The magazine of the City of London Corporation
5 ber 201 Decem
cityview Airport capacity Up in the air?
Bank Junction Roadway changes
Infrastructure improvements Superfast Broadband On its way
1 Promoting The City 1 Working with London’s communities 1 Supporting culture, history and green spaces
Contents
Issue 80 December 2015
cityview cityview is the magazine of the City of London Corporation, a uniquely diverse organisation that promotes and supports the City and provides a wide range of services for the City, for London and for the nation as a whole.
About the City
3
Speed is of the essence for a Connected City Business
4
The Interview Services
Unless otherwise stated in individual
6
features, more information on
All change at Bank
both the magazine and online
About the City
articles is available from the address below. We welcome, and value,
8
Rain doesn’t stop play
10
Cleared for take-off?
feedback but regret that
Business
correspondence cannot be individually acknowledged.
Services
The magazine is published
12
twice a year and is also
Make room, make room
available to download from
Things to do
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/publications
14
Dark obsession
15
Design for living
If you would like a summary of
Things to do
this publication in an alternative format please contact us at
About the City CityView
MAILING ENQUIRIES
City of London
020 7332 3099
cityviewmagazine City of London PO Box 170 Ashford, TN24 0ZX T 01233 214197 F 01233 500400
pro@cityoflondon.gov.uk
col@response-service.co.uk
PO Box 270 Guildhall London EC2P 2EJ
mail e by e ib r c s b Su
16
News in brief
online Follow
If you would prefer to receive an
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
email alert when the next issue
www.facebook.com/cityoflondoncorp
can be downloaded from our
www.twitter.com/cityoflondon
website, please contact us at the
www.pinterest.com/cityoflondon
addresses above.
www.flickr.com/cityoflondon www.youtube.com/cityoflondonvideos
cityview About the City
Speed is of the essence for a Connected City At the time of writing, BT Openreach will have begun work on putting the infrastructure in place to enable superfast broadband for businesses and residents in the Golden Lane area from early 2016. The work at Golden Lane is a continuation of the successful implementation of improved infrastructure to enable superfast broadband at 65 London Wall and Middlesex Street Estate. In addition, BT Openreach recently reaffirmed its plans to improve access to affordable, superfast broadband for up to 5,000 City businesses and residents during 2016-2017. The City Corporation welcomes all developments from telecommunications providers to enable superfast, affordable connectivity for the City. Its Superfast City Programme team continues to encourage telecoms providers to invest in the City, closely monitors progress of such enterprises and communicates them to businesses and residents as sites come on board and ‘go live’ is confirmed. At present, residents and businesses in some areas report speeds as slow as 4mbps –
meaning a very poor user experience for even everyday online activity such as browsing the web. Superfast broadband, reaching speeds of up to 80Mbits/s, will be transformative for business and leisure activity alike. City Policy Chairman Mark Boleat commented: “Our Superfast City Programme Team has been working hard to encourage telecommunications providers to improve the connection infrastructure in the City.
n Broadband download speeds of up to 80Mbits/s
n Quicker downloading of online content such as music, photos and films
n Improved video calls to enhance living and working in the Square Mile
n Making use of cloud technology to access files on the go
n Future-proofing you and/or business with the latest technology to meet newer
“The work on Golden Lane Estate is a first step to greater connectivity being offered across the Square Mile – something a world class financial centre both needs and expects. But at the same time we need businesses (especially SMEs who make up more than 90% of City firms) and residents to play their part. They need to contact their internet services provider to sign up for the faster speeds high speed broadband offers so that telecoms providers can see the clear market opportunities available for continuing the rollout of this infrastructure.
