On Thursday 30th March members of the Cambridge Society took a leisurely walking tour around leafy Bloomsbury, led by Blue Badge Tourist Guide Caroline Piper.
It is a fascinating neighbourhood that has had more than its share of famous residents, especially writers and intellectuals, but it also has some beautiful garden squares and attractive architecture. For grandeur, a favourite has to be The Russell Hotel (now the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel) which has been recently restored to its 1890s best, and is so extravagant that its architect, Charles Fitzroy Doll, gave us the phrase “all dolled up!”. At the other end of the extravagance spectrum has to be the elegant simplicity of the 18th century Foundling Museum, all that remains of Britain’s first home for abandoned children. Similarly understated is the tiny, but very moving, work of modern art by Tracy Emin that can be found on the railings outside the museum – called Baby Things, Mitten it evokes the tokens desperate mothers used to leave with their foundling children when they gave they up, in the hope such tokens would help them identify their children later should they ever be in a position to reclaim them. For complete contrast we ended the tour at the art deco Senate House, central library and HQ for the University of London. Its heavy 1930s architecture and role as the Ministry of Information during World War 2 made it the perfect model for George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth in his dystopian novel 1984.
For such a small neighbourhood, Bloomsbury is full of interesting gems to explore!
Organised by Caroline Piper