Restoration London
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After the fire comes...The Restoration.
This product range featuring Ed Kluz's Restoration London artwork preceded his Stones of Old St Paul's range (referring to the destruction of medieval Old St Pauls in the Great Fire of London, 1666). The use of the term Restoration does, of course, stem from the Restoration of the British Monarchy, rather than the restoration of St Paul's Cathedral by Sir Christopher Wren. But the way the clouds stream across the sky is evocative of smoke and one is reminded of the many episodes of deadly destruction by fire and rebirth in the city’s history.
We need only to look to the bottom right of the artwork to find another resurrection. Yes, Southwark Cathedral, then the Church of St Mary Overie (“over the river”), was destroyed in The Great Fire of 1212. It is uncertain why that fire has escaped the history books, for it was far more horrifying and deadly that the later fire in 1666. Historians estimate up to 3000 were killed, representing a huge proportion of the city’s population. Most shocking is the appalling fate met by those attempting to flee across London Bridge and those coming from the north bank to watch and help. Both ends of the bridge caught fire and trapped them in a towering inferno. Those who were not burnt to death were crushed or drowned in their attempt to escape.
