Having a gander at Ghandi

February 28th, 2014, 2pm

It was 7°C with broken clouds. The breeze was gentle.

Yesterday my lunchtime walk took me to Tavistock Square, another one of the garden squares established by the Bedford Estate at the beginning of the 19th century. In the centre stands this statue of Mahatma Ghandi, at the base of which people regularly leave flowers and candles as a memorial to this very interesting man.

Unlike Bedford Square, this is a totally public square, so you’re able to stand in the centre and get a comprehensive view of all sides. But to be frank, it’s a bit of a disappointment. The only Georgian houses that remain are those on the western side of the Square, the rest having been replaced in the 20th century by buildings of somewhat lesser architectural value (in my ever so humble opinion).

Here’s a view looking north west:
tavistock-sq-view-to-nw-720.jpg

And here’s a view looking north east:
tavistock-sq-view-to-ne-720.jpg Outside the British Medical Association building, on the far left of this picture, is where one of the four 7 July 2005 suicide bombings took place, killing 13 people plus the suicide bomber.

On a much happier note, there are some beautiful flowers here, including these:
tavistock-sq-flowers-720.jpg

tavistock-sq-crocuses-720.jpg

The Square is also home to several memorials in addition to the one for Ghandi, including these two, for Virginia Woolf and conscientious objectors:
tavistock-sq-vwmemorial-350.jpgtavistock-sq-comemorial-350.jpg


Amal, David Wade, Lia and Christine said thanks.

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Adrian Tribe

A follower of Jesus Christ, a husband and father, a Kentish Man (not a Man of Kent), a commuter to London

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