Sutton: George V “GR” Postbox (c. 1910) – Corner of St Dunstan’s Hill & Westfield Road! (6.8.2023)

However, some Postboxes are always permitted to keep the designation of older (Constitutional) Monarchs. Within the grounds of Windsor Castle, for instance, we have observed a Postbox dedicated to King Edward VII (reigned 1901-1910) – with another Postbox in Oxford dedicated to King Edward VIII (who only ruled for the single year ‘1936’ – before being replaced after his ‘Abdication’ by King George III). Perhaps the above Postbox was constructed as early as 1910 – meaning it is currently 113-years old! Without knowing it, when this Postbox turned ‘100’ in 2010 – my family lived right next door to it!

Battersea Park: Beautiful Environs! (28.5.2023)

‘By 1846 an Act of Parliament was passed which authorised the plan. James Pennethorne and John Gibson, both of whom had worked on Victoria Park in Hackney, created the design. They elected to raise and level the ground on which the park was to be built, and so 750,000 tons of soil was excavated from nearby Surrey Docks. The park was finally finished in 1854, and was officially opened four years later by Queen Victoria, alongside its neighbouring Chelsea Bridge.’

Buddhism: London Peace Pagoda! (27.5.2023)

The history of this (Japanese) Buddhist artifact can be read above. As Chinese Buddhists – we support the concept of World Peace – and sympathise with the Japanese victims of the US Atomic Bombs. However, between 1931-1945 – the Imperial Japanese Army murdered over 9 million Chinese men, women and children – with countless more victims throughout Asia (including many Westerners)! To date, although individual Japanese Buddhists and Japanese Buddhist groups have called for World Peace – the successive post-1945 governments of Japan are puppets of the United States! This an unfortunate situation which has turned Japan in to a colony of American fascism and anti-intellectualism! Whilst calling for World Peace – the governments of a defeated Japan refuse to take responsibility for its War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity committed in China (and throughout Asia)!

Henry VIII: St Alban’s the Martyr Church (Cheam) – Constructed from a Nonsuch Royal Stable! (14.5.2023)

The wood used for the roof (and support beams) dates to about 1550 CE – and was originally a very large royal stable used by King Henry VIII and I am told – his daughter – Queen Elizabeth I! It was dismantled from its original site (adjacent to Nonsuch Palace) by Shipwrights – and brought to what was once a remote area of Cheam – and reassembled (with added contemporary brickwork) to form a very large Church! The wood would have been part of a royal forest cultivated in the area – grown to make ships, buildings and other required ‘royal’ structures! Therefore, the wood itself will be far older than the 1550 CE date the barn is believed to have been originally constructed! The beams are held together entirely by wooden-pegs – just as they were originally designned to be – with no ‘modern’ nails or connecting materials! Indeed, Shipwrights reconstructed this building as if they were building a wooden ship!

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