After leaving Haymarket, we turned east onto Pall Mall East toward Trafalgar Square. As we did so, we came across an intersection with Cockspur Street which swung to the east south east (on the right of this shot) while we continued to the north-east.

At the triangular intersection of these two one-way roads stands an equestrian statue of King George III.

George was known during his reign as "Farmer George" which I had always assumed to be a reference to his interest in agriculture. However apparently it was originally an insult; his detractors were suggesting that he was more interested in mundane matters than in great affairs of state. However it later became a term of affection when he was seen (especially in contrast to his son the playboy Prince Regent as he then was) as a down-to-earth man of the people.

Not down-to-earth enough to keep the American colonies, though a lot of the blame for that can be put down to his governments rather than to himself. Of course, there were some periods where it was difficult to distinguish between the two.

He did of course suffer from mental illness from time to time and late in his reign that condition became permanent.

Nonetheless most monarchs of the time had equestrian statues made of them, regardless of how close this may have been to reality. Had I been king at the time, I'm sure one would have been made of me as well even though I've been on a horse a total of one time. And here it is; Farmer George's statue.

Now turn your attention to the building behind that; Oceanic House. The address of this is in fact 1 Cockspur Street. The building name refers to a company that used to operate from here; the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company. You probably know it better as the White Star Line. When the Titanic went down, it was here, right on this spot, where people were queued up waiting for news of loved ones. News which, unfortunately, was rarely good.