Book description
Lifting the lid on London, Spectacular Vernacular reveals the
stories behind its 100 strangest and most enigmatic buildings. Some
are open to the public, if you know who to ask. Others remain strictly
off-limits, thus heightening the sense of mystery surrounding them.
But many are so familiar that few of us ever stop to consider just how
curious they are. In the heart of Kensington, for example, a 300ft
tower attracts few glances that even most locals don't know it's
there. South of the river the city's widest building at nearly 1,000ft
has been favourably compared to the Winter Palace at St Petersbury.
And in Chelsea a medieval hall, once home to a king and moved brick by
brick from the City to escape demolition, is now being remodelled as
London's largest private house. Elsewhere one finds an arts centre
built of old shipping containers, a Victorian explorer lying dead in a
tent, literally acres of secret underground government offices, even a
private tunnel used for running cable-cars under the Thames. Think you
know London? Well, it's time to reconsider.
David Long is a freelance journalist and author. He has
contributed to many newspapers and magazines including The Times, the
Sunday Times, the Sunday Mirror and the Evening Standard.
