{"id":156,"date":"2009-02-13T01:54:00","date_gmt":"2009-02-13T01:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/u75blog\/?p=156"},"modified":"2009-02-13T01:54:00","modified_gmt":"2009-02-13T01:54:00","slug":"the-london-stone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/the-london-stone\/","title":{"rendered":"The London Stone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The legend of the London Stone has attracted tourists from all over the world, most of who we&#8217;d imagine must be a little disappointed when they get to see the thing. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The London Stone, Cannon Street, City of London, England\" border=\"0\" height=\"297\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/london\/images\/the-london-stone-01.jpg\" width=\"425\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Said to be the spot from which the Romans measured all distances in Britannia, the London Stone can be found shoved into the side of a disused sports shop on Cannon Street, in the City of London. <\/p>\n<p>Set within a carved stone surround and decorative iron grill (a Grade II listed structure), the London Stone has played a big part in London&#8217;s history, being recognised as the symbolic authority and heart of the City of London for hundreds of years. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The London Stone, Cannon Street, City of London, England\" border=\"0\" height=\"319\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/london\/images\/the-london-stone-02.jpg\" width=\"425\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For centuries, the Stone was the place to be if you were in the mood to forge deals, swear a few oaths or make an official proclamation or two. <\/p>\n<p>Jack Cade, leader of the 1450 revolt against Henry VI, followed tradition by banging his sword against the Stone after his forces entered London, declaring himself the &#8216;Lord of the City&#8217; straight after.<\/p>\n<p>Queen Elizabeth I&#8217;s adviser and occultist, John Dee, went ever further, believing that it had magic powers, while William Blake reckoned that the stone had been part of a druid altar. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The London Stone, Cannon Street, City of London, England\" border=\"0\" height=\"275\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/london\/images\/the-london-stone-03.jpg\" width=\"425\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Stone is now somewhat diminished in size &#8211; it&#8217;s barely more than a shapeless lump of stone, to be honest &#8211; and was originally sited in the middle of Cannon Street. <\/p>\n<p>Before that it was set into the wall of St Swithin&#8217;s Church, managing to survive the church&#8217;s bombing in the Second World War intact. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The London Stone, Cannon Street, City of London, England\" border=\"0\" height=\"319\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/london\/images\/the-london-stone-04.jpg\" width=\"425\" \/><\/p>\n<p>According to folklore, London&#8217;s safety is linked to the Stone, with a myth saying that the stone was part of an altar built by Brutus of Troy, the legendary founder of London: &#8220;So long as the stone of Brutus is safe, so long shall London flourish&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>With the store that houses the stone due to be demolished, the Stone will make its final journey to the London Museum.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The legend of the London Stone has attracted tourists from all over the world, most of who we&#8217;d imagine must be a little disappointed when they get to see the &hellip; 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