Wanderers' Wander,
Thursday 28th November, 2013
Oh what wonders awaited the Wanderers on their tour of the last remaining Grimsby-class sloop Wellington, tied up alongside Temple Stairs on Victoria Embankment. The ship, owned and operated by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, has (we are assured) an interesting set of exhibits, treasurers and historic atrefacts on board. Plus the silver and gold plate of the Master Mariners. As an extra bonus, they are currently running an exhibition entitled "CONVOY: The Battle of the Atlantic", giving an insight into the role that Wellington played in the battle.
Whilst waiting for the others to arrive, and just before the appointed 6 bells forenoon, messers West and James got around to reading the nearby sign.
After about the third time of reading, the meaning of the wording "Open Sunday and Monday" finally struck home, and organiser James realised that doing a quick pre-visit check on the interwebby thingy might not have been a bad idea after all.
After a quick consultation with the others it was decided that as Somerset House was just a little ways along the Embankment, it would be a good place to visit. On the way we popped up Strand Lane to have a peek at the, until then unheard of, Roman Baths.
In the courtyard of Somerset house is a large ice skating rink, set up for the winter season.
The Wanderers checking out the statue of George III (the king who commissioned the rebuilding of Somerset House). He is dressed, naturally(!), as a Roman Emperor.
And then, of course, the Wanderers wandered into a local hostelry, in this instance the Old Bank of England in Fleet Street. It does not need recording where the day ended, but it was jolly nice.