Andrew Borde Street, W1D

Beer Street and Gin Lane are two prints issued in 1751 by English artist William Hogarth in support of what would become the Gin Act.

They depicted grim scenes of “gin abuse” from St Giles - near present day Holborn in London.
Credit: William Hogarth

Andrew Borde Street was situated opposite the end of Sutton Row and under the Centre Point development.

It existed only after the creation of the Centre Point development in 1962 and disappeared with the early Crossrail works at Tottenham Court Road station.

Dr Andrew Borde was reputedly the original Merry Andrew - a renowned wit of the time of Henry VIII. He was the author of the Tales of the mad men of Gotham.

When the king dissolved St Giles Hospital, Doctor Borde was then the owner of the former Hospital Master’s House, which stood, as far as can be ascertained, where this later street ran.