Berkeley Court ran south out of Berkley Street (now
Briset Street).
Berkeley Court Court a blind alley blocked by a wall of backyards in
Albion Place.
A firm of well-known watch makers, which continued for about one hundred years at the same address, was started by Robert Storer in 1743 at 11 Berkeley Court.
It contained 15 houses of three storeys, let out in tenements.
Berkeley Court disappeared when the site was cleared and redeveloped after the Second World War.
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence
| CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY |
 
Jeff Owen Added: 20 Mar 2021 16:18 GMT |
Owen’s School
Owen Street is the site of Owen’s Boys’ School. The last school was built in 1881 and was demolished in the early 1990s to make way for the development which stand there today. It was a “Direct Grant” grammar school and was founded in 1613 by Dame Alice Owen. What is now “Owen’s Fields” was the playground between the old school and the new girls’ school (known then as “Dames Alice Owen’s School” or simply “DAOS”). The boys’ school had the top two floors of that building for their science labs. The school moved to Potters Bar in Hertfordshire in 1971 and is now one of the top State comprehensive schools in the country. The old building remained in use as an accountancy college and taxi-drivers’ “knowledge” school until it was demolished. The new building is now part of City and Islington College. Owen’s was a fine school. I should know because I attended there from 1961 to 1968.
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Scott Hatton Added: 11 Sep 2020 19:47 GMT |
Millions Of Rats In Busy London
The Daily Mail on 14 April 1903 reported "MILLIONS OF RATS IN BUSY LONDON"
A rat plague, unprecedented in the annals of London, has broken out on the north side of the Strand. The streets principally infested are Catherine street, Drury lane, Blackmore street, Clare Market and Russell street. Something akin to a reign of terror prevails among the inhabitants after nightfall. Women refuse to pass along Blackmore street and the lower parts of Stanhope street after dusk, for droves of rats perambulate the roadways and pavements, and may be seen running along the window ledges of the empty houses awaiting demolition by the County Council in the Strand to Holborn improvement scheme.
The rats, indeed, have appeared in almost-incredible numbers. "There are millions of them," said one shopkeeper, and his statement was supported by other residents. The unwelcome visitors have been evicted from their old haunts by the County Council housebreakers, and are now busily in search of new homes. The Gaiety Restaurant has been the greatest sufferer. Rats have invaded the premises in such force that the managers have had to close the large dining room on the first floor and the grill rooms on the ground floor and in the basement. Those three spacious halls which have witnessed many as semblages of theatre-goers are now qui:e deserted. Behind the wainscot of the bandstand in the grillroom is a large mound of linen shreds. This represents 1728 serviettes carried theee by the rats.
In the bar the removal of a panel disclosed the astonishing fact that the rats have dragged for a distance of seven or eight yards some thirty or forty beer and wine bottles and stacked them in such a fashion as to make comfortable sleeping places. Mr Williams. the manager of the restaurant, estimates that the rats have destroyed L200 worth of linen. Formerly the Gaiety Restaurant dined 2000 persons daily; no business whatever is now done in this direction.
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Carol Added: 7 May 2021 18:44 GMT |
Nan
My nan lily,her sister Elizabeth and their parents Elizabeth and William lived here in1911
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Bernard Miller Added: 12 Apr 2022 17:36 GMT |
My mother and her sister were born at 9 Windsor Terrace
My mother, Millie Haring (later Miller) and her sister Yetta Haring (later Freedman) were born here in 1922 and 1923. With their parents and older brother and sister, they lived in two rooms until they moved to Stoke Newington in 1929. She always said there were six rooms, six families, a shared sink on the first floor landing and a toilet in the backyard.
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MCNALLY Added: 17 May 2021 09:42 GMT |
Blackfriars (1959 - 1965)
I lived in Upper Ground from 1959 to 1964 I was 6 years old my parents Vince and Kitty run the Pub The Angel on the corner of Upper Ground and Bodies Bridge. I remember the ceiling of the cellar was very low and almost stretched the length of Bodies Bridge. The underground trains run directly underneath the pub. If you were down in the cellar when a train was coming it was quite frightening
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Tom Added: 21 May 2021 23:07 GMT |
Blackfriars
What is, or was, Bodies Bridge?
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Added: 27 Jul 2021 14:31 GMT |
correction
Chaucer did not write Pilgrims Progress. His stories were called the Canterbury Tales
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Lena Added: 18 Mar 2021 13:08 GMT |
White Conduit Street, N1
My mum, Rosina Wade of the Wade and Hannam family in the area of Chapel Street and Parkfield Street, bought her first “costume” at S Cohen’s in White Conduit Street. Would have probably been about 1936 or thereabouts. She said that he was a small man but an expert tailor. I hope that Islington Council preserve the shop front as it’s a piece of history of the area. Mum used to get her high heel shoes from an Italian shoe shop in Chapel Street. She had size 2 feet and they would let her know when a new consignment of size 2 shoes were in. I think she was a very good customer. She worked at Killingbacks artificial flower maker in Northampton Square and later at the Halifax bombers factory north of Edgware where she was a riveter.