demands
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
“We also need stakeholders across the City to complete our survey to show the demand that exists.” 1
To complete our survey please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/smesbb www.surveymonkey.com/s/residentbb
MORE INFORMATION
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/superfastcity
t @superfastcity
Superfast benefits
the City Corporation’s other work in supporting business, especially SMEs. Go to www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business
3
4
cityview The Interview Philip Stephens of the Financial Times talks to Angela Eagle, the Shadow First Secretary of State and Business Secretary
Creating a partnership with business These are tough times on the opposition benches of the House of Commons. David Cameron’s government has suffered several squalls since the Conservatives’ unexpected general election victory. Tory MPs have forced an embarrassing U-turn over tax credits and junior doctors have voted overwhelming in favour of striking. Yet you would be hardpushed to say that Her Majesty’s loyal opposition has been reaping the rewards. On the day I join Angela Eagle, the Shadow First Secretary of State and Business Secretary, in her eyrie-like office atop one of the towers in the Palace of Westminster, the headlines for Labour are universally bad. In truth, Jeremy Corbyn, the party leader, has faced a week – no, more than a month – of unremittingly bad headlines. First it was the economy; now, in the aftermath of the Paris outrages, Mr Corbyn has been accused as being soft on terrorism. The fire has come as much from his own MPs as from those on the government benches. I find Ms Eagle unruffled. But then during the 23 years since she was
elected as MP for Wallasey she has never been one for histrionics. Quietly spoken, but absolutely clear about what she wants to say, Eagle leaves the tantrums to male colleagues. A self-proclaimed “working-class” MP, she and her twin sister Maria were the first in the Eagle family to go to university. Angela went from comprehensive school to St John’s College Oxford. Like David Cameron she graduated in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She is a first-class chess player. The experience may be useful when, as First Secretary, she stands in for Mr Corbyn at Prime Minister’s questions. Maria joined her at Oxford and then in the Commons. She now serves as Shadow Defence Secretary. My first question for the politician charged with shaping Labour’s approach to business and the City is the pretty obvious one. Surely the election of the avowedly left-wing Mr Corbyn as leader and his choice of the reputedly hard left John McDonnell as Shadow Chancellor has signalled that Labour is now essentially hostile towards business? Only the other day Mr Corbyn had
We are pro-business, we are pro-wealth creation. We want markets, though, that are ethical and sustainable
cityview
refused an invitation to speak to the Confederation of British Industry, while Mr McDonnell accuses big business of evading tens of billions in tax. “We’re not”, Eagle protests at the anti-business charge. “We’re not”, she emphasises. Labour, she says, is unapologetically pro-worker, but “we are also pro-business, we are pro-wealth creation. We want markets, though, that are ethical and sustainable.” In a nutshell “We prefer a more stable, fairer and sustainable society to one dominated by ‘wild west capitalism’, but we know that prosperity depends on wealth creation” This theme – that the interests of the hard-working classes and those of
business and finance are coincidental rather than inimical – is one that Eagle returns to many times. “We have to concentrate on how we gain prosperity for this country in the rest of the 21st century of the sort we enjoyed in 20th century... to remake our economic base, our industrial base, our business base, so we can carry on generating the wealth we can use to ensure we have a decent standard of living for everyone.” As for the City: “We have a very large and successful financial sector which has paid a lot of taxes in the past. We have always had a specialism in financial services from probably the 16th century onwards. You could probably trace it back further. So we have to ensure we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
Ms Eagle sounds convincing, but there remains something of a sense that she is walking a fine line between loyalty to the new leadership and her own pragmatism. When I ask about that rejected CBI invitation she admits that “communication with the leader’s office is not all it could be”. On the other hand, she would have been delighted to attend the conference, but had been told by the CBI that the invitation was “non-transferable”. Perhaps the CBI also wanted to make a political point, she says.
We have to concentrate on how we gain prosperity for this country in the rest of the 21st century
What about suggestions from Mr McDonnell’s office that, with the City in mind, a Corbyn-led government would impose a top rate of tax of 60%? It is too soon to set policies for an election more than
four years off, she says. And tax policy is for the Shadow Chancellor. Yet she makes no secret as to her instincts. “We have to have fair rates of tax. You know what our policy was at the last election (for a top rate of 50%) and that was specifically because of the issues with the deficit. If we are to believe the chancellor... we won’t have a deficit at the end of this parliament, and that leaves you in a completely different situation”. Then again: “It is as important that we tax as much as necessary and as little as necessary too”. She is clear also that the party’s commitment to an industrial strategy does not mean a return to the nationalisations of the 1970s. It is too soon to lay out a detailed set of policies, she says. Like a chess player
And what about the City? Has the government got things about right in the wake of the financial crash? Ms Eagle responds that she is just about to embark on a round of discussions with city groups and regulators. She wants to listen. She also intends to travel to Brussels – there are “great gains” to be made through the deepening of the single market in financial services and the creation of a capital markets union. As for regulation, her starting point is the need for transparency and incentives that discourage excessive risk-taking. She is on record as supporting a global financial transactions tax, but introduces a vital caveat about the plans of some eurozone states. Any such tax must be global:
she has to think through the moves. The final document will be hammered out in the party’s National Policy Forum – a body she happens to chair. The fundamental idea, though, is about “enabling”. That means a partnership with business rather than state direction. “We are a fantastically innovative country, but we don’t commercialise things properly, so we have got to start looking at how to build those structures to get innovation to market and commercialise it properly. No. it’s not about nationalising this, that and the other. It’s about being forward looking, building structures than enable us to be at the forefront of the next industrial revolution.” The end game is a high-growth, high wage economy.
