walk

Posted on: November 14th, 2023 by wrenEditor

To complement the London Fire Brigade’s pop-up display ‘Fire in the City’ City Guide Tony Tucker will guide a walk which will visit the Firefighters’ Memorial near St Pauls, and a range of Wren’s best City churches. This walk will take in some of the City’s 2000-year history, but will focus on the impact of the Blitz, and the firefighters who fought to save the City from the threat of fire. Some of these firefighters were also artists who documented the horrors of the Blitz and the experience of the firefighters who fought to save London.

Tony Tucker is a Qualified City of London Guide and Trustee of the Friends of the City Churches. He is the author of ‘The Visitor’s Guide to the City of London Churches’ and ‘Sword Rests of the City’ and is an accredited Arts Society lecturer

Fire in the City: Artists in the Blitz is a pop-up display across a series of City Churches. A group of volunteer firefighters in London were also artists who became known as the ‘Firemen Artists’ and had exhibitions in London throughout the Second World War.

Meet at the west steps, at the Ludgate Hill end of St Paul’s Cathedral EC4M 8AD.

Wren in the City walking tour

Posted on: August 25th, 2023 by wrenEditor

Join Open City for a walking tour marking 300 years since the death of the architect, scientist and polymath Christopher Wren — a man with an extraordinary and unique architectural legacy in the urban landscape of London.

To celebrate the achievements of Christopher Wren this fun and engaging walking tour led by — led by researcher Jessie French — is a fascinating and insightful wander from one corner of the Square Mile to the other, charting Wren’s role in the City’s transformation from smoldering ruin after the 1666 Great Fire to glittering, modern metropolis. We will wind our way through the City’s streets and alleyways, finishing at Wren’s masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral.

Passing by some of the City’s most recognisable landmarks, we will track Wren’s ideas, his inspiration and the constraints he had to deal with along the way. The tour will include amongst much else views of the impressive dome of St Stephen Walbrook, the unique Gothic spire of St Margaret Pattens and a close look at the hidden meanings behind the carvings on The Monument.

Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city, this tour will cover Wren’s unrealised plans for the city, other non-religious works such as the Temple Bar Gateway: the only surviving gateway into the City of London, and the long-lasting impact Wren has had on architecture right up to the modern day.

This Architecture of Wren in the City walking tour date is led by one of our expert guides Jessie French. Each of our tour guides will bring a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the topic. Occasional interior views are not guaranteed.

Wren in the City walking tour

Posted on: July 4th, 2023 by wrenEditor

Join Open City for a walking tour marking 300 years since the death of the architect, scientist and polymath Christopher Wren — a man with an extraordinary and unique architectural legacy in the urban landscape of London.

To celebrate the achievements of Christopher Wren this fun and engaging walking tour led by — led by researcher Jessie French — is a fascinating and insightful wander from one corner of the Square Mile to the other, charting Wren’s role in the City’s transformation from smoldering ruin after the 1666 Great Fire to glittering, modern metropolis. We will wind our way through the City’s streets and alleyways, finishing at Wren’s masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral.

Passing by some of the City’s most recognisable landmarks, we will track Wren’s ideas, his inspiration and the constraints he had to deal with along the way. The tour will include amongst much else views of the impressive dome of St Stephen Walbrook, the unique Gothic spire of St Margaret Pattens and a close look at the hidden meanings behind the carvings on The Monument.

Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city, this tour will cover Wren’s unrealised plans for the city, other non-religious works such as the Temple Bar Gateway: the only surviving gateway into the City of London, and the long-lasting impact Wren has had on architecture right up to the modern day.

This Architecture of Wren in the City walking tour date is led by one of our expert guides Jessie French. Each of our tour guides will bring a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the topic. Occasional interior views are not guaranteed.

Wren in the City walking tour

Posted on: July 4th, 2023 by wrenEditor

To celebrate the achievements of Christopher Wren this fun and engaging walking tour led by  — led by former Royal National Theatre head of tours and Golden Key Academy graduate Alison Rae — is a fascinating and insightful wander from one corner of the Square Mile to the other, charting Wren’s role in the City’s transformation from smoldering ruin after the 1666 Great Fire to glittering, modern metropolis. We will wind our way through the City’s streets and alleyways, finishing at Wren’s masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral.

