The old town of Cirencester, known as Corinium in the time of the Romans, lies in the beautiful countryside of the Cotswolds. a field quite near the town, reclines a statue of an old bearded man. By the statue a spring feeds a small stream. Nothing remarkable in this, but this little stream, gathering other waters as it flows along, is the accepted source of, surely, one of the most famous rivers in the world the Thames. Whilst still a gentle river, making its way through some of England's most beautiful lands, it wanders past many places where England's history has unfolded. Windsor, home of Monarchs;and Runnymede, where King John's Barons saw the signing of the Magna Carta, over seven hundred years ago. It is still a peaceful river where, in summer, launches and skiffs intermingle with graceful punts; and yachts, fluttering like butterflies, dart here and there across the shimmering waters. It soon becomes a mighty river, carrying great ships right into the heart of London and out again, to the farthest corners of the world. Without the Thames London would never have become the city that it is. Though of less importance now in this age of air travel, nevertheless it has its part to play, and it plays it well.
How best to describe this truly magnificent city? This crown that has so many jewels, each one with a different story to tell, a different fascination. Countless words have been written of it, and it can be almost all things to all men. Ever growing, its very size can be daunting. It sometimes seems difficult to know where it all ends. Of course, so much of what appears to be London was, until comparatively recently, a collection of quite separate villages, hamlets and even 'new towns' which have all gradually and inexorably been swallowed by what hag become known as Greater London. Few visitors would, however, feel the need to explore the whole of this vast area; most confine themselves to a relatively smaller area, largely on the north bank of the river between Hammersmith and Tower Bridges. Here Museums and Art Galleries, Markets and Monuments, famous buildings and statues, churches and squares abound, to stimulate the mind and delight the eye, and to set before the visitor the city's most remarkable history.
Called by the Romans Londinium, and defined by them by city. walls which still contain the city proper, it has been added to through the centuries. Legacies of fine buildings, streets, and squares have been left to us by succeeding generations. The Tower of London, built, or rather started, in the time of William the Conqueror, contains part of the old Roman wall. The very sound of its name must have been dreaded in times long past; for here were incarcerated traitors, and enemies of the state. Here, too, were Princes murdered. It serves a far less ominous purpose now as a monument to the city's past, wherein may be seen the Crown Jewels. Its ceremonies and its pageantry now an attraction for Londoners and visitors alike.
Of the many fine churches, of which London is justly proud, and of which Sir Christopher Wren was the architect, none an be more famous than his masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral. ' Not long ago it stood as a symbol in the smoke and fire of the ravages of war, as it seemed that all London burned around it. Around it now, stand the tower blocks and modern office buildings that somehow seem less permanent by comparison.
Best seen from the south bank of the Thames as evening falls, the silhouette of Big Ben's tower, the clock, and the Gothic fretwork of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Hall form, surely, the most famous outline, together with the Eiffel Tower of Paris, *in the world. Once the site of the old palace, residence of Kings, and now the seat of government, the old House of Commons was virtually destroyed in 1941. Happily it was rebuilt and restored to its old character after the war. How many are the decisions affecting the fate of Kings and Nations, that have been made here.
Not far away stands Westminster Abbey, coronation setting for so many Kings and Queens. Here many of them lie, ogether with the Unknown Warrior. Here too are buried many of the country's famous writers, in the aptly named Poets' Corner.
Landseer's lions stand guard around Nelson's statue, high on its column above Trafalgar Square. Built to commemorate Nelson's famous victory, it has become a meeting place for London's pigeons who wait, as though by right, to be fed by visitors, and are seldom disappointed!
As though to balance this wealth of stone, London contains an abundance of parks, gardens, and open spaces; the green fields of London'. To walk in these tranquil acres or to sit beneath the trees or by the lakes, is to forget that sometimes only yards away, a mighty city is hurrying by.
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