Crypt with a Cafe

@Ronrybs (21503)

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

12 people like this

13 responses

@LadyDuck (502235)

• Italy

1 Nov 24

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

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@LadyDuck (502235)

• Italy

1 Nov 24

@Ronrybs May be that many do not even notice.

3 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

@LadyDuck Probably not, luckily I am pretty nosy and see these things... especially after I've read about them!

3 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

I wonder how people notice? It can get quite busy at lunchtime, so I guess others don't worry much

3 people like this

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@aureategloom (11025)

• Bosnia And Herzegovina

1 Nov 24

floor made from tombstones?? interesting. how did you feel being there?

4 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

I knew there was no one buried under them, so I was okay and it is an unusual conversation piece!

3 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

@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

@aureategloom (11025)

• Bosnia And Herzegovina

1 Nov 24

@Ronrybs hmm how can you be so sure?

4 people like this

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@celticeagle (189820)

• Boise, Idaho

31 Oct 24

Whipping for these reasons is rather extreme. I guess in a small community it teaches a lesson.

4 people like this

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@celticeagle (189820)

• Boise, Idaho

1 Nov 24

@Ronrybs .......Yes, it is. All of that could come back if Trump gets his way.

4 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

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

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@rakski (156298)

• Philippines

1 Nov 24

I hope you feel better now. I don't think I would have coffee there though

4 people like this

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@rakski (156298)

• Philippines

2 Nov 24

@Ronrybs probably that's okay especially if there are many people there

3 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

It is okay, with an interesting decor. No one is buried under our feet. At lunch it is quite busy

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@RasmaSandra (97957)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

31 Oct 24

Very interesting, I am fascinated by all kinds of history, I hope your cold gets better soon,

4 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

Thank you, it is a slow process. Little devil won't let go!

4 people like this

@RasmaSandra (97957)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

1 Nov 24

@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

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

2 Nov 24

@RasmaSandra I go for honey and lemon sometimes with a spoon of cinnamon

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381905)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Nov 24

Certainly an interesting area. I enjoyed the video, thanks.

3 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

Thank you for watching. I do love wandering around this off the beaten path places

3 people like this

@popciclecold (40215)

• United States

1 Nov 24

Sounds too spooky for me to watch.

2 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

It is rather pleasant, I found it very interesting and there is no one buried under your feet.

2 people like this

luisadannointed

@luisadannointed (11842)

• Philippines

1 Nov 24

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

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

It isn't too bad, I have been in much worse 'greasy spoons'!

3 people like this

@jstory07 (148731)

• Roseburg, Oregon

2 Nov 24

Really nice about the church and crypt. Thanks for sharing this information.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

2 Nov 24

A pleasure. I do enjoy finding unusual places with a bit of history

1 person likes this

@JESSY3236 (22247)

• United States

5 Nov 24

cool video. Kinda creepy knowing you are eating near tombstones.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

5 Nov 24

I suppose it is like a flagstone floor, but with writing on it!

1 person likes this

@Dena91 (17038)

• United States

31 Oct 24

Hope that you feel better soon. Thanks for the link. I love history.

3 people like this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Nov 24

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

@thislittlepennyearns (68246)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

20 Nov 24

Florida needs some whipping posts

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

20 Nov 24

Tadge harsh, but sometimes I feel that way!

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

20 Nov 24

@thislittlepennyearns I was always told that was LA!

@thislittlepennyearns (68246)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

20 Nov 24

@Ronrybs Have you been to Florida? We harbor all the crazies

1 person likes this

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@Dreamerby (10111)

• Calcutta, India

7 Nov 24

"unusual floor, which is made from tombstones." - sounds scary to me hehe

Hope you recover from the cold soon.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

7 Nov 24

Thank you, on the mend. Really this floor is no different from flagstones