- In August, I asked whether Spitalfields has London's ugliest example of facadism. I still haven't found a worse one, though there are some interesting suggestions in the comments ...
- Second place went to a much more attractive piece of heritage: two marvelous Soho ghost signs.
- Purely fantastical, many of the designs for a great tower for London could never have been built. Sadly, the one which was selected was not completed; its foundations are now under Wembley Stadium
- The Olympics had to sneak in somewhere, and did so via my selection of national Olympic Houses - from the Danes' LEGO stadium model to the craftspeople of the African village.
- A piece of pure silliness takes fifth place: Aldgate's underground toilets still display advanced warning of changes made fifteen years ago!
- In top place are the morbidly fascinating catacombs of Paris, created from its underground quarries and filled with the bones of its dead. It's perhaps testimony to the power of the image search that a less skull-filled companion piece has never received as much attention.
- Back in London, but originally from much further afield, the British Museum's wonderful Assyrian animal carvings are another long-term favorite.
- Heavy rains have seen the Thames Barrier close several times in recent days. Thankfully, it's kept well-maintained, with an annual closure for inspections and checks. I took a look in 2008.
- An Open House visit to a local property, Stone House, allowed me to share one of Lewisham's hidden gems.
- The servants' bells at Tyntesfield are a reminder of the realities of stately home life. It seems that the New York Times was unimpressed by such British technology, however.
I'll give special mentions to the ghost signs and Postman's Park pages which have also proved popular throughout the year.
Finally, and most importantly, huge thanks to everyone who has read and commented throughout 2012. My very best wishes for 2013!
