Opposite Cannon Street Station and set into a wall behind glass is a real oddity – The London Stone.  A large lump of rock, it isn’t much to look and no one quite knows what it is.  The general view is that it is Roman and that it may well have represented the centre of London from which all measurements in Roman Britain were taken from. 

Regardless of where it came from, it has occupied an important part of London history.  When Jack Cade, the Kentish rebel, rode into the City in 1450 he struck the stone with his blade in an attempt to establish his authority.  It was also built into the Church of St Swithins, which was unfortunately lost to the Blitz.   

The replacement building ended up being a WHSmiths and, although it was still possible to see the stone vaguely from the outside, one had to poke around behind a magazine rack inside if one wanted to see it properly.  Thankfully, redevelopment of the building has led to a brand new (and very smart) casing which sees the stone returned to some of its former glory.