Steve Plumb
@squaremileguide.bsky.social
An accredited Tour Guide providing tours of London by licensed taxi; also bespoke walking tours in the City of London. Liveryman & Past Master Parish Clerk.
And.... breathe. It's been a haul, but Stage 2 is now complete.
Jettied eye-level cupboards (I'm 6' 3") with shelves below (obviously !). The cupboards are deep enough for box files and ring binders.
All credit to the amazingly fastidious Paul Hodges of Boreham wood; Carpenter.
Jettied eye-level cupboards (I'm 6' 3") with shelves below (obviously !). The cupboards are deep enough for box files and ring binders.
All credit to the amazingly fastidious Paul Hodges of Boreham wood; Carpenter.
January 31, 2026 at 9:39 PM
And.... breathe. It's been a haul, but Stage 2 is now complete.
Jettied eye-level cupboards (I'm 6' 3") with shelves below (obviously !). The cupboards are deep enough for box files and ring binders.
All credit to the amazingly fastidious Paul Hodges of Boreham wood; Carpenter.
Jettied eye-level cupboards (I'm 6' 3") with shelves below (obviously !). The cupboards are deep enough for box files and ring binders.
All credit to the amazingly fastidious Paul Hodges of Boreham wood; Carpenter.
The Stage 2 Bookcases in the 'Drum Room' have gone to the sixth day ! Issues with the existing floorboards have delayed the schedule (and increased the cost !).
Paul the carpenter has coped admirably; working with no room to swing a cat, using his gazebo in our back garden as workspace !
Paul the carpenter has coped admirably; working with no room to swing a cat, using his gazebo in our back garden as workspace !
January 31, 2026 at 1:33 PM
The Stage 2 Bookcases in the 'Drum Room' have gone to the sixth day ! Issues with the existing floorboards have delayed the schedule (and increased the cost !).
Paul the carpenter has coped admirably; working with no room to swing a cat, using his gazebo in our back garden as workspace !
Paul the carpenter has coped admirably; working with no room to swing a cat, using his gazebo in our back garden as workspace !
Great news that guitarist, Mr John Etheridge has received the Musicians' Company's Lifetime Achievement Award (Jazz) 2025.
Here he is having the time of his life with yours-truly bashing the tubs. Them were the days ... 12 years ago in London N20.
Click on photos for a slimmer, younger me.
Here he is having the time of his life with yours-truly bashing the tubs. Them were the days ... 12 years ago in London N20.
Click on photos for a slimmer, younger me.
January 30, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Great news that guitarist, Mr John Etheridge has received the Musicians' Company's Lifetime Achievement Award (Jazz) 2025.
Here he is having the time of his life with yours-truly bashing the tubs. Them were the days ... 12 years ago in London N20.
Click on photos for a slimmer, younger me.
Here he is having the time of his life with yours-truly bashing the tubs. Them were the days ... 12 years ago in London N20.
Click on photos for a slimmer, younger me.
Reposted by Steve Plumb
'Public House', Camden Town (from 'High Street', 1938) by Eric Ravilious
January 29, 2026 at 10:36 AM
'Public House', Camden Town (from 'High Street', 1938) by Eric Ravilious
This delightful coffee mug just came-up on my SM feed. Will resonate with the chosen few who did O Level Metalwork as opposed to Art.
January 27, 2026 at 10:13 AM
This delightful coffee mug just came-up on my SM feed. Will resonate with the chosen few who did O Level Metalwork as opposed to Art.
Is this the chap that founded and endowed Brentwood School, in Essex ?
Sir Anthony Browne, Master of the Horse to Henry VIII. Stood in for Henry at his proxy marriage to Anne of Cleves in 1540. Guardian to Prince Edward & to Princess Elizabeth. He broke news of Henry VIII's death to Edward & rode beside the new king as he entered London (NPG).
January 26, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Is this the chap that founded and endowed Brentwood School, in Essex ?
Also Master of the Clothworkers' Company of the City of London. He seemed to be promoted to high office with indecent haste (IMO).
January 24, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Also Master of the Clothworkers' Company of the City of London. He seemed to be promoted to high office with indecent haste (IMO).
I often wondered whether this was filmed in the (now demolished) ground floor vestibule of the Clothworkers' Hall in the City of London.
It wasn't.
It wasn't.
One more from ‘the old place gets everywhere’. University of London’s Senate House in a cameo with Eileen Atkins as the Soviet Embassy in Paris (Smiley’s People, 1982).
Somehow, I’d never clocked this one before.
Somehow, I’d never clocked this one before.
January 24, 2026 at 10:19 PM
I often wondered whether this was filmed in the (now demolished) ground floor vestibule of the Clothworkers' Hall in the City of London.
It wasn't.
It wasn't.
Extraordinary !
Hat Badge: Woman Choosing Between Youth and Old Age c. 1520 probably Flemish, Mechelen (Met Museum) The cynical inscription: “Love does much. Money does everything”.
January 24, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Extraordinary !
I hear the term "Highgate Village" for more often than I do "Hampstead Village".
To me, it's simply Hampstead.
To me, it's simply Hampstead.
'Hampstead Village, Flask Walk' (2025) by Liam O'Farrell
liamofarrell.com
liamofarrell.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I hear the term "Highgate Village" for more often than I do "Hampstead Village".
To me, it's simply Hampstead.
To me, it's simply Hampstead.
Citizen and Mercer, for sure.