“I think a European one, only happening in Europe, is far more difficult. It would be far harder to see how that would not just disadvantage the City.” These are arguments, though, that Britain can win. What’s needed is a more confident view of its EU membership. She will be campaigning energetically on the side of the “Better in” side before the promised referendum. “If only we were more engaged and more confident about our ability to have an effect in the EU, instead of throwing rocks and always causing trouble, we would be in a better position to get what we want”. 1
5
cityview Services
All change at Bank data has been gathered tracking pedestrian and vehicle movement which can be taken forward into traffic modelling.
For many people Bank junction is the centre of the City of London. Apart from its geographic location, it is the place where six streets meet and is where Mansion House, Royal Exchange and the Bank of England are located. At the three hour morning peak around 47,000 pedestrians and 8,200 cars, taxis, buses, lorries, coaches, motorcylists and cyclists cross this junction. Pedestrian and cycling figures are also expected to rise in the future as the City’s working population grows.
The work comes at a time when there are several other significant traffic projects taking place that are liable to affect the junction. Crossrail will open in 2018, work at London Bridge station has already been going on since 2013 and Transport for London is due to start work on a Bank Underground Station capacity upgrade in 2016. At present Bank Station is used by 98,000 people at its peak and this upgrade will increase capacity to 147,000, future proofing it for 60 years. There are also two major buildings due to open in the future – the Bloomberg Building, opposite Mansion House, and the conversion of the old Midland Bank building into a hotel. In addition, a review needs to be carried out of both Cannon Street and Monument junction in collaboration with Transport for London.
The area has been recognised as being unsafe, confusing, takes too long for pedestrians to cross and is not somewhere people want to linger. Not surprisingly, the City Corporation has been working on ways to improve the junction. Its Bank Area Strategy, published in May 2013 highlighted the junction as a particular problem. Since then movement analysis has been carried out to track pedestrian and vehicle use which can then be taken forward into traffic modelling to see what would happen if certain roads were to be closed. Since then a great deal of
TOK ENH E H
U RY
THR
RY
ER L
RT O
ST
N ST
LA B IR C
RD
UR
’S L ENT EM
CH
A
LAS
LA
ST ST
UR
BA
CH
LA
M
HO HL
A
SH
NS T
LO
CH
SL
LA
IN’ ITH
NE ERB
OR
SW
ST
ST
M
OOK
IA
LBR
LL
WA
LL NHIL CORN C
WI
NO
Royal R Ro Ex x change c an
G
nsion n use e
ST
H IN N
M sion Mans Hous se
S t Stephen S Step W Wa Walbrook k
LE
NIC
TO
EED
AB
QU EE N ST
VIC
BANK BA JUNCTION JUN U ON
A
EEN
DN
KIN
QU
ST RIA
TH
A RE
CH
OLD
E’S
POUL T RY
CAN
MO
Bank off Engla glan and nd
INC
ow
OG
JEW
ONG NM IRO
KIN G ST
A
LO T H B
One of the aims is to create a junction which improves traffic flow and is safe for all road users especially for pedestrians and
PR
heapside
T
6
FENC
HU
cityview
cyclists. To date, modelling has identified four options worth close examination and all based around eliminating one or more of the arms feeding traffic into this six arm junction. To whittle these down to a preferred option will require collaboration with Transport for London and will take time.
should be available in spring 2016. Full public consultation on any proposals would be undertaken.
