The Stones of London: A History in Twelve Buildings

by Leo Hollis

The story of London, told through twelve of its most seminal buildings.
In a sweeping narrative, from its mythic origins to the glittering towers of the contemporary financial capital, THE STONES OF LONDON tells the story of twelve London buildings in a kaleidoscopic and unexpected history of one of the world's most enigmatic cities.
From the Roman forum to the Gherkin, Regent Street to the East End, the Houses of Parliament to Greenwich Palace, London's buildings are testament to the richness of its past. Behind the facades of these buildings lie the stories of the people, ideas and events that took place within them and that caused their creation. They all have very human stories, of the men and women who dreamed and lived their lives in London, leaving their imprint upon the fabric of the capital.

Genres: London, History, Architecture, Geography, Cities, Art

464 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

London's history has been told by countless authors so even for a history fan with a taste for the place it takes a clever theme or a neat gimmick to make yet another account of the capital's past seem appealing. Leo Hollis's is to explore London's history through 12 buildings. not necessarily the "finest or most famous buildings of each era "but places", he explains, (that) "reveal an essential narrative of the city". Pleasingly for the history buff who likes to visit places they read about, "each of the buildings, places and remnants in this book can still be found today in various states". They are the Temple of Mithras, Westminster Abbey, The Royal Exchange, Greenwich, 19 Princelet Street, Home House, Regent Street, The Houses of Parliament, Victoria Embankment, Wembley Stadium, Keeling House and 30 St Mary Axe. They are a mixture of grand architectural projects, feats of engineering, reworkings of old quarters and domestic and suburban dwellings.

The chapters run chronologically, and although there is a great deal said about the architecture of the chosen 12 each chapter is also a tale of a part of the city and the social, financial, religious and legal forces that formed it. So, for example, in outlining the huge changes that Joseph Bazalgette's Victoria Embankment brought, the stories of the urban poor and modern medicine, cutting-edge technology, political corruption and the birth of London Underground are also looked at.

Unfortunately, but perhaps inevitably, the final chapter on modern London was the most disappointing and has aged poorly.

[Louise Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this fascinating, although, for me, the more modern chapters were more engrossing than the earlier ones. Bazalgette's Embankment - who would have thought sewers would cause such political debate! - and the convoluted history of the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament were fascinating while the analysis of the rebuilding of London after WWII and the modern redevelopment of the City was a much more entertaining read than I expected.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Stones to be tedious; it took me a long time to get through it. I think it's better suited for someone with a better knowledge of English history and the geography of London than I have.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Stones of London, Hollis tells the story of London by examining the history of twelve buildings. He starts with pre-Roman ruin and ends with 30 St. Mary Axe, better known as The Gherkin. While he touches on architectural issues most of what he covers are the sociopolitical history surrounding the structures.

The stories are great and he covers some of my favorite London sites, such as Greenwich, Westminster Abbey, The Royal Exchange and Wembley Stadium. My favorite chapter tell of the Victoria Embankment, created by Joseph Bazelgate, urban engineer, to create an infrastructure for drainage and sewerage in response to the cholera outbreak of 1854. In a densely populated city he, he devised a plan to recapture land from the banks of the Thames and create an elegant edge to the growing city to house essential infrastructure.

I love this book and I think anyone who likes London would enjoy it. And if you like London and architecture……it is a real treat.

[Rebecca Matlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read on how and why London is the dynamic city that it is today. Not only does the book talk about specific buildings, but it adds context by discussing subjects and periods essential to the formation of the city, such as state housing after WWII and the rise of suburbia.