london VICINITY OF LONDON St Martin-in-the-Fields is

london VICINITY OF LONDON

St Martin-in-the-Fields is the setting for one of London’s most significant recent building projects: the £ 36 million regeneration of the church and its associated buildings. The renewal project at St Martin’s encompasses much more than the famous church in Trafalgar Square, London. Eric Parry Architects’ response to the brief centres around connecting each of the different elements of the site. FURTHER

St Martin-in-the-Fields Eric Parry Architects was awarded an Excellence in Design Award for the renewal of St Martin-in-the-Fields by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) UK Chapter at a ceremony held on 26 th March. The scheme was introduced by Peter Murray, chairman of Wordsearch and a member of this year’s awards jury, who praised “the elegant architectural solution proposed for this highly complex project. ” Murray also commended St Martin’s for its “stroke of genius in choosing an architect who understands the relationship between old and new in this city”. Eric Parry, founder and principal of the practice, said: “We are delighted to receive recognition for the careful work that lies behind this project. Our aim, and that of the client, was always to return a ‘better’ St Martin’s to its community and reinstate its status as a major contribution to London’s landscape. ”

BIG-BEN • Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower. The tower is now officially called the Elizabeth Tower, after being renamed in 2012 (from "Clock Tower") to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150 th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and is often in the establishing shot of films set in London. images

IMAGES BIG-BEN OF LONDON

BANK OF ENGLAND The building of Bank of England is in the heart of business part of London, the London City, on Trednidl (Threadneedle) Street that in translation into Russian the needle means to sewing", literally "to a thread" ". The street received such name, most likely, because that else in the 14 th century there was a workshop on production of needles, and later and a tailor's workshop. Sheridan possesses the playful name of Bank of England - "The old woman from the needle street" (The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street), but usually for speed bank call simply "Old woman" (The Old Lady). In the itself Bank of England as financial institution was created in 1694 and first took place at all here, but at the end of the 18 th century it received a site in nearly two hectares. The building was built according to the project of the architect John Soan which made it absolutely deaf and at the same time didn't miss opportunity to surround also with a lattice. Reason clear: behind this wall the impressive sums were stored. Not only that the huge building without windows looked not in the most attractive way, it until recently day and night was protected by special guards, and only in recent years they were replaced by electronic system of protection.

BANK OF ENGLAND Though today City it is built up with huge high-rise buildings and continues to grow up, the building of Bank of England nevertheless makes strong impression, perhaps, because that has an appearance of the uniform stone block. New banks, as a rule, try to seem available to clients, and their walls are made of glass. The equipment of the device of safes left far forward, and blank walls aren't required today any more. For safety reasons in Bank of England of strangers nevertheless don't let. And quite difficultly to find photos of internal premises of bank. John Soan's building in 1925 -39 was completely reconstructed by sir Herbert Baker, but Soan's blank wall was kept. Anybody, except employees, doesn't know that is behind this wall. Perhaps, from it round the building there are different legends of the ghosts which have lodged in bank. And though ghosts in England - a thing habitual, bank leave out of the common. The first of ghosts - the man who in the 18 th century worked in bank and was more than two meters in height. Being afraid that because of growth its grave will be dug up and the corpse is withdrawn for a vivisection, it secured with assurances that will be buried in bank walls, in a small internal court yard. Nevertheless, a grave it nevertheless opened and, really, found extraordinary big coffin. After that the ghost disappeared. But the main bank ghost - "The black nun". Its history if to trust Peter Underwood, such is. In 1811 one of employees of bank, Peter Whitehead, was fond of gambling, was lost and made for a debt covering two false checks. Friends gave out it then him arrested, judged and executed. However to his sister long time didn't say that with it and why he doesn't come back home from work. When she learned the truth, slightly went mad in mind and began to wander near bank. Employees of bank obtained it tiny

• pension. Forty years this woman dressed in BANK OF ENGLAND black (from here and "nun"), visited a bank vicinity, having gradually turned into the old woman. Some believe what exactly and the bank is obliged to it by the nickname. Say that its shadow flashes in corridors of bank and to this day. • It is necessary to add that at an entrance of a main entrance the floor is decorated with a mosaic of work of the Russian artist Boris Anrep. • Alexander Voronikhin