The objectives of the Bank Junction Improvements project are n to reduce casualties by simplifying the junction and reducing conflict
n improve pedestrian crowding levels
Once a preferred option has been accepted, detailed design work can be started to show how the movement of cars, buses, delivery vehicles and pedestrians can be accommodated, how all buildings could be serviced , where bus stops would be located and many other detailed matters. It would also include artistic impressions of how the space would look.
n improve air quality and
n improve the perception of ‘place’ – as an area to spend time in rather than to pass through
What traffic modelling will identify n Where motor vehicles will divert to, arising from any
With the scale of the junction, the number of intersecting streets and the huge number of users (and projected additional users), any improvements will take time and be subject to design development and consultation. Once the initial overall approach has been approved by elected Members, detailed design work can begin and the first indications of the form and nature of any changes
changes at the Junction
n How the City network of streets will function
n Changes to traffic journey times through the City
It is planned that the project will be complete before the Bank Station work finishes. However, the City Corporation’s Transport team is also looking at what measures could potentially be brought forward ahead of the full improvement work that might alleviate pressures at the junction. Already, many business and other organisations in the immediate area have been contacted by the City Corporation to gauge their views on potential improvements and how they might be affected. Michael Welbank, Chairman of the City Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, said: “We take safety very seriously – of pedestrians, cyclists and all other road users. That will be at the heart of any changes that are finally proposed. But we also want to make Bank Junction a more attractive place generally bearing in mind its location at the very centre of the City and the historic buildings and amenities around it”. 1
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
the Aldgate area public realm improvements and other City traffic schemes and proposals. Go to www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/transport MORE INFORMATION
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/transport
t @SquareHighways
7
8
cityview About the City
Rain doesn’t stop play
The weather may not have been kind but nothing takes the shine off the Lord Mayor’s Show – especially when it’s marking its 800th anniversary. This special event spurred the crowds to turn out despite the poor weather to show their support for those taking part and welcome the new Lord Mayor of the City of London. With his arrival on the Thames, in a somewhat sturdier vessel than the usual row barge, the Lord Mayor travelled to Guildhall and then Mansion House to wave off the procession.
This was preceded by a two minute silence as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks in Paris the night before. As ever there was a strong Livery presence in the Show as well as the military in all its different forms. That included 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) which was celebrating a landmark of its own with 75 years of operation. One of the highlights of the day was the regiment having the City Privilege conferred on it by the Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor’s own links to the
City were marked by the inclusion of Maritime London, the Ward of Cheap, Clarksons Platou, the Society of Maritime Industries, the Corporation of Trinity House and Appeal recipients JDRF and the Sea Cadets. Taking part for the first time this year was Characters Cars with the iconic batmobile, Agincourt 600, City A.M. (celebrating its 10th year of publication) and Tourism Ireland which featured the Dublin Lord Mayor’s coach. Built in 1791 its inclusion in the Show was the first time it had left its native shores where it
cityview
leads the annual St Patrick’s Day Dublin Parade. Other notable entries were the Portsoken Community float with its theme of “Living among Giants” and the Ellesmere Port Giants celebrating Queen Elizabeth II as the longestreigning monarch. The international element of the City was represented by the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, Singapore’s Golden Jubilee, the UK-China International Exchange Association and Hamburger Morgensprache. 1
Alderman Jeffrey Mountevans is the 688th Lord Mayor of the City of London. A Crossbench Peer in the House
UK should maintain and enhance
of Lords, he assumed the title of
the UK’s position as a leading
Lord Mountevans in December
maritime centre. He has been
2014. He has served as Alderman
Chairman of Maritime UK since
for the Ward of Cheap since 2007
2014, is Chairman of Maritime
and served as Sheriff of the City
London and is a member of the
of London in 2012-13.
Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.
Alderman Mountevans was born
The Lord Mayor’s main chosen
in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was
charities for his Appeal are JDRF
educated at the Nautical
(Juvenile Diabetes Research
College Pangbourne, and
Foundation) and Sea Cadets.
