The Living Churchyard at Bridlington Priory

The Living Churchyard at Bridlington Priory

Posted on by Kayleigh

The current churchyard at the Priory is a nice idea. To survey wildlife and conserve the area, the Diocese of York teamed up with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to create a ‘living churchyard’. Essentially, they let the local grasses and wildflowers grow all over the place. In turn, this encourages flora and fauna to stay in the habitat. The local plants benefit important pollinators like bats and bees, as well as enticing birds and insects of all kinds to hang out there.
In addition, they’ve made various hides for local critters including a stone pile, wood pile, and compost heap.

Imagining all the little hedgehoggies nestling in the wood makes me so happy!

St. Bride’s Church, London: The Ripper, The Fires, and the Wedding Cake

St. Bride’s Church, London: The Ripper, The Fires, and the Wedding Cake

Posted on by Kayleigh

From this same spot at the rear of the nave, you can see many of the hallmarks of Wren’s original designs. For example: the symmetry and clean lines, the bold black-and-white marbled floor, and the emphasis on natural light are all very Wren-esque features. There are delicate gilded patterns on the ceilings and columns, and the rounded windows give the whole place a very soft, inviting look.

I was momentarily frozen in place by how neat and well-kept St. Bride’s looks. It’s a beautiful church, with a calm aura that feels deeply spiritual (even to me, an agnostic with no religious affiliation).

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & UnNatural History

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & UnNatural History

Posted on by Kayleigh

Shuffling into one of the benches at the table, I said hello to the skeleton and notified them that I planned to sit and drink for a while. It was quite pleasant, just perching there with a glassful of absinthe, surrounded by the weird and wonderful collection. Across the table from me sat an enormous lioness, in a regal posture with glaring, wild eyes. She was taxidermy, not live (which would’ve been infinitely better, of course), but she was stunning.

Lost Boys Pizza: The Camden Pizzeria For Vampires

Lost Boys Pizza: The Camden Pizzeria For Vampires

Posted on by Kayleigh

All the pizzas at Lost Boys/Souls are made with their signature black dough. Some even have pesto pentagrams drawn on them, for all you Wiccans and Satanists out there. I personally would call the dough ‘tombstone grey’ in colour, but it’s so cool-looking! Definitely matches the gothic vibes of the place.

Highgate Cemetery: Writers & Revolutionaries in the East Side

Highgate Cemetery: Writers & Revolutionaries in the East Side

Posted on by Kayleigh

I spent some time looking for the original grave of Karl Marx. It was marked (Marxed?) on the map but only approximately, as it’s located in a very crowded and old part of the cemetery. Try as I might, I couldn’t see it among the many headstones and long grasses growing hither and thither. So there’s a challenge if you ever visit Highgate: try to find Marx’s ‘real’ grave site! (If you have managed this, please comment and feel free to gloat)

Highgate Cemetery: The Wild West Side

Highgate Cemetery: The Wild West Side

Posted on by Kayleigh

One of my first observations was just how lush Highgate is (especially the west side). There are tall trees, and lots of what people may call overgrowth. To me, this adds to the beauty and charm, the peace, and the thoughtfulness of Highgate. I don’t know… I sometimes find over manicured graveyards a bit soulless. Here at Highgate, the trees are even trying to reclaim tombstones in some places!

The Charterhouse and its Plague Skeleton

The Charterhouse and its Plague Skeleton

Posted on by Kayleigh

I’ll be honest with you – I originally only went to the Charterhouse for the skeleton.

Let me explain. The Charterhouse as a building began its life in 1371 and was a monastery. However, before any structure stood there, the area was used as a plague pit. During the Black Death, which began in 1348, London was overwhelmed with the dead and churchyards filled up fast. The solution was to dig enormous pits to inter piles of corpses all at once.

One of these pits was established in what is now Charterhouse Square, and it was upon this ghoulish site that The Charterhouse was built.