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My Favourite Planet > Blogs > Cheshire Cat Blog > 2010
back The Cheshire Cat Blog
4 November 2010

The London Eye by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

The London Eye and Houses of Parliament on the River Thames from Hungerford Bridge.

Photo: © Gordon Mcleod
 
Gordon Mcleod goes up and down and around and around
on London's vertical magic roundabout. When they finally let
him get off he sent The Cheshire Cat this curious missive.
 

Hungerford Bridge, as most Londoners know, is the means by which southeastern commuters and tourists pour out of large tin caterpillars on wheels into the heart of London's West End at Charing Cross Station. It is also known as the viewing point for the scene above.

Some say that the London Eye is a large ecological hamster wheel which provides the power needed to circulate the hot air produced in the Houses of Parliament. In fact, its main use is a giant Guy Fawkes tribute machine covered in fireworks which are lit on the 1st of January, running two months late due to a well-known typing error. I was curious and decided to investigate further...
 
 

London Eye pod by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

In a spin

I purchased a ticket with a lot of unsuspecting tourists and was jammed into one of these pods. "Why?" was the big question. We went up and then down, London stayed still, everybody murmured and a few went click. "Oh look," said a victim/passenger, "the buildings are getting smaller!" "When are we getting off?" said a small child. "You can see the whole of Hungerford Bridge from here," said a skateboarder.

London Eye, River Thames, London.
 
 

Eye-pod people on the London Eye by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Eye-pod people
 

County Hall, Lambeth, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Enjoying the view from the roof of the old County Hall, Lambeth.

Well, there had to be a reason for this sardine-tin-assembly-line-wheel-thing, and it wasn't too long before I discovered it. The wheel served as entertainment for an exclusive couple who could afford to dine out on the roof of the old County Hall, a building that was built back to front apparently, or so I was informed by an architect friend. They could watch the sunset, curse the government, and throw chicken bones at the Eye-pod people. No wonder people want to be wealthy.

County Hall, Lambeth, London. Designed by Ralph Knott and opened in 1922.

Former home of the Greater London Coucil (1965-1986).
 
 

On the balcony of County Hall, Lambeth, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Pass the butter, dear.

County Hall, Lambeth, London.
 
  Fun and frolics in Jubilee Gardens

junior rock band on the The South Bank, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Press-ganged junior rock band (note boy with pineapple)

It's only a short walk from the London Eye to Hungerford Bridge along the riverside Queens Walk
and through Jubilee Gardens, but you do have to run the gauntlet of over-enthusiastic buskers.

Queens Walk along the River Thames, Lambeth, London.
 
 

Giant bubbles on the The South Bank, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Do-it-yourself exorcist kits.

Jubilee Gardens along the River Thames, Lambeth, London.
 

Dancing in Jubilee Gardens, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Chinese girl abducting a waiter

Jubilee Gardens along the River Thames, Lambeth, London.
 

Jubilee Gardens, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Passers-by in Jubilee Gardens perplexed by Chinese girl abducting a waiter.

Jubilee Gardens along the River Thames, Lambeth, London.
 
  Hungerford Bridge:
old skateboards and a new tree
The Hungerford Bridge Skateboard Graveyard by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

The Hungerford Bridge "Skateboard Graveyard"

Hungerford Bridge, River Thames, London.
 

Close-up of Hungerford Bridge Skateboard cemetery by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

The Hungerford Bridge "Skateboard Graveyard"

Hungerford Bridge, River Thames, London. Photo: © Gordon Mcleod

Half way across on the east side lies a graveyard for skateboards. I presumed all the owners had drowned, but there is a plaque and, of course, a website: hungerfordbridge.pbworks.com

But I couldn't seem to find any wheels. Have they got their own graveyard or are they served up as a dish in an expensive West End restaurant, as oiled jellied wheels? Who knows?

Hungerford Bridge, River Thames, London.
 
 

Sycamore tree growing on the west side of Hungerford Bridge, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

A tree grows on the west side of Hungerford Bridge.

The arched roof of charing Cross Station can be seen in the background.

Hungerford Bridge, River Thames, London.
 

young sycamore tree growing on Hungerford Bridge, London by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

A young sycamore tree defies the urban greyness

Well, how did it get here? What is its purpose? Was it there before the bridge and they just built round most of it and left the top exposed? Was it the start of a great forest that ran out of grant money? Or was it part of a garden whose owners moved on?

