Postcard with a rooftop view of the Strand, City of Westminster, with the caption ‘Strand and Law Courts, London’. Looking east, the view shows the London skyline before large areas were destroyed in the Blitz of World War II and includes the 'wedding cake' spire of St Brides Church on Fleet Street and the dome of St Paul's Cathedral. In the foreground is the church of St Clement Danes, Grade I listed, number 1237099. The first church on the site was reputedly founded in the ninth century by the Danes; it was first rebuilt by William the Conqueror, and then again later in the fifteenth century. Shortly after the Great Fire of London in 1666, further repairs to the steeple were attempted, but these were found impractical, and the whole tower was rebuilt from the foundations. Work was completed in 1669. Soon afterwards it was decided that the rest of the church was in such a poor state that it too should be completely rebuilt to a design by Sir Christopher Wren, incorporating the existing tower which was reclad. The new church was constructed from Portland Stone, with an apse at the east end. The church was almost destroyed by German bombs during the London Blitz on 10th May 1941. The outer walls, the tower and steeple survived the bombing, but the interior was gutted by fire. As a result of the blaze, the church's ten bells fell to the ground. A nursery rhyme commemorates the bells: 'Oranges and Lemons say the bells of St Clements'. The bells were recast after the war and the church was restored under the supervision of Sam Lloyd. It was re-consecrated on 19th October 1958 to become the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. In front of the church is a bronze statue of Liberal Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) in robes of the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Sir William Hamo Thornycroft, unveiled on 4th November 1905 by the MP John Morley, a supporter and biographer of Gladstone. Around the circular Portland stone pedestal are bronze allegorical figures representing Gladstone's strengths and ideals: education, courage, aspiration, brotherhood. The statue is Grade II listed, number 1237098. To the left are The Royal Courts of Justice, commonly called the Law Courts, which house the High Court and Court of Appeal of England and Wales. Built in 1874 in Gothic-style to a design by G. E. Street on an area of slum housing, conveniently positioned close to barristers’ chambers in the Temple and Lincoln’s Inn. It was opened by Queen Victoria in 1882 and is Grade II* listed, number 1469747. In the distance, past the Law Courts, is the Old Bank of England on the corner of Bell Yard and Fleet Street. Built in 1886 by Sir Arthur Blomfield in an Italianate style. The building was occupied by the Law Courts branch of the Bank of England until 1975 when it was refurbished and is now a pub. The vaults beneath the pub once contained gold bullion and are said to have once held the Crown Jewels. It is Grade II listed, number 119268. Trees surround the church and a street vendor has a cart on the road. Parked outside are two cars, one with wedding ribbons on the bonnet.
