I've posted lots of food shots recently, so no market shot today. We went up to London and I noticed this monument which I have passed so many times in my life without really noticing it.
This is an 1865 homage to an "Eleanor Cross" that was originally erected near this spot in Central London in the 13th Century. There were originally 12 wooden (later stone carved) crosses that marked the nightly resting places of the body of Eleanor of Castille, wife of King Edward 1, as this was transported from Lincoln to London. Her funeral was celebrated at Westminster Abbey, where she is buried close to her father-in-law, Henry III. It is thought Edward wanted the crosses to remind passers-by of his late wife and provoke prayers for her soul. Some of the towns where she rested adopted "Cross" as part of their name, such as this one - Charing Cross.
This is now a busy central London rail terminus, close by Trafalgar Square, and I am not sure how many passers-by realise the history of the monument.
Thank you all for your lovely comments over the past few days, I really appreciate them all!
It's so great that you combine the history with the shot. Lovely! The monument certainly deserves to be noticed and known. That's the thing with your familiar surroundings, you rarely do pay attention to them. One of the reasons why I like to guide visiting foreign friends in my hometown is that in that way I get to see Turku through the eyes of a tourist! :)
Do you know I read something about Charing Cross being derived from Chere Reine (maybe I read it at the station) - but Google has proved fruitless since. Glad I'm not going mad and lovely pic!
