Remember, remember the fifth of November …

L is for London - Fire

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot

I see no reason why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent

To blow up the King and the Parliament

Three score barrels of powder below

Poor old England to overthrow

By God’s providence he was catched

With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, holloa boys

God save the King!

Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!

A penny loaf to feed ol’ Pope

A farthing cheese to choke him

A pint of beer to rinse it down

A faggot of sticks to burn him

Burn him in a tub of tar

Burn him like a blazing star

Burn his body from his head

Then we’ll say ol’ Pope is dead.

Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!

Raising standards

When the Queen is at home, you can see her flag, the Royal Standard, flying from the pole on top of Buckingham Palace. In flag protocol, the Royal Standard is supreme. It must only be flown from buildings where the Queen is present. It flies above the Union Jack, Standards of other Royal Family members, and other British flags. It never flies at half staff (although an exception was made following the death of Princess Diana).

Monument

L is for London - The MonumentThe Monument is a memorial to the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, and built between 1671 and 1677. It measures 61 m (202-feet) – the exact distance from its base to Pudding Lane, where the fire broke out. A flaming copper urn sits upon the top, to symbolise the flames.

The Monument is the tallest single stone column in the world. You can also get a good view from above, by climbing the 311 steps to the Monument’s viewing platform.