The Architecture Ride I led for Lambeth Cyclists in December looked at the work of Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin, in particular the Houses of Parliament. The ride was 'interrupted' by a morning tour of the Clocktower to see and hear Big Ben strike noon,
and an afternoon tour of Parliament itself where we could really take in Pugin's extraordinary level of ornamentation.
The ride started by Clapham Common at Barry's rather grand last home
We also passed by the Imperial War Museum, previously Bethlem Hospital, or Bedlam, where Pugin unfortunately ended up, right next door to Notre Dame Cathedral for which he was the architect.
Between the Parliamentary tours we visited Pall Mall to see the Travellers Club and the Reform Club then on to Bridgewater House (pictured), all three designed by Barry in Italianate style.
A part of the ride that I particularly enjoyed was the view of parliament from Lambeth while cycling along the Thames Path. Lambeth Cyclists had fought hard to successfully overturn a ban on cycling that has been imposed there.
Parliamentary copyright images are reproduced with the permission of Parliament