Passing by some of the City’s most recognisable landmarks, we will track Wren’s ideas, his inspiration and the constraints he had to deal with along the way. The tour will include amongst much else, views of the impressive dome of St Stephen Walbrook, the unique Gothic spire of St Margaret Pattens and a close look at the hidden meanings behind the carvings on The Monument.

Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to explore the city, this tour will cover Wren’s unrealised plans for the city, other non-religious works such as the Temple Bar Gateway: the only surviving gateway into the City of London, and the long-lasting impact Wren has had on architecture right up to the modern day.

This Architecture of Wren in the City walking tour date is led by one of our expert guides Alison Rae. Each of our tour guides will bring a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the topic. Occasional interior views are not guaranteed.

Meet: outside Natural Kitchen entrance (Ground floor, Double Tree by Hilton London – Tower of London) 7 Pepys St, EC3N 4AF

Wren Churches: a walking tour with Alexandra Epps, and exhibition of works by Chloe Campbell and James Newton, and a paper-cutting workshop

Posted on: June 15th, 2023 by wrenEditor

Art+Christianity is delighted to announce a day event celebrating Wren Churches, including a walking tour with Alexandra Epps in the City of London, an exhibition of works by Chloe Campbell & James Newton (see flyer below) at The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street, and a paper-cutting workshop.

Private view: Wednesday 6 Sep, 6 – 9pm (all welcome)

Join us on Saturday 16th September from 10.30am to 4pm.

 

The itinerary:

10:30am Meet in Guildhall Yard (off Gresham Street) for a fascinating stroll in the City with Alexandra Epps, City of London Guide and Arts Society Lecturer, to explore the beautiful post-war stained glass within some of the historic churches of Sir Christopher Wren and discover unique stained glass stories of the post-fire City he helped to rebuild. This walk includes the use of headsets.

12:00 Travel by bus to The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street to view the exhibition of paper-cut works by Chloe Campbell and photography by James Newton with the artists present.

13:00 Lunch (participants buy their own nearby; The Gallery’s courtyard’s tables and chairs will be open for use)

14:00 Paper-cutting workshop with Chloe Campbell

16:00 Tea and departures

Tea and coffee will be provided at The Gallery from 12 midday.

When Wren Ride: A cycle tour of Wren’s London masterpieces

Posted on: May 23rd, 2023 by wrenEditor

Here’s a great day on your bike visiting Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpieces in London.

Our ride starts at Hampton Court, a royal palace that is most famous for its Tudor architecture and connections with Henry VIII. Less well known is the baroque palace, designed by our hero, and built for William and Mary in 1689. Err, you’re not going to be able to avoid history on this ride, sorry!

Hampton Court is surrounded by parkland, creating a lovely way to ride to Kingston, en route there’s a stop at the end of the Long Water for one of the best vistas of the palace. Ride on through busy Kingston using the excellent network of bike paths and quiet roads into Richmond Park. Join the Tamsin Trail around the park to Roehampton Gate, before crossing Barnes Common and reaching the Thames again at Putney.

Your first view of Chelsea Hospital, home of the famous red-coated Chelsea Pensioner is from the river and it’s worth a stop before riding along to the ‘front entrance’.

Back on your bike, past Buckingham Palace (nothing to do with Wren) and along Birdcage Walk to join the new bike routes around Westminster Square leading to the traffic-free super cycle route alongside the river.

Taking advantage of the newly pedestrianised Aldwych (which is in my opinion, pretty impressive), ride past St Clement Danes Church, often recognised as one of Wren’s finest City Churches. Carry on down the now peaceful Fleet St to approach the magnificent west façade of St Paul’s Cathedral.

With virtually empty roads and loads to discover, riding through the City of London on a Sunday is a cyclist’s dream and no Wren ride worth its salt would miss the Monument, the fantastic monument topped with blazing gilded ball fire. Although technically marking the site of an inept baker, it’s a homage to our champion!

