City Light
The City of London is a square mile of narrow medieval streets lined with towers of steel and glass. The ground is good for as each year passes the towers grow taller.
The City is the oldest part of London.1 A self-governing democracy for the past 1000 years which is probably the most powerful place on these isles (and sometimes the world). By keeping the Normans at bay it was granted special autonomy in 1075. Occasionally Kings tried to bring The City under their control but it was either met with rebuke, abdication, or beheading.2
From the 1600s it became a hub for money lending, insurance and ‘cleaning’ which it still excels at today.
Populated by men and women clad in suits, talking about serious things laced with fake bonhomie. Making deals so large that a minuscule fraction of a percentage point will impact all of us. The lack of customer service at your local chainstore (despite them saying they put their customer first), can be traced back to a spreadsheet pored over by myriad brains in one of those offices high above.
On days like these, I have lunch in Leadenhall Market3 so I can eavesdrop on their conversations. It’s a world away from how I live my life. I do it because I want to have an inkling of how our opaque world works.
I also like the early September light…
… and avoiding security guards who think photographers might be terrorists. Stay on the streets, beyond the granite benches which discourages anyone without a home from lying down, and they can’t get you.
This month they are running Sculpture in the City.4 Public art of varying quality, some of which questions the City itself. But the City fathers are too busy counting beans to realise this.
Public art means I have a ready made excuse to take photos. Even the security guards (who are only doing what their masters tells them), have to give me some slack
All photos taken on Wednesday 11th September with my trusty Leica Q.
If you’d like to know more, ‘A Short History of London’ by Simon Jenkins is a good read.
Even now, King Charles III can only enter the city walls with an invitation from the Lord Mayor of London.
Leadenhall Market is a Victorian arcade which offers respite from being overtowered outside. It’s where the city boys and girls take lunch, drink and shop.
According to its website “Sculpture in the City is an annual sculpture park that uses the urban realm as a rotating gallery space”.
Love these pictures Andrew - especially the second reflection of the clouds and the Gherkin. Great shot.
Much enjoyed this Andrew and it brought back memories of my own meanders around the City. I too have dined in Leadenhall market and earwigged on the world of high finance...