Steve Hunnisett
@blitzwalker.bsky.social
Battlefield Guide - London at War
Cricket
Football (Charlton & Dulwich Hamlet)
Heritage Stuff
Movies
📍London, England
Cricket
Football (Charlton & Dulwich Hamlet)
Heritage Stuff
Movies
📍London, England
Repost with your home river.
The Thames - endlessly fascinating. Not like me!
The Thames - endlessly fascinating. Not like me!
January 14, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Repost with your home river.
The Thames - endlessly fascinating. Not like me!
The Thames - endlessly fascinating. Not like me!
Sadly, 56 people were killed in this incident. A larger figure of 111 is often quoted, including in London Transport's own wartime history published in 1946 but this seems to have been a confused figure of the total number of casualties stated at the time and subsequently perpetuated. Today, a small
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Sadly, 56 people were killed in this incident. A larger figure of 111 is often quoted, including in London Transport's own wartime history published in 1946 but this seems to have been a confused figure of the total number of casualties stated at the time and subsequently perpetuated. Today, a small
"London's Largest Crater". Within three weeks, a temporary bridge had been built across the crater, allowing vehicles to cross, although the station itself would not re-open to passengers for another year. It was to be well into the 1970s before the Ticket Hall was fully repaired to modern standards
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
"London's Largest Crater". Within three weeks, a temporary bridge had been built across the crater, allowing vehicles to cross, although the station itself would not re-open to passengers for another year. It was to be well into the 1970s before the Ticket Hall was fully repaired to modern standards
Sadly, many more were beyond help and the rescue works soon became one recovering the victims. Amazingly, despite the damage at surface level, trains were able to run through the station without stopping by the following morning and the rubble had been cleared from what became known as...
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Sadly, many more were beyond help and the rescue works soon became one recovering the victims. Amazingly, despite the damage at surface level, trains were able to run through the station without stopping by the following morning and the rubble had been cleared from what became known as...
happened to him. Rescue workers were unable to readily access the station from the surface, so instead had to walk through the Central Line tunnel from Liverpool Street in order to reach the casualties below ground. On the surface, rescuers with heavy equipment were able to save many of the trapped.
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
happened to him. Rescue workers were unable to readily access the station from the surface, so instead had to walk through the Central Line tunnel from Liverpool Street in order to reach the casualties below ground. On the surface, rescuers with heavy equipment were able to save many of the trapped.
the station at the time. On the surface many people were trapped, some killed outright and some blown out of the crater by freak effects of the blast. In fact, one London Transport worker was discovered the following morning, wandering the nearby streets in a dazed state, having no idea what had..
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
the station at the time. On the surface many people were trapped, some killed outright and some blown out of the crater by freak effects of the blast. In fact, one London Transport worker was discovered the following morning, wandering the nearby streets in a dazed state, having no idea what had..
Ticket Hall roof exploded and collapsed, with a blast wave heading down the escalator shaft. The Ticket Hall was immediately reduced to rubble, whilst on the Central Line platform, at least one unfortunate shelterer was blown in to the path of a Central Line train which just happened to be entering
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Ticket Hall roof exploded and collapsed, with a blast wave heading down the escalator shaft. The Ticket Hall was immediately reduced to rubble, whilst on the Central Line platform, at least one unfortunate shelterer was blown in to the path of a Central Line train which just happened to be entering
THREAD/Today marks the 85th anniversary of one of the more notorious incidents from the London Blitz, which sadly was an exception to the usual rule that Underground stations were safe and secure places to sit (or sleep) through an air raid. on 11 January 1941, the alert had recently sounded and...
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
THREAD/Today marks the 85th anniversary of one of the more notorious incidents from the London Blitz, which sadly was an exception to the usual rule that Underground stations were safe and secure places to sit (or sleep) through an air raid. on 11 January 1941, the alert had recently sounded and...
Pre-match offering at The Green Goddess!
January 11, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Pre-match offering at The Green Goddess!
Happy Easter everyone!
January 5, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Happy Easter everyone!
So much for Dry January.
January 1, 2026 at 8:33 PM
So much for Dry January.
As an aside Ian, in 2015 the charity Firemen Remembered, which I was involved with in a peripheral way, placed a plaque commemorating three other Euston LFB/AFS men who were killed on Great Portland St on 16/17 Sept 1940. The plaque was unveiled by a certain Sir Keir Starmer at Euston Fire Station.
December 29, 2025 at 10:19 PM
As an aside Ian, in 2015 the charity Firemen Remembered, which I was involved with in a peripheral way, placed a plaque commemorating three other Euston LFB/AFS men who were killed on Great Portland St on 16/17 Sept 1940. The plaque was unveiled by a certain Sir Keir Starmer at Euston Fire Station.
South Transept of St Paul's is topped by the statue of a phoenix, with the simple inscription "RESURGAM" (I shall rise again) beneath. This was originally in recognition of the Great Fire of 1666 but seems equally apt following the events of 1940./END
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
South Transept of St Paul's is topped by the statue of a phoenix, with the simple inscription "RESURGAM" (I shall rise again) beneath. This was originally in recognition of the Great Fire of 1666 but seems equally apt following the events of 1940./END
college. There is another City garden in the shadow of St Paul's in the footprint of the former church of Christ Church Greyfriars - these now peaceful urban gardens are a reminder of the violent destruction of 85 years ago and the hope that can arise from the ruins of war. The window over the...
