Katie Wignall

London

Founder at Look Up London

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Articles

34 Haymarket | London's Oldest Shopfront?

1 week ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

34 Haymarket | London’s Oldest Shopfront? May 27, 2025in architecture, London, Look Up London, West LondonIn general, Londoners tend to avoid Piccadilly Circus. It’s usually crowded with people and tacky shops, so if you’re dashing through and not paying attention, at 34 Haymarket you’ve probably missed one of London’s oldest shop fronts. Haymarket was in existence from the 16th century and, as the name suggests, was the location for a hay market.
The Handwritten Note Recording The Blitz in Smith Square, Westminster

3 weeks ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

The Handwritten Note That Records The Blitz in Smith Square, Westminster May 12, 2025in Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London, West LondonAt the centre of Smith Square in Westminster today is a beautiful stone building that hosts Sinfonia Smith Square, a concert venue in a deconsecrated church. Visiting the peaceful, quiet space today is a world away from 84 years ago in May 1941, when a raging fire gutted the building and destroyed the historic church.
History of Carriage Hall

1 month ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

History of Carriage Hall, Long Acre May 6, 2025in architecture, London, Look Up London, West LondonA Uniqlo isn’t usually a place to find a much London history. However the Covent Garden branch is set within the former Carriage Hall, a unique Grade II listed site that was the first of its kind in London. Today Long Acre is full of high street shops, but look up and there’s a clue that it was once more of an industrial hub, full of businesses that made horse-drawn coaches and carriages.
The Oldest Lychgate in England | St George’s Beckenham

1 month ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

The Oldest Lychgate in England | St George’s Beckenham April 29, 2025in Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London, South LondonIn the churchyard of St George’s Beckenham you can find the oldest lychgate in England. Lych comes from the Old English ‘līc’ which meant body or corpse and it was a functional element of the churchyard, especially during the Medieval period. The present day version of the church was built in 1885-7 by W Gibbs Bartleet and the tower was later, finished in 1903.
Visit the 12th Century Kingston Bridge Remains

1 month ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

Visit the 12th Century Kingston Bridge Remains April 22, 2025in architecture, London, Look Up London, West LondonPop into this Arts Centre and you can see the original stone foundations of Kingston Bridge, built c.1170. Kingston Bridge presented a crucial crossing over the River Thames because until 1729 (when Putney Bridge opened) London Bridge was the only other was to cross the Thames on foot within the Greater London area.
Visit the Valasse Cross at the Tower of London

1 month ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

Visit The Valasse Cross at the Tower of London April 15, 2025in City of London, London, The Classics, Things to do in LondonFor almost 400 years the Crown Jewels have been housed in the Tower of London, so the former royal palace is no stranger to bling. However the arrival of the Valasse Cross on temporary display inside the White Tower means there’s yet another historic jewel to admire inside the Tower of London.
Curious “Ancient Lights” Signs in London

1 month ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

Curious “Ancient Lights” Signs in London April 15, 2025Look up in certain places across London and you can find some intriguing signs that proclaim ‘Ancient Lights’. Though quite rare, these signs can be found across the country and relate to a law introduced in 1832. Within the Prescription Act the law stated that when the access and use of light had been enjoyed for 20 years without interruption, the right to that light becomes ‘absolute and indefeasible’.
The 17th Century Wine Cellars Under St James’s

2 months ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

The 17th Century Wine Cellars Under St James’s April 8, 2025in London, Look Up London, West LondonWonderfully tucked away, The Stafford London is a luxury hotel in St James’s and was founded in 1912. Although the hotel might be relatively new, it stands on a site steeped in history and in the basement you can find some wine cellars that date back to the 17th century. But first, let’s explore ground level…The Stafford has two entrances in St James’s.
The Remains of Harwich House at Pedley Street Arch

2 months ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

The Remains of Harwich House at Pedley Street Arch March 31, 2025If you’ve ever got the train into Liverpool Street Station you may have noticed some strange objects along a viaduct by Pedley Street. This is an architectural salvage yard and it contains a few bits of stonework that once stood along Bishopsgate. They are remains from Harwich House. You can also see them from the street.
Fanny Wilkinson | The Landscape Gardener Who Shaped London

2 months ago | lookup.london | Katie Wignall

Fanny Wilkinson | The Landscape Gardener Who Shaped London March 25, 2025in Churches and Graveyards, London, Look Up London, natureAlthough it’s a huge urban metropolis, London is lucky to be covered in green space. Except perhaps ‘lucky’ isn’t the right word. During the late 19th century there was a huge effort to create more public, open space for Londoners and we have one particular woman to thank. She was the first female professional landscape gardener and her name is Fanny Wilkinson.