Talbot Court EC3 It is many years since a ‘talbot’ was sighted stalking the bounds of Gracechurch Street. No doubt they were once a regular sight but that would have been a good few centuries ago, perhaps even before the time of the herb, or grass, market which lent itself to the naming of the …
Category: General
The alleyways and courtyards of London: S
St Anne’s Court W1 This area, and particularly Wardour Street, is the centre of the film industry in London so it will come as no surprise to find the offices of World Wide Pictures at numbers 21 to 25. Casper’s Restaurant and Bar is along the south side of the Court, and for lighter refreshments …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: R
Red Lion Court EC4 Nestling in the midst of a modernised block on the corner of Fetter Lane the narrow passage of Red Lion Court branches from Fleet Street undeterred by the rolling years. A little way along, the passage widens out and here, until quite recently, stood the Red Lion tavern – after which …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: Q
Quality Court WC2 A wonderful labyrinth of alleys and courts used to straggle between Chancery Lane and Fetter Lane, but sadly, of these dozens of minute burrows, only a handful now remain. Quality Court, as we might devise from its name, was one of the more ‘classy’ addresses in the district. It was built about …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: P
Pageantmaster Court EC4 Originally Ludgate Court and renamed in the summer of 1993. This unassuming little court, which in reality is more likened to a narrow road, has few delights to offer the casual wanderer. Until very recently it was an excellent vantage view point of one of London’s surviving World War II bomb sites, …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: O
Old Barge House Alley SE1 Before the streets of London were constructed of durable materials they were so pot-holed and ridged that travelling along them could often be a hazardous business. Apart from this, the movement of traffic about the City was thoroughly disorganised – farmers driving herds of cattle to market were a constant …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: N
Nantes Passage E1 Since the late 15th century many of the houses situated around the area of Spital Fields had been occupied by Flemish protestant weavers. They had built up a reputation for fine quality products and a century later the number of workers in the trade had increased multifold. An order proclaimed by the …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: M
Magpie Alley EC4 The Alley marks the position occupied by the dorter (dormitory) of the Friary of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel, commonly called the Whitefriars Monastery. After the dissolution of the monasteries the whole of this area became infested with thieves and all sorts of law breakers. They came here claiming sanctuary from …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: L
Lamb’s Passage EC1 Lamb’s Passage owes its origin – or rather its present name – to Thomas Lamb, who chose to earn his daily crust by the process of applying specially formulated gum to course linen material and was thus he was called a buckram maker. He took up residence here in the late 18th …
The alleyways and courtyards of London: K
Kemp’s Court W1 A court situated right in the heart of Berwick Street Market where a seemingly endless line of stalls stretch down both sides of the road. All varieties of fruits and vegetables are available and the market has a tradition of specialising in the most exotic species. The street markets of London have …