Address: Not given
From: (in Tom Gray's handwriting)
To: Not specified
A visit to London (part 2)
Cafes
1st meal in Lambeth - 2 slices of thick bread and butter and a cup of tea each. It was good and we were satisfied.
2nd meal in Whitehall - a muffin and scorn and butter each with a pot of tea. No taste at all and the second cup rank poison. It was one of the Lyon's Cafes, the firm who advertise their splendid and refreshing tea. Their tea nearly split my palate and cracked my throat. It would have been better for them/me if they had saved all their money on advertisements and made me a decent cup of tea - I may want to buy half a pound of tea some day.
The cost of this tea was 400% more than for our first meal and if the cost of the two teas similar to no.2 meal and the cost of one tea similar to no.1 meal were added together, the total is 3/- What is the price of no.1. and no.2 tea respectively? And if two no.2. meals equal one no.1 meal which is the most suitable for a soldier in Kitcheners Army drawing 3/- per week. (Correct answers will be awarded a prize).
Houses of Parliament
We were accompanied by a guide, who explained all things to us, the majority of which I have already forgot.
The building is very fine both outside and in. The ceiling, walls, doorways and floors are magnificent. The walls are covered with pictures and portraits full of historical interest. Many of the windows are coloured and represent historical personages. Some of the pictures I have not forgotten are - King Henry VIII's pertrait witht he portrait of his 6 wives alongside - King Arthur, carvings representing the various stages of his life - life size picture of Charles (King) returning from France and landing at Dover being welcomed by the civic authorities - picture (lifesize) of the meeting of Wellington and Blucker on the field of Waterloo - picture of Sir Walter Raleigh spreading his cloak in the mud for Queen Elizabeth to walk over - carvings alongside each other of the Rose (England) Thistle (Scotland) Shamrock (Ireland) ...........(Wales) - portraits of Queen Mary (16th century) and Lady Jane Grey the 10 days queen.
The most remarkable picture is one that is on the walls of the room where Parliament originally sat, during the time of Simon-de-Montfort and Charles I. It is a very big picture and life size, and illustrates a historical event which happened directly in front of the picture. This was when Charles I ordered the House to adjourn, when they were transacting business which wasn't suiting him. The picture shows the House full of members discussing and arguing, while 4 or 5 of their number are forcibly holding down the Speaker.
There are statues and carvings of men famous in history all over the Houses of Parliament.
After entering the entrance hall we went through the Robing Room where the King puts on his robe, previous to entering the House when Formal Opening of Parliament takes place.
We went into the House of Lords and saw the Woolsack and the Royal chairs where the King and Queen and the Prince of Wales sit on State occasions. At the other end of the House is a rail across, called the Bar, and members of the House of Commons are allowed to come as far as the Bar only, on State occasions. Along the centre of the floor are the tables for the bills, documents and reference books; and from the centre the seats rise in tiers, about 6 rows of seats. Just outside the House are the stands for coats and umbrellas; above each peg is a card of some Lord Tommy Noddy or of the Earl of Blankshire.
The Lobby is a circular hall with a dome roof and is midway between the two Houses. There is a Post Office in a room just off the Lobby. The House of Commons is similar to the House of Lords in arrangement. The Speaker's chair is at the far end and the table is in front of it which holds the mace and the dispatch box. When the House is in session the Speaker must be in the chair and the mace on ther table. A difference between the two Houses which is very noticeable is that the seats in the Lords are covered with red plush and in the Commons they are covered with black leather.
In the sketch the letters show the different positions of the parties, G-government. O-opposition, L-labour, HR-Home Rulers Redmond, S-Speaker, A-Serjeant at Arms.
The Terrace is situated between two projecting wings of the building and can only be entered from the House. The Thames flows past the front wall of (the) Terrace.
I forgot to mention that the Houses were burnt down once and the only part which was not damaged was the Original House of Commons (St.Stephen's Hall - I think) and, when we went through, the roof of Westminster Hall was under repair.
I forgot to get the post-card photographs of the Houses of Parliament.
The Tower of London
This is a very old castle and is in a fine state of preservation. All things are there except the drawbridge, which we have read of in history and in stories, and it is a fine example of an old fortress.The walls in some places are 15 feet thick, and when looking at the high walls and battlements and the deep wide moat, which surrounds the lot, it is difficult to imagine how such a place could be taken in olden times. If the defenders had sufficent food, etc, it would be impregnable.The moat is now dry and is used for a parade ground.
The visit to the Armoury was very instructive and all kinds of weapons were seen, and you can read of in the Book. In particular, all the walls and ceilings are covered with very clever designs of star pattern, roses, etc; the whole being done with interwoven weapons of warfare such as old pistols, swords, ramrods, guns and daggers.The walls here are 15 ft thick and a passage runs inside the wall and there are spiral stairs at the corner of the building. The Strong Room which holds the jewels was also visited. The jewels and crowns, etc, are brilliant and cannot be described, but you will see from the Book what the room contained.
A visit to the Tower and Houses of Parliament cannot be underestimated. It would fasten events in your memory, never to be forgotten again. When I was in the Strong Room I was looking at thousands and thousands of pounds worth of gold and gems - I put my hand in my pocket and felt a very few coins of silver and copper, totalling about seven bob.
I hope this description will be understood especially would-be scholarship winners.
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Note: the local Northumbrian name for a Farne Island puffin is "Tommy Noddy".
