Sunday, 13 November 2016

Sunday Snap – The Cenotaph

We were taking a walk along London's wobbly bridge for last week's Sunday Snap. I asked what the bridge was called and the answer is

The Millennium Bridge or the London Millennium Footbridge

Keeping on a straight path with the right answer were Cheryl, Susan, Kara, Erica, Clare, Anne, Stephen, Ellie, Jen, Cass and Sonia.

We're staying in London for this week's Sunday Snap. With today being Remembrance Sunday we're paying our respects at The Cenotaph. The year after the end of World War I a temporary wood and plaster structure was erected on Whitehall for the London Victory Parade. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. After the parade on 19 July 1919 it was found that the base of the memorial was covered in flowers and wreaths placed by the public. Such was the popularity of the memorial that the War Cabinet decided to have a permanent cenotaph made out of Portland stone which would be the exact replica of Lutyens' original temporary structure.

The term 'cenotaph' was first heard by Lutyens when he was working on Gertrude Jekyll's house Munstead Wood. The garden seat he designed was given the name 'Cenotaph of Sigimunda' by their friend Charles Liddell. Lutyens found that cenotaph meant 'empty tomb' in Greek. Originally the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, wanted a catafalque as the temporary memorial but Lutyens put forward a the idea of a cenotaph. Since then the name and design of Lutyens' Cenotaph has been copied throughout Britain and the Commonwealth.

The Cenotaph on Whitehall is now the designated National War Memorial. On Remembrance Sunday the Queen comes out of a government office on Whitehall to be the first person to lay a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph. She is then followed by other members of the Royal Family, political and diplomatic offices and the representatives of the military. This week's question is

Which government office on Whitehall does the Queen come out of on Remembrance Sunday?

We were joined last week by Jack and Noah who have been enjoying their autumn walks. At the Madhouse Pierre has been doing the meringue test. Susan and family went to Loch Lomond for Halloween. Kara has been in the woods on Segways and down at the wetlands. At Brick Live Anne's family have been posing with a giraffe. Finally, in Sweden Ulrika has been up early to capture the sunrises.

If you want to join in with this week's Sunday Snap then add your link to the linky below. Any theme is allowed. It doesn't have to be published today as you have until 23.55 on Friday 18th November 2016 to join in. Grab my badge below for your blog post. Just make sure it is your photo and you hold the copyright for it.
Sunday Snap

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9 comments:

  1. The perfect picture for today. Is it the Foreign Office?

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  2. I think it's the foreign office as that's where Kate & the others wives stood on the balcony. But not sure. X

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  3. I honestly have no idea to the answer to your question, but we always observe the 2 minutes silence on Remembrance Sunday at 11am. I would love to go and watch at Whitehall one day.

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  4. This is really interesting. I didn't know what cenotaph meant before. I have no idea what the answer to the question is but have learnt something today. Thank you :-)

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  5. I don't know the answer to the question but would love to watch the memorial service at Whitehall one day. My son marched with his cubs today and it was very moving. x

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  6. Very interesting. I don't know the answer though...

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  7. Honestly? Have no clue the answer to your question. Great to learn more about the cenotaph though.

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  8. I have absolutely no idea unfortunately but it was great to learn about the cenotaph xx

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