The Royal Exchange, London's first purpose-built stock exchange, was officially opened today in 1571 by Queen Elizabeth I. Read here about its founder Thomas Gresham www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/sir-thomas-g...
January 23, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Citizen and Mercer, for sure.
It's a reeeeel nowhere lane ...
January 22, 2026 at 1:33 PM
It's a reeeeel nowhere lane ...
Which Church might that be ? Looks like a Brewery with the chimney.
'From a Hampstead Window' (1923) by Charles Ginner
(Tate)
(Tate)
January 21, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Which Church might that be ? Looks like a Brewery with the chimney.
I met the current Mr Donovan on an early morning guided tour of the New Spitalfields Market over twenty years ago. He was then the Chairman of the Market Traders' Association, and wore a splendid gong on a ribbon signifying this.
The City loves its gongs.
The City loves its gongs.
'Donovan Bros - the noted home for Paper Bags' - more #IrishLondonHistory ☘️ in a #GhostSign at 46 Crispin Street, London E1.
@thegentleauthor.bsky.social has recorded the company history, starting w Jeremiah O'Donovan migrating from Dublin to Aldgate in the 1830s
spitalfieldslife.com/2010/10/05/j...
@thegentleauthor.bsky.social has recorded the company history, starting w Jeremiah O'Donovan migrating from Dublin to Aldgate in the 1830s
spitalfieldslife.com/2010/10/05/j...
January 19, 2026 at 10:46 PM
I met the current Mr Donovan on an early morning guided tour of the New Spitalfields Market over twenty years ago. He was then the Chairman of the Market Traders' Association, and wore a splendid gong on a ribbon signifying this.
The City loves its gongs.
The City loves its gongs.
Patron Saint of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, London.
Today's the feast of St Anthony of Egypt, 4th Century Desert Father. He's often shown with a small pig which kept him company in the desert, as here in a 15th Century English alabaster in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. Small pigs are still sometimes referred to as Tantony Pigs.
January 17, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Patron Saint of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, London.
Yes, Iconic.
This photo was taken in 1911 using glass plate technology by Herbert Ponting who was part of Scott's Antarctic expedition,
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
January 17, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Yes, Iconic.
Reposted by Steve Plumb
The restored Hogarth Stair in the North Wing of St Barts Hospital. #StaircaseSaturday
January 17, 2026 at 7:40 AM
The restored Hogarth Stair in the North Wing of St Barts Hospital. #StaircaseSaturday
Made. in. NEW YORK !!
Spoon, c. 1696 Jacob Boelen I, made in New York.
(Art Institute Chicago)
(Art Institute Chicago)
January 16, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Made. in. NEW YORK !!
Reposted by Steve Plumb
'London's armory accuratly delineated in a graphical display of all the arms, crests.... of every company and corporate societie in the City of London' by Richard Wallis (1677) (GR 3.3.7)
A striking collection of the coats of arms of various City of London livery companies. 🛡️🦁
A striking collection of the coats of arms of various City of London livery companies. 🛡️🦁
January 16, 2026 at 4:45 PM
'London's armory accuratly delineated in a graphical display of all the arms, crests.... of every company and corporate societie in the City of London' by Richard Wallis (1677) (GR 3.3.7)
A striking collection of the coats of arms of various City of London livery companies. 🛡️🦁
A striking collection of the coats of arms of various City of London livery companies. 🛡️🦁
Reposted by Steve Plumb
It's cool how the city of London puts these lemon juicers out for free public use urbanism win!
January 15, 2026 at 6:51 PM
It's cool how the city of London puts these lemon juicers out for free public use urbanism win!
No: barbed wire fence line, poultry to be kept, Gypsy Caravans; have I seen.
I'm looking for people to tell me their home's ridiculous restricted covenants for a radio programme. I ideally want you to email me the restriction and a phone number so one of my team can ring you and just get you to tell them it so we can make a MONTAGE. [email protected]
a man with a scarf around his neck looks at the camera
ALT: a man with a scarf around his neck looks at the camera
media.tenor.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:26 PM
No: barbed wire fence line, poultry to be kept, Gypsy Caravans; have I seen.
Reposted by Steve Plumb
The ceiling of James Gibbs' Great Hall at St Barts Hospital. Superb restoration.
January 12, 2026 at 8:13 PM
The ceiling of James Gibbs' Great Hall at St Barts Hospital. Superb restoration.
Resplendent. Nice ...
Sir William Hewett was a founding member (1528) & later Master of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, Lord Mayor of London (1559) by Antonis Mor [Museum of #London]
January 11, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Resplendent. Nice ...
Clothworker. Master, no less, after a very swift acceleration up the Company's slippery pole.
Gave significant silver plate to the Company, as a gesture of his gratitude for the recognition; I suppose.
Gave significant silver plate to the Company, as a gesture of his gratitude for the recognition; I suppose.
11 Jan 1668: Pepys learns #otd that Moll Davis would be leaving the Duke's Theatre Company as Charles II had given her a ring worth £600 & was furnishing a house for her
January 11, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Clothworker. Master, no less, after a very swift acceleration up the Company's slippery pole.
Gave significant silver plate to the Company, as a gesture of his gratitude for the recognition; I suppose.
Gave significant silver plate to the Company, as a gesture of his gratitude for the recognition; I suppose.
I need this. Hardback, natch.
I love the TV series, of course, and wasn’t sure whether the tie-in book - a charity shop find for £3 - could measure up. But it’s packed with fabulously exciting thoughts and passages.
January 11, 2026 at 3:39 PM
I need this. Hardback, natch.