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| Bond Street by James Gilray 1796 Fashionable 'gentlemen' are forcing ladies to step into the road as they crowd the pavement (sidewalk). Gilray is also satirising the female fashion of wearing vertical feathers on their hats.
Bond Street is one of the world's most expensive retail locations on a par with Fifth Avenue, New York and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. It is divided into New Bond Street and Old Bond Street in the southern half but is effectively all one street. The auction house Sotheby's has been located there for over a century and at one time Bond Street was synonymous with art dealers and antique shops but, inevitably, high-fashion boutiques now dominate. This makes it a lot less interesting. Something of note is a sculpture of Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sitting on a park bench. Tourists are fond of sitting between the two while having their photo taken.
"The statue, which is named ‘Allies’, was created in 1995 by Lawrence Holofcener, an artist with dual nationality who was commissioned by the Bond Street Association to commemorate 50 years of peace in the area. It features life-like bronze statues of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, with their faces crafted into permanent smiles as they share a silent joke." www.mayfair-london.co.uk
Bond Street is named for Sir Thomas Bond 1620–1685. head of the syndicate which developed the area although the street as it is now was founded in 1700. The most famous residents were probably Admiral Horatio Nelson and Lady Hamilton.
A typical Bond Street store front.
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Coming next in this series:Liverpool Street Station with a wonderful story from before the Second World War.
14 comments:
The rather saucy Sir Tom Eagerly says:
Well Bazza old chap, it's been many a morning I have woken up on a park bench after one or three too many the night before. Never bumped into Churchill or FDR though!
Cheers, old thing!
Well Sir Tom, I am surprised that you never bumped into Churchill. He was rather fond of the booze too and you were probably born before he was!
I always remember this part of the board with dread...approaching Park Lane and Mayfair, which someone else always held and which I always landed on!
Hi Botanist: I haven't looked in on you for while. I must make up for that soon!
I would not mind owning some real property on Bond Street these days - it makes the Monopoly rents look like a bargain! However, I do share your memories of that part of the board.
Greetings human, bazza and of course, Ginger,
I think there should be a sculpture of your fine self and Ginger the cat, sitting on a park bench.
Thank you for reaching the home straight.
Pawsitive wishes,
Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)
From Bazza's Cat, Ginger
Hi Penny. I'm glad you are giving immodest internet star Gary a well-deserved break.
Yes, I have often wondered why there is no statue of me in Central London. (Not so sure that Bazza should have one though - perhaps me and Sir Tom?)
Hi Bazza,
An interesting post as always. The prices in Monopoly always amuse me, they don't seem to have changed in line with inflation!
Nearly the end now, what are you going to do next, I wonder!?
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES
Hi John. I have been thinking about what will follow the London Monopoly board -still working on it.
The prices do seem odd in Monopoly but when you get £200 for passing 'Go' you feel like a millionaire!
Nice to see what these places look like in real life!
Yes, very fashionable clothing stores have now taken over famous streets all over. There must be many who can afford them as there are so many. I do like to look in their windows though. Sadly, there are no large vertical feathers on hats anymore.
I love the statue of Churchill and Roosevelt.
Hi Sherry. When I write these posts I sometimes wonder if people in other parts of the world have heard of the places. From your comment I think you have!
Hi Arleen. I like expensive clothes but I don't/can't buy them these days. Window shopping will have to do but that's fine with me.
Hi Bazza - interesting to learn about the start of Bond Street - and I must now check out the whereabouts of the Bench .. we used to love Monopoly as kids ..
But also your art - I'm going to enjoy reading those posts and learning -
I've come via Nat Of Shoes and Ships and Cabbages and Kings - appropriate for Bond Street over tye years probably and other A-Zers ... cheers Hilary
Hello Hilary. I have seen you and your hat on various Blogs that I visit. I am sure I would have got around to coming to see you soon!
Thanks for visiting; I will replay the visit later!
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