Crypt with a Cafe

@Ronrybs (19897)
London, England
October 31, 2024 4:10pm CST
Before succumbing to a monster cold, I was in Trafalgar Square and popped into St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, next to Trafalgar Square. I knew there was a cafe there, but hadn’t visited it before now. The main reason I wanted to visit was to see an original whipping post, dating from the 1750s. A time when you could receive a public whipping for drunkenness, immorality and denigrating the monarch. A punishment that lasted until the mid-nineteenth century. There has been a church on this site since medieval times and possibly earlier as burials dating from late Roman times have been uncovered. In a crypt is a pleasant cafe with an unusual floor, which is made from tombstones. Burials were banned in the 1850s, because of a shortage of space, and there is no longer anyone buried here. Here is my short video of the church and crypt. https://youtu.be/B8XpvgjSSLc
13 people like this
14 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (472500)
• Switzerland
1 Nov
I am very sorry you have a monster cold. It's a bit creepy a cafe with a floor made from tombstones.
4 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472500)
• Switzerland
1 Nov
@Ronrybs May be that many do not even notice.
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
@LadyDuck Probably not, luckily I am pretty nosy and see these things... especially after I've read about them!
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
I wonder how people notice? It can get quite busy at lunchtime, so I guess others don't worry much
3 people like this
Yumeko
@aureategloom (11051)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
1 Nov
floor made from tombstones?? interesting. how did you feel being there?
4 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
I knew there was no one buried under them, so I was okay and it is an unusual conversation piece!
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
@aureategloom With With London running out of space for burials laws were passed to stop them within the city and some were reburied outside the city
3 people like this
Yumeko
@aureategloom (11051)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
1 Nov
@Ronrybs hmm how can you be so sure?
4 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (171552)
• Boise, Idaho
31 Oct
Whipping for these reasons is rather extreme. I guess in a small community it teaches a lesson.
4 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (171552)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov
@Ronrybs .......Yes, it is. All of that could come back if Trump gets his way.
4 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
It was in the time of absolute monarchy and they got their way. As you say it teaches a lesson, a rather brutal one
3 people like this
rakski
@rakski (132963)
• Philippines
1 Nov
I hope you feel better now. I don't think I would have coffee there though
4 people like this
rakski
@rakski (132963)
• Philippines
2 Nov
@Ronrybs probably that's okay especially if there are many people there
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
It is okay, with an interesting decor. No one is buried under our feet. At lunch it is quite busy
4 people like this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (82591)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Oct
Very interesting, I am fascinated by all kinds of history, I hope your cold gets better soon,
4 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
Thank you, it is a slow process. Little devil won't let go!
4 people like this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (82591)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Nov
@Ronrybs when mom had a bad cold she swore by hot tea with lemon and a hefty splash of brandy then covered up in bed and sweated it all out,
2 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
2 Nov
@RasmaSandra I go for honey and lemon sometimes with a spoon of cinnamon
1 person likes this
Greenery8
@grenery8 (13526)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
1 Nov
cafe in the middle of it? that's very unusual. feeling the atmosphere of those times
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
2 Nov
I love places like this, a bit of history and atmosphere as well as a cup of tea!
1 person likes this
Greenery8
@grenery8 (13526)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
3 Nov
@Ronrybs you are right. we need to go back to those time and it's not bad being in unique places for change
1 person likes this
popciclecold
@popciclecold (39823)
• United States
1 Nov
Sounds too spooky for me to watch.
2 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
It is rather pleasant, I found it very interesting and there is no one buried under your feet.
2 people like this
luisadannointed
@luisadannointed (7245)
• Philippines
1 Nov
I hope you feel a lot better today. But I don't think I would love to have a coffee in there.
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
It isn't too bad, I have been in much worse 'greasy spoons'!
3 people like this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (141899)
• Roseburg, Oregon
2 Nov
Really nice about the church and crypt. Thanks for sharing this information.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
2 Nov
A pleasure. I do enjoy finding unusual places with a bit of history
1 person likes this
Jessica
@JESSY3236 (20236)
• United States
5 Nov
cool video. Kinda creepy knowing you are eating near tombstones.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
5 Nov
I suppose it is like a flagstone floor, but with writing on it!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (346627)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Nov
Certainly an interesting area. I enjoyed the video, thanks.
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
Thank you for watching. I do love wandering around this off the beaten path places
3 people like this
Dena Miller
@Dena91 (16827)
• United States
31 Oct
Hope that you feel better soon. Thanks for the link. I love history.
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
1 Nov
Thank you, slowly on the mend. Me too! I enjoy history and love wandering around the city, so much that we walk by without noticing
2 people like this
April
@thislittlepennyearns (63545)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
20 Nov
Florida needs some whipping posts
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
20 Nov
Tadge harsh, but sometimes I feel that way!
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
20 Nov
@thislittlepennyearns I was always told that was LA!
April
@thislittlepennyearns (63545)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
20 Nov
@Ronrybs Have you been to Florida? We harbor all the crazies
1 person likes this
Aparna Sen
@Dreamerby (6549)
• Calcutta, India
7 Nov
"unusual floor, which is made from tombstones." - sounds scary to me hehe Hope you recover from the cold soon.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19897)
• London, England
7 Nov
Thank you, on the mend. Really this floor is no different from flagstones