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
college. There is another City garden in the shadow of St Paul's in the footprint of the former church of Christ Church Greyfriars - these now peaceful urban gardens are a reminder of the violent destruction of 85 years ago and the hope that can arise from the ruins of war. The window over the...
Today though, a visit to the church reveals a beautiful City garden within the footprint of the church, whilst the substantial part of the church now stands in Fulton, Missouri on the campus of Westminster College, commemorating the "Sinews of Peace" speech given by Winston Churchill in 1946 at the
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Today though, a visit to the church reveals a beautiful City garden within the footprint of the church, whilst the substantial part of the church now stands in Fulton, Missouri on the campus of Westminster College, commemorating the "Sinews of Peace" speech given by Winston Churchill in 1946 at the
The Tower of St Alban Wood Street still survives, now converted into private flats, although those on the top floor must be kept fit by the absence of a lift. Perhaps the strangest transformation is at the nearby church of St Mary Aldermanbury, which remained a substantial ruin until the early 1960s
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The Tower of St Alban Wood Street still survives, now converted into private flats, although those on the top floor must be kept fit by the absence of a lift. Perhaps the strangest transformation is at the nearby church of St Mary Aldermanbury, which remained a substantial ruin until the early 1960s
emergency services lost their lives. Today, the Square Mile is one of the few places in London where one can still see bombed out churches and other buildings, especially around London Wall where there are a large number of ruins still visible, skilfully woven in to the modern landscape.
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
emergency services lost their lives. Today, the Square Mile is one of the few places in London where one can still see bombed out churches and other buildings, especially around London Wall where there are a large number of ruins still visible, skilfully woven in to the modern landscape.
an incendiary bomb had pierced the thin lead skin of the dome and threated to fall into the forest of timber supports beneath. Although the cathedral had it's own dedicated fire watchers and firefighters on scene, the bomb was too far up to be reached from the Stone Gallery below and too low to
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
an incendiary bomb had pierced the thin lead skin of the dome and threated to fall into the forest of timber supports beneath. Although the cathedral had it's own dedicated fire watchers and firefighters on scene, the bomb was too far up to be reached from the Stone Gallery below and too low to
ironically Whitecross Street Fire Station survived thanks to the efforts of women firefighters who's usual tasks were more clerical in nature. Further along the same road, firemen had to flee when the fires swept through the area, destroying their remaining appliances. At the cathedral itself,
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
ironically Whitecross Street Fire Station survived thanks to the efforts of women firefighters who's usual tasks were more clerical in nature. Further along the same road, firemen had to flee when the fires swept through the area, destroying their remaining appliances. At the cathedral itself,
it had been squashed into a disk shape. Rosoman was traumatised by the event and his painting of the event "The Falling Wall" today forms part of the Imperial War Museum's collection. To the north of St Paul's, the area of what we now call the Barbican was almost completely destroyed, although
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
it had been squashed into a disk shape. Rosoman was traumatised by the event and his painting of the event "The Falling Wall" today forms part of the Imperial War Museum's collection. To the north of St Paul's, the area of what we now call the Barbican was almost completely destroyed, although
vacated. Sansom and an RAF Officer who had been passing by avoided the worst of the collapse but another passer-by, a still unknown soldier and Auxiliary Fireman Sidney Alfred Holder were buried beneath tons of red-hot bricks and masonry. When the soldier's steel helmet was eventually recovered,
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
vacated. Sansom and an RAF Officer who had been passing by avoided the worst of the collapse but another passer-by, a still unknown soldier and Auxiliary Fireman Sidney Alfred Holder were buried beneath tons of red-hot bricks and masonry. When the soldier's steel helmet was eventually recovered,
a colleague were then ordered to take a new "branch" (hose) location above the fire in an adjacent building. They had no sooner started working from their new location, when with an ominous crack the wall suddenly collapsed on the four men still working on the original branch, which Rosoman had just
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
a colleague were then ordered to take a new "branch" (hose) location above the fire in an adjacent building. They had no sooner started working from their new location, when with an ominous crack the wall suddenly collapsed on the four men still working on the original branch, which Rosoman had just
whilst almost opposite in Shoe Lane, a tragic loss of life was about to take place. A group of Auxiliary Firemen, including the author William Sansom and the war artist Leonard Rosoman, were tackling a large fire at a warehouse, the walls of which were beginning to bulge ominously. Rosoman and....
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
whilst almost opposite in Shoe Lane, a tragic loss of life was about to take place. A group of Auxiliary Firemen, including the author William Sansom and the war artist Leonard Rosoman, were tackling a large fire at a warehouse, the walls of which were beginning to bulge ominously. Rosoman and....
from one publisher alone, went up in flames. The fires respected no building, no matter how famous and the famous old Guildhall was soon to fall victim, as did the nearby churches of St Alban, Wood Street and St Mary Aldermanbury. In Fleet Street, the famous old church of St Bride's was soon ablaze,
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
from one publisher alone, went up in flames. The fires respected no building, no matter how famous and the famous old Guildhall was soon to fall victim, as did the nearby churches of St Alban, Wood Street and St Mary Aldermanbury. In Fleet Street, the famous old church of St Bride's was soon ablaze,