Given an early finish before the Jubilee holiday, I cycled down to Queen Victoria Street and found St Andrew perched up high above the road. Not an inspiring view, and it would have meant drawing next to a busy road. So I walked up St Andrew's Hill and found this tight view of the tower down an alley way. There was a nice spot to sit right outside the Cockpit, so with some trepidation I chose this aspect.
The unusual view really worked - I like the depth, good foreground/midground/distance. Having the Georgian houses and Victorian shop (now a pub) so close to the church gave me a good subject for the series. Also, there were plenty of drinkers out in the street and they stood still long enough for me to include them. More bollards in the foreground - it feels like I'm doing a survey of the City's street furniture as much as drawing Wren's churches. I cheated the perspective slightly, by including the tight perspective on the back of the pub building.
St Andrew is by the wardrobe thanks to Edward lll. Apparently, he moved his state robes and other kit from the Tower to a building close to St Andrew. Named the Great Wardrobe, it was consumed by the 1666 fire along with St Andrew. However, the importance of the King's wardrobe is still reflected in street, building and church names. St Andrew is a plain building, with few of Wren's classical flourishes or creative architectural devices. But its red brick walls with ashlar quoins (I looked that up) are simple and elegant.
St Andrew was completely burned out in the blitz, leaving only Sir Christopher's walls and tower. It was restored in the late 50s and reopened in 1961.
Lots of Friday evening drinkers out celebrating the end of the week and the start of the Jubilee break, and loudly discussing share prices, office politics and the inevitable footy. They all left me alone, which was nice. I think the result is the best yet. I wasn't rushed, not having to get back to work, started at 5.10, set off to cycle home at 7.15.
More history here
A list of the 1638 parishioners and their rents and tythes here
Map here
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