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This is a strange one in many ways, firstly why on earth would anyone do an entire programme on the capital underground? I think the answer is, well why not? We all know what London Bridge looks like when you're standing on it, but what's it like underneath it? Writing this fact sheet is also strange because most of the places we were lucky enough to visit are not actually open to the public, so clearly there is very little point in me passing on the usual directions, telephone numbers and so on. However I will do my best.
St Brides Church also known as The Printers Cathedral and The Wedding Cake Church is very much open to the public and has to be one of Britain's most interesting churches. Half way up Fleet Street you will find this pretty church, one of the sixty or so that Sir Christopher Wren built in the area. It has the tallest steeple that Wren designed and the spires shape was copied by a local cake maker whose bedroom window overlooked the church. The baker made a wedding cake with tiers just like the design of the spire, and it was such a success that we all have our wedding cake made the same way today. The church was also home to England's first printing press, long before Fleet Street became famous for papers. After a bomb dropped on the church during the blitz a crypt was discovered that dated back to Roman times. Remains from the temple, including a Roman pavement, can be seen in a simple but effective display.
Aldwych Station or The Strand as it was originally called is tucked away just off The Strand on Surrey Street. The station has been closed for a good few years now and is not open to the public. Built in 1906 it was a disaster from the very start. The number of people that it was anticipated would use the line was out by about 90%! Some parts of the station were never actually finished, others ran for a few years and then closed. So it lies in darkened silence today much the same as it was when it opened. Because of that it has been used in several films and television programmes such as Batman and The Singing Detective.
There is however one train line that is used by over six million a day without ever letting a single person on board! Mail Rail moves all of London's mail about from on sorting office to another. The miniature electric railway that runs automatically without drivers is based at Felix Place off Farrington Road in sidings, engine sheds, and everything you would normally associate with its full sized cousins. Obviously this is not open to the public but I would imagine that they do have organised trips. Telephone: 0171 320 7441.
The Viaduct Tavern is opposite the Old Bailey in The City. On the right hand side of the bar is a door which leads down to the cellars and at the back of the cellars are six prison cells. The cells used to be part of Newgate Prison which stood close to the Old Bailey. Newgate housed debtors and during a period when everybody was thrown in the clink just to get rid of them it often overflowed with prisoners. These tiny cells were used as an overflow for Newgate and were known as Compter Prison. Each cell held up to 16 men and the hole in the roof was for people to throw food down. You can imagine the men fighting for any food dropped, they were not given meals, and what some people did down the hole after a night on the beer! The landlady does do tours down to the cells. Telephone: 0171 606 8476.
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