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Added: 3 Jun 2021 15:50 GMT |
All Bar One
The capitalisation is wrong
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Jack Wilson Added: 21 Jun 2022 21:40 GMT |
Penfold Printers
I am seeking the location of Penfold Printers Offices in Dt Albans place - probably about 1870 or so
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Erin Added: 2 May 2022 01:33 GMT |
Windsor Terrace, N1
hello
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| LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT |
Richard Lake Added: 28 Sep 2022 09:37 GMT |
Trade Union Official
John William Lake snr moved with his family to 22 De Laune Street in 1936. He was the London Branch Secretary for the Street Masons, Paviours and Road Makers Union. He had previously lived in Orange St now Copperfield St Southwark but had been forced to move because the landlord didn’t like him working from home and said it broke his lease.
John William snr died in 1940. His son John William Lake jnr also became a stone mason and at the end of World War two he was responsible for the engraving of the dates of WW2 onto the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
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Julie Added: 22 Sep 2022 18:30 GMT |
Well Walk, NW3 (1817 - 1818)
The home of Benthy, the Postman, with whom poet John Keats and his brother Tom lodged from early 1817 to Dec., 1818. They occupied the first floor up. Here Tom died Dec. 1, 1818. It was next door to the Welles Tavern then called ’The Green Man’."
From collected papers and photos re: No. 1 Well Walk at the library of Harvard University.
Source: No. 1, Well Walk, Hampstead. | HOLLIS for
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Added: 4 Sep 2022 15:42 GMT |
Superman 2
I worked here in 1977. The scene in the prison laundry in Superman 2 was filmed here.
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TUM Added: 27 Aug 2022 10:22 GMT |
The Underground Map
Michael Faraday successfully demonstrated the first electrical transformer at the Royal Institute, London.
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Admin Added: 26 Aug 2022 15:19 GMT |
Bus makes a leap
A number 78 double-decker bus driven by Albert Gunter was forced to jump an accidentally opening Tower Bridge.
He was awarded a £10 bonus.
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Admin Added: 26 Aug 2022 12:44 GMT |
The world’s first underground train
The very first underground train left Paddington on the new Metropolitan Railway bound for Farringdon Street.
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Admin Added: 26 Aug 2022 12:41 GMT |
Baker Street
Baker Street station opened on the Metropolitan Railway - the world’s first underground line.
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Admin Added: 26 Aug 2022 12:17 GMT |
TV comes to Olympia
Over 7000 people queued to see the first high definition television pictures on sets at the Olympia Radio Show. The pictures were transmitted by the BBC from Alexandra Palace, introduced by Leslie Mitchell, their first announcer.
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Central School of Ballet Central School of Ballet is a classical ballet school based in London, with students from countries all over the world. Clerkenwell Priory Clerkenwell Priory was a priory of the Monastic Order of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, located in Clerkenwell, London. Half Moon Court, EC1A Halfmoon Court is the southern most of five passages leading eastward from Kinghorn Street. Hicks Hall Hicks Hall (1611 - 1778) was a building in St John Street, Clerkenwell. Hockley-in-the-Hole Hockley-in-the-Hole was an area where bear-baiting and duelling took place in the 18th century. Maison Novelli Maison Novelli was a restaurant in Clerkenwell, Central London, located opposite the Old Session House. Marx Memorial Library The Marx Memorial Library in London holds more than 43,000 books, pamphlets and newspapers on Marxism, Scientific Socialism and Working class history. Middlesex Sessions House The Former Middlesex Session(s) House or the Old Sessions House is a large building on Clerkenwell Green. Old Dick Whittington The Dick Whittington Inn at 24 Cloth Fair was a sixteenth century building and once part of a row of medieval buildings lining the street. Smithfield Smithfield is a locality in the ward of Farringdon Without situated at the City of London’s northwest corner. St Bartholomew’s Hospital St Bartholomew’s Hospital, also known simply as Barts and later more formally as The Royal Hospital of St Bartholomew, is a hospital located at Smithfield in the City of London and founded in 1123. St John Clerkenwell St John Clerkenwell is a former parish church in Clerkenwell, now used as the chapel of the modern Order of St John. Albemarle Way, EC1M Albemarle Way was named after Elizabeth, Dowager Duchess of Albermarle, who lived at Newcastle House nearby in the 18th century. Albion Way, EC1A Albion Way is one of the streets of London in the EC1A postal area. Aylesbury Street, EC1V Aylesbury Street - after the earl of Aylesbury who owned a house near here in the 17th century. Back Hill, EC1N Back Hill is simply named as it lies off (or to the ’back’) of a main road. Baker’s Row, EC1R Bakers Row was named after Richard Baker, a local 18th century carpenter. Baltic Street East, EC1Y Baltic Street East was built by a timber merchant around 1810 who named local streets after trade-related activities. Broad Yard, EC1M Broad Yard is one of the streets of London in the EC1M postal area. Charterhouse Square, EC1M Charterhouse Square is the largest courtyard associated with London Charterhouse, mostly formed of Tudor and Stuart architecture restored after the Blitz. Cloth Court, EC1M Cloth Court is one of the streets of London in the EC1A postal area. Cloth Fair, EC1A Cloth Fair stands where the original Bartholomew Fair was held in medieval times.
