The Anonymous Widower

Crossrail’s Big Hole In The Barbican

Last night, I went to a lecture about Crossrail in the City of London Girl’s School in the Barbican. It is not an area, I visit often, but I did fulfil one of the ambitions C and myself had had since it was built about twenty years ago. That was to have a meal in the Pizza Express in the building  called Alban Gate, that is suspended over London Wall.

I was surprised to see this big hole in the plaza that ran south of the Barbican to London Wall.

Crossrail’s Big Hole In The Barbican

Forty years ago, when I lived in the Barbican, I used to walk across this area and take the bridge that then gave access to streets that led down to Bank, where I worked as a consultant on costing software. The buildings in this area were a group of rather unlovely office blocks, that only demolition would improve. I did find this picture taken five years ago, which shows London Wall in a picture set I uploaded, entitled Going Back to the Barbican.

This Google Earth image shows the Barbican.

Barbican Estate

We used to live in Cromwell Tower, which is to the north of the estate. It is a triangular tower to the north-east of the semi-circular building, which is above the Barbican Centre. The dual-carriageway road at the bottom is London Wall, with Alban Gate about halway along and the Myseum of London at the western end.

The hole shown in my picture doesn’t seem to have been created, but is between Alban Gate and the distinctive Moor House, which is near to the stations at Moorgate.

Sometimes, when I look at the Barbican, I wish that I’d moved there five years ago. Especially as now, I tend to live a simple life at home, that needs just one good bed, a kitchen and good television, broadband and transport links.

I suppose I could always move! But I’ve never been one for that! I just prefer and like updating properties.

May 7, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Barbican, Crossrail, Moor House