Today I stood where Benjamin Franklin learnt his trade

[Soph0571]

The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, sometimes abbreviated to Great St Bart's, is a mediaeval church in the Church of England's Diocese of London located in Smithfield within the City of London. The building was founded as an Augustinian priory in 1123. During the sacking of all things Catholic in the reformation, the Lady Capel was hived off from the church and made into commercial premises. During the 18th Century this room was a printers workshop and in 1725 Benjamin Franklin was employed there while residing around the corner on Little Britain. During his time working there he wrote A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain.

I stumbled across this church today cause I had a meeting in the area then had a teams in their graveyard, where the graves are older than Benjamin Franklin and even America! I just thought with the 4th July weekend happening in the immediate for all my lovely DUers across the pond that this was cool.

Lets not talk about how the people on my teams meeting were talking about how I chose a graveyard rather than a coffee shop for my teams.

[niyad]

1. What an absolutely wonderful thing to share with your friends across the pond.

Thank you!

[HAB911]

3. WOW

[wyn borkins]

4. Graveyards Make Interesting Photography

Thank you Soph0571 most kindly

For this magical image so timely

Now I'm enjoying it immensely

[LoisB]

5. Wow! History. Thank you for sharing.

[FailureToCommunicate]

6. This is a great, and timely post! I'm a big fan of Franklin...and of yours!

[irisblue]

7. Thank you Sophie for this

[BMW2020RT]

8. Old headstones have both instructional and entertainment value.

When I visited Sandwich, MA I was fascinated by a 17th century stone that had a happy face chiseled into it instead of a standard skull.

Some of the stones were worn beyond reading. Those stones that best endured 350 years of exposure to the elements were imported from England.

[erronis]

9. Wonderful post! I'm guessing Franklin learned much of his trade from observing "religious" affairs

While I believe he was essentially agnostic or anti-religious, he was an astute observer of humans and their foibles.

These foibles are no more visible than in the inanities of religion - the warring cults in England and across the xian Europe.

And then the affairs. The human pecadillos that every religious and non-religious person know about. Part of being human.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

10. What an amazing story!

Of course, your photography is superb, as usual!

Thank you for sharing dear Soph!

[BumRushDaShow]

11. And the rest of his story on this side of the pond

where he ended worshiping here in Philly at Christ Church -







And that is where he was laid to rest -







BF is big here.

Whole bridge named after him right near where he's buried!

[pandr32]

12. How awesome!