The Metropolis

History doesn't stand still

Mike Pollitt | Thursday 17 November, 2011 12:13

It moves all over the shop.

First this, from the Diamond Geezer:

The London Stone is moving. You know the one – the ancient stone in Cannon Street, the rock that legend says is linked to the destiny of our capital city. It’s being removed from behind the grille on the shop opposite the station, and relocated to an office block down the road.

Now this, from Peter Watts:

Next week, Museum of London Archaeology will begin a three year project that will put the Temple of Mithras back where it belongs, and restore it to something closer to its original form.

The remarkable thing about both these monuments is that this isn’t even their first move. They’ve been shunted about right left and centre. Do stones lose value when wrenched from their ancient beds? Not in London’s case it seems, perhaps because there’s so much history everywhere that something old will always feel meaningful, however newly it is laid.

Diamond Geezer – The London Stone is moving
The Great Wen – Secret London: the Temple of Mithras goes back where it came from

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