Pembroke College, Cambridge,
The funds raised will help JDRF
where he read Economics. He
cure, treat and prevent type 1
has worked in the City since 1972,
diabetes through its research
having joined the shipbrokers
work lifeline. Likewise, the Sea
Clarksons as a graduate trainee.
Cadets will be able to help give
He was most recently a Director
young people a positive
in their Gas department, having
experience on their Tradewind
stood down to chair the
yachts and gain accredited RYA
Government’s Maritime Growth
sailing qualifications that will
Study, which examined how the
inspire them for life. 1
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
A film of this year’s Show here: www.youtube.com/user/CityofLondonvideos MORE INFORMATION
On the new Lord Mayor can be found at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lordmayor For more information on his chosen charities go to www.thelordmayorsappeal.org
9
10
cityview Business
Cleared for take-off? Possibly the UK’s most contentious transport issue should finally be resolved in the next couple of months: whether the government gives the go ahead for a third runway at Heathrow. For many years the City Corporation has been pressing successive governments on behalf of London business for greater airport capacity in the south east. This is not just for its importance in maintaining the City’s position as the world’s leading international financial centre but also for the associated creation of jobs and growth across the UK.
FLIGHT FACTS Let Britain Fly is led by London First. It is the campaign to expand airport capacity in London and the South East to support jobs and growth. Its aim is to build cross-party political support to build new runways. It is supported by a broad and wide strategic campaign coalition that includes business leaders, business organisations, trade and professional associations, trade unions, think tanks, academics and economists. Other members include n the City Corporation
n the Institute of Directors
n the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
n Canary Wharf Group
n The Federation of Small Businesses
n Aberdeen Asset Management n Harrods
Now the City Corporation has formally backed the recommendation of the Airports Commission for a third runway at Heathrow. A report to the Policy & Resources Committee in September stated that: “If the City is to continue to compete on the global stage then the financial and professional services firms based in the UK need to be able to do business globally. They especially need to be easily able to travel to emerging markets where economic opportunity is abundant. As the Commission made clear, Heathrow can provide that capacity most efficiently and effectively.”
Although the UK is currently well served for access to other global hubs, Heathrow is already operating at 98% capacity. A special interest paper commissioned by the City Corporation last year set out how short term measures could help with capacity (such as reduced delays and redistribution of traffic) but that only long term solutions could improve resilience, connectivity and competitiveness. The Policy Committee also pledged the organisation’s support for the package of measures proposed by the Commission to mitigate the expected environmental and
Financial and professional services firms based in the UK need to be able to do business globally
cityview
community impacts. The Commission has recommended that: “The package includes a ban on night flights, more reliable respite for overflown communities, a legally-enforced ‘noise envelope’, a statutory independent aviation noise authority, and a noise levy to fund a far stronger and more generous set of compensation and mitigation schemes. New measures to ensure acceptable air quality
around the airport will also be needed.” These measures would then help protect City Corporationmanaged open spaces nearby. At the same time as it gave its backing for the Airports Commission’s recommendation, the City Corporation has also agreed further backing for the Let Britain Fly campaign to keep up the pressure for an early decision.
City Policy Chairman Mark Boleat stressed the need to a quick resolution for this issue: “The amount of research backing the need for increased airport capacity clearly shows the urgency of this matter. We don’t just need a swift response to the Airports Commission’s report but for positive action to take place to avoid the risk of London losing its leading position as a business centre.” Indeed the Commission’s report states that a new runway in the south east is needed by 2030 so an early decision would be essential given the decade it will take to bring it into operation.
