The Weathervanes Of The City
There is no more magical sight to glimpse in a London street on a bright spring morning than that of a gilded weathervane, glinting in sunlight high above the rooftops. At once – in spite of all the changes that time has wrought – you know you are sharing in a visual delight enjoyed by three centuries of Londoners before you and it makes your heart leap.
Consequently, I am grateful to Angelo Hornak who photographed this gallery of magnificent weathervanes for his book AFTER THE FIRE, London Churches in the Age of Wren, Hawksmoor & Gibbs.
Spire of St Mary-Le-Bow, Cheapside, by Christopher Wren
Dragon upon St Mary-Le-Bow, representing the City of London
Arrow & pennant on St Augustine, Watling St
Spire of St Bride’s Fleet St by Christopher Wren
Gridiron on St Lawrence Jewry, symbol of the martyrdom of St Lawrence
Weathervane on St Magnus the Martyr by Christopher Wren
Weathervane on St Michael Paternoster Royal, College St
Galleon on St Nicholas Cole Abbey, moved from St Michael Queenhithe after demolition
Weathervane on St James Garlickhythe
Crown on St Edmund King & Martyr, Lombard St
Key on the Tower of St Peter Cornhill
Cockerell on St Dunstan-in-the-East by Christopher Wren
Comet on St Mary-Le-Strand
Spire of St Martin in the Fields by James Gibbs
Square-rigged ship on St Olave Old Jewry
Flaming red-eyed dragon on St Luke, Old St, described as a flea in popular lore
Weathervane on St Stephen Walbrook by Nicholas Hawksmoor
‘Flame’ on the top of the Monument by Christopher Wren
Photographs copyright © Angelo Hornak
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Don’t forget to look up, wherever you are! Having said that, when I was a child I walked into a lamp post ‘cos I wasn’t looking where I was going, and ended up with a big lump on my forehead – and when I cried, was told that I should have been looking where I was going! No sympathy there then!
The shaft of the weather vane at St Lawrence Jewry is made up of an incendiary bomb shell case. The church was hit by such a bomb in during WW2.
I do love a weather-vane (have a Pinterest page on them). A beautiful coalition of nature and man’s artistry. There, I’ve just voiced what should be a world aim.
Such a weather vane is a really interesting motif. I like to look up myself and have tried to photograph quite a few of them — but even the most beautiful ones are usually too far away for my camera. Unfortunately.
I had to smile heartily at Marcia’s childhood memory!
Love & Peace
ACHIM
It was irresistible to try to come up with a favorite………….For me, it was the ships!…………..
and then I recalled that a magnificent 8-foot-tall ship tops one of our notable buildings nearby,
in Albany, New York. (our state capitol) This gorgeous weathervane of Henry Hudson’s
“Half Moon” is (I believe) the largest weathervane in our nation. It is absolutely magnificent.
Onward and UPward!
The wedding cake on St Brides 🙌