Leaving the confines of the City, the route becomes more Dickensian, following cycle paths around St Katherine’s Dock, with great views of Tower Bridge and along the cobbled streets of Wapping High St heading east to join the Thames at Canary Wharf.

At the southerly tip of the Isle of Dogs, don’t rush to the Greenwich foot tunnel, rather ride on through Island Gardens for the best view of the Old Royal Naval Hospital with its colonnades framing the Queen’s House.

Then walk through the foot tunnel, and exit right in front of the past Cutty Sark. You may be desperate for that cup of tea, but it’s worth walking your bike along the river for the best views of the Old Royal Naval College and then make your way to the Undercroft Cafe and a well-earned Cream Tea. 

After tea take a moment to explore this wonderful building, apart from the colonnades framing Queens House, there’s the Painted Hall, a skittle alley or find the patriotic courtyard!

  • 26 miles/42 km
  • 760 ft | 230 m climb
  • 40% off-road on well-maintained paths
  • Easy Ride suitable for all types of bikes

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

  • GPX Route Map
  • Cream tea at the Old Royal Naval Hospital
  • Brief historical guide of each of the main buildings on the route
  • Feed stop with a mechanic

Wren300 @ Ingestre

Posted on: May 12th, 2023 by wrenEditor

12:00 – Picnic Lunch

Bring a Picnic. Sandwiches, Sandwiches Tea & Cakes can be purchased

13:30 – Welcome

The Rt Hon The Earl of Shrewsbury & Talbot DL.

14:00 – Speaker – Harry Mount

Harry Mount will talk on Sir Christopher Wren Churches

15:00 – Guided tour of the Church

Anthony Young will take you on a tour of the Wren Church

16:00 – Purcell Concert in the Church

Chetwynd Performing : Henry Purcell ‘An Evening Hymn’

Sung by Valerie Martin accompanied by Jenny Hames.

‘Thou Knowest Lord the Secrets of our Hearts’

Sung by Chetwynd. Musical Director, Olly Lees. Conducted by Gill Dunn.

Sponsored By RIBA & North Staffordshire Society of Architects.

Walking tour of Wren’s City of London with Harry Mount

Posted on: May 12th, 2023 by wrenEditor

300 years ago, Britain’s greatest architect, Sir Christopher Wren, died at the age of 90, just as his finest work, St Paul’s Cathedral, was completed.

Join Harry Mount, architectural historian and editor of The Oldie, for a walking tour of Wren’s London, from St Paul’s to his fabulous City Churches, built after the Great Fire of London.

Includes lunch (and wine) in Middle Temple Hall, the best Elizabethan building in London.

 

Itinerary

11am: Meet Harry Mount outside the main western entrance of St Paul’s Cathedral

1pm: Two-course lunch in Middle Temple Hall

Tickets are £135 (inc VAT) per person, including lunch with wine.

Limited to 20 people.

Guarantee a place with Katherine by emailing reservations@theoldie.co.uk or calling 01225 427 311 (Monday-Friday)

Wren’s Innovative Schools: A collaboration between architect and merchant.

Posted on: May 11th, 2023 by wrenEditor

An illustrated lecture by Fred Steward, Emeritus Professor, School of Architecture & Cities. University of Westminster.

 

In the 1690s, the East India Company merchant Sir John Moore endowed the construction of two new school buildings: the Appleby Free School in the central Midlands, and the Writing School at Christ’s Hospital in the City of London.  Both involved Sir Christopher Wren in their design, and had an innovative schoolroom with long bench desks for large classes of over 100 pupils.

 

How did these two strikingly different people find a common cause in building a new type of schoolroom?   Wren was an intellectual prodigy with a metropolitan High Church background;  Moore was a pragmatic businessman with provincial midlands Puritan roots.  Both lived in the age of a commercial revolution in global maritime trade which drove the prosperity of London.  Their links developed in the 1680s and 1690s through Christ’s Hospital school for poor children in the City of London. They shared an interest in educational innovation and in widening access to learning: a need was seen for writing and drawing skills for business which were unmet by traditional schooling, and a new kind of schoolroom was developed.