The most photographed cats in London have to be the four Trafalgar Square lions, sculpted by Edwin Landseer and unveiled in 1867. Climbing all over the lions is an ages-old London tradition for children, a potentially dangerous activity that patrolling wardens happily turn a blind eye to. Another proud beast guards the eastern end of Westminster Bridge. Made of Coade stone, the felid once topped the long-demolished Red Lion Brewery. After a sojourn to Waterloo station, the lion was erected next to County Hall in 1966.
Tipu’s Tiger, one of the V&A’s most famous, and unusual, exhibits. The bizarre sculpture dates from around 1793, and shows a life-size tiger mauling a fallen European. Still odder, the piece conceals a mechanical pipe organ that simulates the cries of the unfortunate man and the growls of the tiger.
Mummified cats at the British Museum. A mummified cat once graced the upstairs bar of the now defunct Tiger Tavern (but, then again, it also reckons Elizabeth II was imprisoned in the Tower). Sir John Soane’s Museum definitely contains two mummified cats. Finally, a mummified cat was discovered in 1949 inside the church of St Michael Paternoster in the City…burial place of Dick Whittington.
See more at Londonist (I particularly liked the story of Faith, the silver medal winning cat).
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