Hungerford Bridge, River Thames, London.
 
Photos and text: © 2010 Gordon Mcleod
  About the London Eye

Eye-pod people on the The London Eye by Gordon Mcleod at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Clicking me, clicking you, ah-ha

London Eye, River Thames, London. Photo: © Gordon Mcleod

The 135 metre (443 feet) tall London Eye (formerly the British Airways London Eye), also known as Millennium Wheel, is the tallest Ferris Wheel in Europe and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, with over 3.5 million visitors every year. Described by its operators, Merlin Entertainments, as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel", it was designed by Marks Barfield Architects and opened to the public in 2000.

The Eye, weighing 1,700 tonnes, was constructed in the Netherlands and shipped to London. Each of its 32 air-conditioned passenger capsules holds around 25 people. When in operation, the wheel rotates continuously at 26 centimetres per second, without having to stop for boarding or alighting passengers (except in the case of the elderly or disabled). A ride takes about 30 minutes.

The London Eye is located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in the borough of Lambeth, between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. Since 2005 it has been a main focal point of London's New Year celebrations, with displays of fireworks set off from the wheel itself.

The London Eye official website: www.londoneye.com
 
 
  About Hungerford Bridge

Hungerford Bridge, London by Fox Talbot at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Hungerford Bridge, London in the mid 1840s by the English pioneer
of photography William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877)

This was the first Hungerford Bridge, a 433 metre (1,462 feet) long pedestrian suspension bridge across the River Thames, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) and opened in 1845. A toll was charged for crossing the bridge. Brunel incorporated a pier for steamers (see picture below), the entrance and steps to which still exist. The chains from this bridge were later re-used in the building of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol, which was completed in 1864, after Brunel's death.

In 1859 it was replaced by a railway bridge (also known as the Charing Cross Bridge), designed by Sir John Hawkshaw (1811-1891), to serve the newly-opened South Eastern Railway company's station at Charing Cross. Originally, there were pedestrian walkways on either side of the bridge, but the upstream (southern) one was later removed when the railway was widened. The remaining downstream walkway was also known as the Hungerford Bridge. Pedestrians had a great view of the Thames (wonderful sunsets), but crossing the dingy, decrepit bridge itself was a pretty unpleasant experience, especially with the trains thundering by. This walkway was closed in 1980 and replaced by a temporary one on the upstream side: an even more unpleasant way of crossing the river.

At the beginning of this century the railway bridge received a major facelift and was flanked by two new footbridges, known as the Golden Jubilee Bridges (in honour of the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign), although many people still call them the Hungerford Footbridges. The original concept was designed by architects Lifschutz Davidson (since 2003 Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands) and engineers WSP Group, with detailed design by consulting engineers Gifford. The project was completed in 2002.
 

Isambard Kingdom Brunel at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Photo by Robert Howlett, 1857
 

stereoscopic photo of Isambard Kingdom Brunel at the Cheshire Cat Blog

A stereoscopic photo of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

To enjoy this image fully, please use the 3-D glasses provided.
 

Engineer Sir John Hawkshaw at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Engineer Sir John Hawkshaw (1811-1891), designer of the Charing Cross
railway bridge, inspecting the excavation of the Severn Tunnel.
 

Charing Cross railway bridge, London at the Cheshire Cat Blog

The Charing Cross railway bridge, designed by Sir John Hawkshaw.

Illustration from The Illustrated London News, 1860.
 

Charing Cross Bridge and railway, underground and tram links, London at the Cheshire Cat Blog

Charing Cross Bridge and railway, underground and tram links.

Illustration from Popular Science, 1921.
 

Charing Cross railway bridge, London at the Cheshire Cat Blog

County Hall, Lambeth, London, designed by Ralph Knott in an Edwardian Baroque style.
Opened in 1922, it cost over 3 million pounds to build and furnish. It was the headquarters
of London County Council (LCC) and from 1965 to 1986 the Greater London Council (GLC).

Today it houses various businesses and attractions, including the London Sea Life
Aquarium, the London Film Museum, two hotels, several restaurants and function
rooms, flats and an amusement arcade.

Illustration from The Illustrated London News, 1922.
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