Westminster Abbey, formerly known as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is one of London’s most iconic landmarks—and one that somehow feels even more impressive when you see it on a postcard. The site has been a place of worship for over a thousand years. Around 959, Benedictine monks established an abbey here, and its first large church was built in the 1040s under Edward the Confessor , who was later buried inside. The building we recognize today began taking shape in 1245, when Henry III ordered a grand new church. As I look at the image on the card, it’s hard not to imagine how many moments of history these walls have witnessed. The monastery itself was dissolved in 1540 under Henry VIII , and later re-established as a royal peculiar—answering directly to the monarch—by Elizabeth I . Inside, the Abbey is as much a resting place as it is a church. Sixteen monarchs are buried here, including Elizabeth I and her rival Mary, Queen of Scots . George II was the la...

This card comes from an Italian ex-pat living in London. She's very active and is training to run a 10 k.  This beautiful card shows one of London's iconic symbols, Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge was constructed between 1886-1894 and spans the River Thames. It is 290 metres long and 65 metres high. The bridge was officially opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future Edward VII and his wife, Alexandra of Denmark). Because the Thames is a busy commercial river, the bridge had to allow large ships to pass beneath it. The raising mechanism when the bridge first opened was powered by pressurized water stored in six hydraulic accumulators, with two pairs of engines on each pier. The original operating system was largely replaced in 1974 by new electro-hydraulic drive system. Oil is used in place of water as the new hydraulic fluid.  During the first year of Tower Bridge, the bridge was raised 6160 times, or about 17 times a day. River traffic is much reduced these days and t...

This is a great card. I can't tell if it is an illustration or a photograph. It is a picture of a canal lock.  London is home to the  London Canal Museum . It is located in the King's Cross area of London. Th museum is devoted to the history of London's canals and opened in 1992.  The museum's main exhibitions include: History of the London canals, the Regents Canal in particular; Water and Locks - canal engineering; Boats and Cargoes Methods of traction by horses, internal combustion engines, and miniature tractors; Carlo Gatti and the ice trade; Social history of canal workers; lifting and handling; and the decorative arts of the canals known as "roses and castles." There is also a guided trip for 50 minutes through the Islington Tunnel, Little Venice, and Victoria Park.  I would love to spend a few weeks travelling the canals around England and I know my dad would join me. 

Felixstowe is a port town in the county of Suffolk on the east coast of England. The Port of Felixstowe is the largest container port in the United Kingdom. You can find Felixstowe about 115 km north east of London.  Felixstowe has ancient origins with the hamlet being centred with a church and pub long before the Norman conquest of England. It remained a relatively low populated place until the late 1800s when tourists began arriving. A permanent pier was constructed in 1905 with an amusement arcade. Permanent beach huts were adopted in Felixstowe around this time, instead of the huts that were wheeled on to the beach that other coast towns had.  The Royal Navy, Air Force, and Army occupied the south-west part of Felixstowe during World War II and built a fort and gun emplacements.  In 1945, German naval commanders from Occupied Holland arrived in E-boats at Felixstowe Dock to surrender their boats and charts to the Royal Navy.  Tourism is still a big part...

The card is from The Postal Museum in London. The sender had recently visited London.  The Postal Museum began in 2004. It operates three sites - Phoenix Place, London; Mount Pleasant Sorting Office, Clerkenwell; and The Museum of the Post Office in the Community, Shropshire.  The sender had a couple of interesting facts. Of course the first postage stamp was from Great Britain. It has a bust of Queen Victoria on it. The second fact is that Great Britain is the only country that doesn't put their name on the stamp, only and outline of the reigning monarch.