The City Corporation has long been an advocate for transport improvements for London. It has been one of the Crossrail project’s biggest supporters since it was first mooted back in the early 1990s and is a major financial contributor to it. Crossrail will add much needed capacity to London’s transport infrastructure and will significantly improve connections between airports, reduce journey times and increase the capacity for economic growth. It is estimated that 200m people will use it each year. 1
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
Other transport projects in the City. You can find out more at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/transport MORE INFORMATION
www.gov.uk/airports-commission www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/research
Airport capacity and the City Corporation 1996
support given to building Heathrow Terminal 5
2002
commissions research showing overwhelming business
2004
welcomes government commitment to airport expansion in
support for expanding capacity at Heathrow the south east 2008
responds to government consultation and supports extra
2008
commissions report showing 82% of City businesses see
2011
responds to a government scoping document supporting
capacity at Heathrow and Stansted Heathrow as critical or very important increased aviation capacity, particularly at Heathrow 2012
commissions research showing the City as dependent on an airport acting as a global hub for emerging markets
11
12
cityview
Services
Make room, make room The Mayoral elections are due to take place in May next year and one of the biggest issues facing the candidates is that of housing. It was also one of the key questions posed to all political parties this year in the run-up to the General Election. This nationwide problem is particularly pressing for London. The inability to supply sufficient housing to meet demand has led to problems of affordability for many households on low and medium incomes. Almost every day the Evening Standard highlights the record prices being asked for modest
sized accommodation, how the average house price is expected to reach £1m in the coming years and how people are being priced out of the capital altogether. It has been estimated that London needs to deliver 49,000 homes each year for 10 years to address not just the existing backlog but future demand. The situation not only affects the capital’s communities but is a risk to its competitiveness and economy as it threatens the recruitment and retention of staff. The majority of Londoners’ incomes puts buying a
house well out of reach for many not already on the housing ladder. In 2014 the cheapest 10% of homes were sold at prices more than four times the salary of three quarters of those in full-time employment. With this in mind, the City Corporation’s Policy & Resources Committee has given its approval to a report proposing to increase the supply of homes on its social housing estates by 25 per cent (equivalent to 700 homes) and
DRON HOUSE
CITY CORPORATION SOCIAL HOUSING ESTATES Avondale Square, Southwark 640 homes including 47 sheltered housing units
Dron House, Tower Hamlets 79 flats
Windsor House, Hackney 104 flats and maisonettes
Sydenham Hill Estate, Lewisham
AVONDALE SQUARE
(Lammas Green, Otto Close and Mais House) 27 houses, 60 flats and maisonettes and a sheltered housing scheme
Holloway Estate, Islington 180 flats, maisonettes and houses plus 12 homes for people with disabilities
York Way Estate, Islington 275 flats
Middlesex Street Estate, City of London 226 flats
Southwark Estates, Southwark 368 flats
Isleden House, Islington BARBICAN ESTATE
76 flats, 31 of which are sheltered housing
Golden Lane Estate, City of London 557 flats and maisonettes
In addition there is the Barbican
William Blake Estate, Lambeth
Estate (private housing but managed
126 flats and houses (includes York House, Lynton
by the City Corporation) and the
Mansions and St James Mansions)
Mansell Street area which is
Horace Jones House, Southwark
managed through the Guinness Trust.
43 new flats by Tower Bridge
cityview
provide 3,000 extra homes on developments sites that it owns. The plan is to deliver a range of homes – social rented, shared ownership and homes for market sale and rent. The City Corporation will work with partner local authorities where it identifies potential sites and determine how the land can be used for housing where in the past it has been used for other purposes.
GOLDEN LANE ESTATE
To achieve this target, the organisation will be looking at options to work with developers and housing associations. It will also be exploring the opportunity of setting up a local housing company that could help attract investment and deliver returns by providing this new housing.
ISLEDEN HOUSE MIDDLESEX STREET ESTATE
City Policy Chairman Mark Boleat said: “Make no mistake: housing is a problem that has to be addressed, and it has to be addressed now. If this were a free market, the supply of housing would have increased to match demand, but the market is not free – planning policy and other constraints severely restrict the supply.
