London Walks 8

Details:

We meet on the third Tuesday of the month during February to November inclusive. Interesting and informative walks round different areas of London are planned and led by members of the group either individually or in pairs. New members always welcome 

Contact: Email the group leader(s) at londonwalks8@tonbridgeu3a.uk  

Group Leader:  Malcolm Appleby

Smithfield Market to Clerkenwell 18th November 2025

Leaders Jane and Graham Steele

Starting at Smithfield Market, Jane and Graham led a very interesting and personal walk on a sunny, cold day. The area is steeped in history – some violent and probably a brutal life for many, beautiful buildings and a living sense, as changes continue, with the area undergoing further development. As Jane trained as a nurse at St Bart's, it was fascinating to hear her reflections on her time there. Diane, on her first walk with the group, mentioned that her husband had also worked at St Barts. The Great Hall had recently been refurbished, at a mere £9 million, with stunning results and the Hogarth Staircase with William Hogarth's paintings quite spectacular.

We visited both the Lesser and Great St Bartholomew's churches, which offered a moment of peace and beauty, with Damien Hirst's Exquisite Pain sculpture embodying the martyrdom of the saint – not so tranquil. Graham reminded some of us on how to interpret the Roman Numerals on a gravestone. The art work that we saw was quite stunning and apparently the only statue of Henry VIII.

Our route continued through Charterhouse Square and Almshouses to St John's Gate, the HQ of the Order of St John. Our morning's journey through various establishments offering succour, medical expertise, compassion, hope - finished appropriately at the Sir John Oldcastle, reputed to be the inspiration for Shakespeare's Falstaff. Those in the medical profession certainly deserve the joys of refreshment and fun, after their long hours of caring for others. A planter near the Nurse's training area encapsulated the essence of nurses across the centuries: “It's today's heroes, the nurses at St Bart's Hospital who find the right way to hold a hand on a difficult day.”

Julie Grimsey