Day 1 - Southwark - The Borough

For our first day we started out at London Bridge Station.

Originally established in 1836, this was the first station in London.


Our next stop took us to St. Thomas.

Originally built in 1213. Then, in 1721  a wealthy merchant by the name of Thomas Guy founded an extra hospital for the people known as the "incurables." The reason that Guys Hospital was founded was because St. Thomas refused to take the "incurables" due to the fact that there was too much demand from other patients and citizens of London. Another important fact to note is that this is not only a hospital, but it was a reputable school as well.

This building is in Georgian style and you can see a transition from earlier Baroque style of architecture. There are two courtyards and it has an engaged or attached portico. Like most buildings in the Georgian era, this was built of brick.


Without having to move, the next building we saw was The Shard.

This monster of a building is still under construction and is set to be completed for the 2012 Olympics being held in London. Upon completion, it will be 300 meters tall and officially the tallest building in Europe.

This late modernist style of architecture is crisp, elegant and finely detailed. While modern, it does have some hints to London's past and the Gothic style. This comparison comes into play due to the fact that The Shard is really a glass spike that narrows as it elevates like a gothic spire. Like most modern buildings, The Shard is using glass and steel as the main materials.


Our next stop was the George Inn which was established in 1670.

Although it was bombed and no longer is the original from 1670, it was rebuilt to take the same form. If you look closely, you can see the timber posts and galleries. Its function is as a multi-story motel and bar.

One of the reasons this building is so important is not so much for what it is, but for what it influenced. Before the theater was in existence, actors used to perform in the courtyard to people who would listen and watch them from the windows of their rooms and the bar. This sort of "stage" was the standard which would be found later in theaters such as The Globe.


Before I continue onto the next stop I think there is one very important thing you should know about Southwark and why some of the previously mentioned places, and the upcoming buildings are so important. Southwark was a place of connection. Where coming from the North or the South, you had to go through Southwark in order to get to and from London. Because of this places such as the George Inn where pubs and rooms were available became very popular.


The next place we went was to a market where the Southwark Hop Exchange can be found.

This 19th century building is a tribute to the Victorian era. With its columns, classical composition and classical pediment with eagles, R.H. Moore did an excellent job of putting us back in the Victorian era. This building was as its name implies, a trade and exchanging point for hops or as you may more easily understand it, the beer industry.


If you leave this building and walk not a minute down Borough High Street you will come up to the Borough Market.

Originally formed in 1276, the Borough Market is the fist sign of a market in London and also the oldest continuously operating market in London. Although you cannot see it, trains pass over this area. What you can see however is the Victorian style arches made of cast and wrought iron that brace a roof so that trade can commence during any type of weather. 

Attached to the market is half of a building from the flower market (pictured below)

Originally built in 1860, this historic building was moved to its current location at Borough Market in 2004 from Covent Garden. Now it is the entrance and a part of a very fancy and expensive restaurant that sits onto of the market.

After our experience at the Borough Market, walked to the Southwark Cathedral.

Found in 852, this originally Medieval monastary was the home of the prior of St. Savior. Although the transept and chapel of this church are still standing from the 13th century, it has been rebuilt countless times. These rebuilding efforts include the Tower in the 14th century and the Nave which was demolished in the 1830's and rebuilt in the 1890's.

Our next stop took us to the 1977 Replica of Old Ship.

Originally from 1477, this replica is to show Captain Francis Smith, a paid pirate, tribute for his work with the church to control trade around England.

Our next building, in the Victorian/Georgian style was Winchester Palace. Here is where the Bishop lived on the south bank of the Thames and, it was church territory because the Bishop lived there.

Here you can see what is left of the hall. It has a large rose window and is built of stone as was the custom of this period. It is important to know that the church has a very powerful history in London and big houses like this one were common for Bishops to live in and the church to own.

The end of our trip took us to the Southwark Bridge.

Originally built in 1819, like much of London it was destroyed and eventually rebuilt. What your seeing now couldn't have been what the orignal bridge looked like. The reason for this is that until steel came into use in London, the arches you see in green and yellow couldn't have been that big. These arches are joined by the very strong and impermeable stone granite.