Comments on: In the Roof of St Paul’s Cathedral https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:08:38 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Geraldine Moyle https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-88170 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 11:08:38 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-88170 “Every wall tilts or curves or arches in a different direction and there is no longer any sense of height, you could equally be underground. ”
Ah yes, in the transition between the Whispering Gallery & the Stone Gallery exists a world unlike any other in London ~ though perhaps it is the (elevated) equivalent to those narrow passageways & courts off Cornhill, albeit these have open air to mitigate the claustrophobia, eh?
My memories date back to 40+ years ago, yet they are with me still, perhaps because walking the ill-lit corridors between inner & outer domes back then seemed like entering the back-stage machinery of an elaborate set. From what I see here ~ & elsewhere online ~ the recent restoration has embraced these behind-the-scenes places & introduced the most basic of remedies: whitewash! When I last walked between the domes (c. 1969), the walls were grey-black & the lighting was minimal ~ if we had stumbled over a stirrup pump or even encountered a residual St. Paul’s Watch volunteer, our surprise would have been muted.

“I shall continue to return and climb up to the dome as long as I am able, because my trips to the roof at St Paul’s offer contradictory experiences that unlock me from the day to day.”
I envy you, Gentle Author ~ & other visitors to the City’s cathedral. You get to see Wren’s masterpiece more so as his plans envisioned: this beautiful nest of light for worship, & even its dark places made bright.

]]> By: Lancelot Taylor https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-31665 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:30:28 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-31665 I stumbled upon ‘Spitalfieldslife’ by sheer chance while searching for some architectural/engineering details about the inner dome and its relationship to the other two. I’m so glad I did as your lucid descriptions and suggestions of mystery and grandeur fit my own experiences of visiting St Paul’s over many years. And that’s a concession from a down-under colonial whose land, sadly, doesn’t have too many great roof voids. Must see what else you have to offer.

]]> By: jeannette https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-13251 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:52:02 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-13251 thank you for alpine views i’d otherwise never scale.

]]> By: business travel management https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-12917 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 04:35:11 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-12917 The paintings in the ceiling still amaze me. Baroque art is everywehere.

]]> By: MARIA https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-12861 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:54:19 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-12861 i havent been to st pauls on any of my visits to london – the stunning panoramic photos in today’s post make me wish i were there right now – happy easter day gentle author

]]> By: Tricia Rose https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-12838 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:21:43 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-12838 Once again: I am so happy to have found your blog. You bring London more vividly into my mind than I’d have though possible – I thought I knew it well!

]]> By: Ekaterina https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-12834 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:52:20 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-12834 Thank you for such a great post! I visited St.Pauls in August last year and have been everywhere except the very high gallery. And the day was all bright and sunny, the views were fantastic! Thank you for bringing those memories to me and I hope this year when I visit London I’ll pay St’Pauls one more visit.

]]> By: Gary https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/04/24/in-the-roof-of-st-pauls-cathedral/#comment-12830 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 09:35:55 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=30486#comment-12830 A tribute to the ingenuity of man that this vast structure was built without cranes and computers, but with wooden scaffolding poles lashed with rope and basic rope and pulley hoists.
Gary

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