Corporation playing its part in meeting demand. But we are also bringing together industry and policy-makers to help spread best practice and take advantage of our expertise in financial and professional services. Hard questions need to be asked: are existing financial models fit for purpose? Do current planning regimes help or hinder the delivery of new housing? Are all local authorities going beyond their statutory social housing obligations by acting as an “enabler” of more new housing units across the whole tenure spectrum? “We have already helped launch the Housing & Finance Institute to facilitate an increase of housing supply of all types and to promote better delivery and financing of housing. We are also working with London Councils, central government and the Mayor of London to influence policy change that will help the market respond to the scale of need.” 1
MORE INFORMATION
WINDSOR HOUSE
“This commitment to build new homes is one element of the City
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/housing
f CityFYi t @CityFamilyInfo
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
the City Corporation’s work supporting local communities or how it supports City competitiveness. Go to
LAMMAS GREEN
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
13
1414
cityview Things to do
Dark obsession Why are we so fascinated by
assassination attempt on Queen
‘Execution box’, contains
crime? From the Jack the Ripper
Victoria in 1840, are amongst the
amongst other things, two ropes,
murders to the Kray brothers and
first items on display. A few
so that the hangman could
the Great Train Robbery, crime
minutes later and you’re drawn
choose the one he felt was more
stories have forever been
into the collection of historical
appropriate and a very specific
surrounded by mystery. But what
evidence,
set of tests took place before
about the objects involved
ranging
each execution. If this is not
in these crimes, what stories do
from the
peculiar enough, a set of real
they tell?
mid-1880s
ropes, each labelled with names of people they were
to modern days.
used on, from 1847 to 1896,
A new exhibition at the Museum of London brings together some
Individual cases, stating names of
never-before-seen objects from
victims, offenders and police
the Metropolitan Police’s Crime
detectives (sometimes working
Museum for public display.
meticulously to solve the crime),
The Crime Museum Uncovered
are chillingly fascinating, like the
unlocks real-life case files to
actual trunk found in Charing
take you on an uneasy journey
Cross station in 1927, containing
through some of the UK’s most
a woman’s remains.
are guaranteed to make you feel really uneasy. Coming forward to more modern times, truly fascinating items include a ’Murder bag’
notorious crimes.
from the 1940s,
Other stories are really touching, Originally deposited in a property
like the execution of Ruth Ellis in
when forensics was in its infancy,
store for prisoners to collect after
1955. Accused of killing a violent
containing everything used to
being released, items soon began
man who caused her to miscarry,
collect evidence from crime
to pile up. It wasn’t until 1875,
she was the last woman to be
scenes; and a shotgun disguised
when Inspector Percy Neame
executed in Britain. Public outcry
(in true James Bond’s style) as a
began listing them and using
during and after the case,
rather plain, black umbrella.
them to train police officers.
brought changes in legislation,
The Police Museum, as it
and in 1969 the death penalty for
became known, was only open
murder was abolished.
The Crime Museum Uncovered promises to tell the human stories behind the objects
by invitation.
on display.
And did you know that, the Journalists soon began
death penalty in
And in a very simple,
speculating about the collection
Britain was only
yet powerful way, it
fuelling the public’s imagination
abolished in 1998? Up
draws into the life of the
by describing the objects as
until then, apparently, it
victims, the dedicated
being really ‘dark’ – so much so
was still applicable to
detectives and
that the Museum quickly became
treason, piracy with
some truly fascinating
known as the Black Museum.
violence and arson of the
criminal minds.
Sovereign’s ships. Detailed courtroom sketches, prisoners’ records cards (some as
And on the subject of
young as 12 year’s old!) and more
executions… a large box,
impressively the gun used in the
appropriately named an
MORE INFORMATION
www.museumoflondon.org.uk
fx& /museumoflondon t @museumoflondon
From top: murder bag forensics kit; the Smith & Wesson .38 revolver used by Ruth Ellis to murder David Blakely, 1955; personal possession of Ronnnie Biggs 1963; knuckleduster used in an assault, c. late 19th or early 20th century; masks used by the Stratton brothers – the first criminals to be convicted in Great Britain for murder based on fingerprint evidence, 1905.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
London Metropolitan Archives and the City of London Police Museum www.cityoflondon.go.uk
cityview Things to do
Design for living
their development of a moulded
and Ray began exploring the
plywood leg splint, adapted from
possibility of producing high
their furniture experiments, was
quality furniture but using existing
swiftly put into practice by the
manufacturing methods. In 1946,
More than 380 works across
military during the Second World
Evans Products began producing
than for a client. As well as being
architecture, furniture, graphic
War.
their moulded plywood furniture
a centre for activities, the house
and product design, painting,
and their plywood chair was
became a magnet for architects
Their covers of Arts and
heralded as ‘the chair of the
and designers and is regarded as
photography and more are
Architecture magazine 1942-47
century’ which then lead to the
one of the most significant post-
now on show at the Barbican
are mounted on the wall and are
creation of their plastic chair in
war residences in the world.
