Paddling on the Sundays River

The Gin Palace and the Ghosts

In the late 19th century Gin Palaces (posh pubs) were very fashionable places to frequent, and gin was even attributed with medicinal properties.  This beautifully decorated pub in Holborn is once again specialising in gin but it also has a dark secret below stairs.

In the basement is a dark and secret world of hidden rooms and tunnels where ghosts roam.  The pub is opposite the old Newgate Prison (that also has its own ghosts).  At a time when crimes were punishable by hanging the event was a social occasion watched by jeering crowds.  To avoid the crowds and to make sure the officiating clergy could get there on time a tunnel was built from the church to the hanging site, passing beneath the pub.

It was common practice for prisoners to be buried in and around the area, perhaps it is some of these poor souls who do not rest whose ghostly forms haunt the old Gin Palace. John or is it George? No one knows for sure, plays havoc moving barrels around.  Then there is the prostitute whose favourite pastime is to open the fire escape door from inside the toilet (there is no handle on that side of the door or any way to open it) and toss rolls of toilet paper across the floor of the basement.

The pub was one of the first in England to have electricity, but it was very unreliable.  One particular evening when the lights had gone out the landlady and a staff member went down stairs with a candle to sort the problem out.  The door slammed shut behind her, a colleague heard her scream and raced to her assistance.  She had passed out, but when she came to she told of how her candle blew out, then she felt a warm breathe on the back of her neck and a hand across her mouth.  She resigned two days later!

On my visit I too experienced the door slam behind me in this cell like room.  I suspect the staff member who was showing me around and laughing, had something to do with that.  However it is very dark and eerie in here.  No wonder I needed a wee gin to recover!

Dogs and Drinks

A building overlooking the dog parade route on S. 9th Street. I wonder if it used to be some small local soft drink factory.  Looks like it has a beer (and occasionally dog) theme now but the purpose is not obvious from the outside. I could probably figure it out if I ever had the time.

So what could be better: a beer, a boy, a beagle and a smart phone.               

A la Geôle un samedi pluvieux

This is a rather Versaillais umbrella... Seen last Saturday in the antiques passage...

Cure for the Common Cold

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city is St Etheldreda's Church dating from about 1250 making it the oldest catholic church in England.

The church is named after Etheldreda who was born in 630, the daughter of King Anna of East Anglia.  She is attributed with freeing the bondsmen on her lands and generally being really popular with people at the time.  Her body was moved twice, the latter time 450 years after her death, when her body was found perfectly preserved it simply added to her saintly persona.

Among the saints and history are rituals and traditions (of course it is a catholic church after all) one such event is held on the 3rd of February, the ritual of "Blessing of the Throats."

Hey a cure for the common cold!  Well no I'm afraid not.  The tale appears to be born out of an event by Saint Blaise.  Well he wasn't a saint to begin with, that honour came after the miracles.  During the religious wars he was thrown into prison to rethink his religion.  While he was in there he "miraculously cured" a young boy who was choking on a fish bone.  Seems he was pretty good at treating throat ailments, so once a year he is called upon to treat ailments of the throat.

With the number of people coughing in London at present he has his work cut out for him.