London, England

Eternal Life on the Landscape:  Paul Julius Reuter, founder of the eponymous news agency, died in 1899, but a full bust in front of London's Royal Exchange keeps his memory alive.  His pioneering work in gathering and transmitting news turned heads towards London and helped to make it the city it is today.  [2009]

London, England

Tower Hill Sundial:  The Wooden O is what Shakespeare called the Globe Theatre.  Now, it has been commemorated under foot in London's Bronze O, the outer ring of the Tower Hill Sundial.  Roadside markers present "history in a square."  Here's variation on a theme:  history in an O.  [2009]

London, England

Tower Hill Sundial:  Laid into the outer rim of the sundial are bas reliefs that mark events in London's history.  The original city walls were completed in 220 AD and restored in 896.  Only one thing happened in between:  St. Paul's was built.  Who chooses what to memorialize on a timeline like this?  [2009]

London, England

Tower Hill Sundial:  Two time tracks rim the Tower Hill Sundial: one marks the hours (Roman numerals) and one marks the centuries (bronze bas reliefs).  London Transport (see the Underground marker?) unveiled the timepiece in 1992.  Around its base are bronze bas reliefs that depict, century by century,  the evolution of the city's landscape. The full chronology is laid out at <http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/history/sundial.htm> [2009]

Southampton, England

Gates and Walls:  No wall in this picture.  But, brick lineations under foot are used  to tell a story that began with the Norman invasion.  Using words, remanants of the past, and and crafty geometry, Southampton has made its history public and reduced the monopoly of professional historians.  [2011] 

Southampton, England

Gates and Walls:  Southampton was heavily fortified, and the North Town Wall has survived.  The placard, placed under authority of the City of Southampton, provides just enough information for the reader to be impressed with the city's history.  [2011]

Southampton, England

Gates and Walls:  Southampton is lucky to have its medieval main gain, the Bargate.  Its marker is perfectly positioned to facilitate a visual comparison between yesterday and today.  How much less effective would the photograph be if the placard were located in the pedestrian passageway or on an outside wall?  [2011]

London, England

London's Blue Plaques:  The blue plaque has turned brown as the private sector enters the historical marker arena.  The H. G. Wells Society has ideas of its own for littering the landscape with literary history here on Bond Street.  [2011]

London, England

London's Blue Plaques:  But, it's not blue!  Imitation is the mark of a successful innovation.  The City of Westminster apparently has some history to commemorate on its own.  Now, we have a local government authority filling in the gaps left by English Heritage.  [2011]

London, England

London's Blue Plaques:  What's different about this blue plaque?  It pre-dates the role of English Heritage; it was authorized by the Greater London Council, which was dissolved in 1986.  Anything that survives a governmental re-organization has to be considered successful.  [2011]

London, England

London's Blue Plaques:   Can you find the blue plaque?  Yet another one on Fitzrovia Square.  In fact, find any square in London and you will find a collection of blue plaques.  This one marks the residence of Charles Eastlake, first director of the National Gallery.  [2011]

London, England

London's Blue Plaques:  For a century and half, London has been comemorating important people and events by placing plaques on the sides of buildings.  Today, the program is run by English Heritage.  Fitzrovia Square has a fine collection.  Here's two on one building.  How historical is that?  [2011]