the 1950s.
drawing, film, sculpture,
in celebration of the huge impact
accompanied by sketches and
and influence of Charles and
studies of early development
Ray Eames.
ideas – many devised from their
One of their most important
Charles and Ray’s idea of
second bedroom which became
works is ‘Case study house no.8’
transmitting ideas through
a ‘laboratory’.
which includes photos, models
exhibition, film or installation such
and an overhead film covering its
as their involvement in the 1964-5
Considered to be among the most important designers of the
In addition, the exhibition traces
20th century, this is the first major
A display of experimental
design and construction. This
IBM Pavilion at the New York
UK exhibition of their work and
chairs follows with a variety of
project was part of a wider Art
World’s Fair and ‘Mathematicon:
experiments in design for 15
shapes; some familiar, some not
and Architecture magazine
a world of numbers…and
years.
and include a mini elephant
programme but the couple
beyond’ which explored
which was part of a small
designed it for themselves rather
mathematical concepts
It begins with the couple’s move
collection of children’s chairs,
to Los Angeles in 1941 and their
tables, and stools.
through interactive mechanical devices – connecting maths and
use of design to solve problems was displayed very quickly as
the real world. As the 1940s progressed Charles YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
our Guildhall Art Gallery and the range of themed walks available in the City www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
MORE INFORMATION
www.barbican.org.uk
ft /BarbicanCentre x /barbicanlondon
15
16
cityview And finally Battle scarred On the 100th anniversary of the
line of the city’s defences.
Zeppelin air raids of World War
Records from 1805 tell about the
One, and the 75th anniversary of
Londoners who volunteered to
the London Blitz in World War Two,
defend the capital against
London Metropolitan Archives is
Napoleon and images from 1815
running a new, free exhibition
show how they celebrated when
looking at the impact of five
Wellington defeated the French
conflicts on London and
at Waterloo.
Londoners. Photographs from the First World From the English Civil War to the
War record the effect of the
Cold War, War in London reveals
Zeppelin air raids, when bombs
manuscripts, maps, photographs
fell on London for the first time,
and films that show the
and a new version of the iconic
destruction of the city, the threat
Second World War bomb
of nuclear attack and the
damage maps shows the
heroism of ordinary Londoners.
destruction wrought on the entire
Documents on display show how
central London area.
Londoners went to war with the King in 1642 and stood in the front
MORE INFORMATION
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma
Help us spread the word...
Worth debating
The City Corporation has
admission/session fees, transport
The new year sees another
launched a £100,000 fund to
hire and supply teachers.
diverse range of free lectures on
assist school trips to the City’s
The aim is to make the City’s
offer from Gresham College.
many iconic venues, including
cultural destinations more
Talks cover such topics as
Museum of London, Tower
accessible to schools in
Celebrities, the Media and the
Bridge, Guildhall School of Music
disadvantaged areas, who
Personal Data Privacy Wars;
& Drama and the Barbican.
often find it challenging to
To Blame or Not to Blame? The
raise funds.
Medical Profession and Blame
and special schools across the
The fund is available for three
Galaxy; and How Can Software
capital where at least 30% of
years and is managed by the
Be So Hard?
pupils receive the Pupil Premium.
Museum of London, which the
Schools can apply for grants to
City Corporation co-funds.
The College is supported by
who live and work in the City of
cover essential costs including
Every year, around 200,000
the City of London Corporation
London to engage in
pupils benefit from the City’s
and the Lord Mayor is its
intellectual debate on those
cultural offering, either
President. It is named after
subjects in which the City has a
through school trips or
Sir Thomas Gresham, son of
proper concern, and to provide
education outreach.
Sir Richard Gresham who was
a window on the City for
Lord Mayor in 1537/38.
learned societies, both national
The fund is for primary, secondary
Culture; The Formation of our
and international.’ Every year its Gresham Professors and other visiting speakers offer over 100 free public events which are ‘to challenge those
MORE INFORMATION
www.gresham.ac.uk (which includes film and MORE INFORMATION
audio of this and previous lectures)
http://cityschoolvisitsfund.org.uk
ft greshamcollege