Coldbath Square, EC1R Coldbath Square was named after a well of cold water that stood here alone in surrounding fields. East Market, EC2Y East Market is one of the streets of London in the EC1A postal area. Ely Court, EC1N Ely Court is one of the streets of London in the EC1N postal area. Ely Place, EC1N Ely Place is a gated road at the southern tip of the London Borough of Camden. Gee Street, EC1V Gee Street is one of the streets of London in the EC1V postal area. Hatton Garden, EC1N Hatton Garden is a street and area noted as London’s jewellery quarter and centre of the UK diamond trade. Hatton Wall, EC1N Hatton Wall is one of the streets of London in the EC1N postal area. Holborn Circus, EC1N Holborn Circus is a junction of five highways in the City of London, on the boundary between Holborn, Hatton Garden and Smithfield. Holborn, EC1N Holborn commemorates the River Fleet, also known as the Holbourne stream. Hosier Lane, EC1A Hosier Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC1A postal area. Jerusalem Passage, EC1M Jerusalem Passage was named for an old public house, St John of Jerusalem, which stood at the northeast corner until 1760. Kirby Street, EC1N Kirby Street was named for Christopher Hatton’s Kirby House in Northamptonshire. Lauderdale Tower, EC2Y Lauderdale Tower is the westernmost tower in the Barbican, facing onto Lauderdale Place. Leather Lane, EC1N Leather Lane is a street one block west of Hatton Garden, in the Holborn area of London. Long Lane, EC1A Long Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC1A postal area. Long Lane, EC1M Long Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC1M postal area. Northburgh Street, EC1M Northburgh Street in the EC1V postcode is a western extension of the main part of the street. Pardon Street, EC1V Pardon Street was named after Pardon Chapel, founded in the wake of the Black Death in 1348.
Peter’s Lane, EC1M Peter’s Lane is named after the church which once stood close to the Cross Keys tavern. Pickax Street, EC2Y Pickax Street once ran from Long Lane to Goswell Road (which before 1864 was called Goswell Street). Pine Street, EC1R Pine Street is one of the streets of London in the EC1R postal area. Ray Street, EC1R Ray Street is one of the streets of London in the EC1R postal area. Saffron Hill, EC1N Saffron Hill’s name derives the time that it was part of an estate on which saffron grew. Sans Walk, EC1R Sans Walk was named after Edward Sans in 1893, who was then the oldest member of the local parish vestry. St John’s Gate, EC1M St John’s Gate is a small named section of road leading to the gate of the same name. Sutton Road, EC1M Sutton Road is one of the streets of London in the EC1M postal area. Vine Hill, EC1R Vine Hill now displays no evidence on the vines that once flourished in the grounds on which it stands. Warner Yard, EC1R Warner Yard is one of the streets of London in the EC1R postal area. BarSmith This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Be At One This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Bishops Finger This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Charterhouse Bar This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. City Pride This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Clerkenwell & Social This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Clerkenwell house This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Club Gascon This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Craft Beer Company This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Crown Tavern This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Eagle This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Enoteca Rabezzana This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Hand & Shears This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Hat & Tun This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Hat and Feathers At the corner of Clerkenwell Road and Goswell Road sits the Hat and Feathers pub. Inn of Court This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Karaoke Box This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Lazybones This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Ninth Ward London This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Nomad Club This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Old Dick Whittington The Dick Whittington Inn at 24 Cloth Fair was a sixteenth century building and once part of a row of medieval buildings lining the street. Old Red Cow This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Oriole This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Piano Smithfield This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Sir John Oldcastle This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Sutton Arms This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Sutton Arms This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Argyle This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Artisan This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Betsey Trotwood This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Bowler This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Castle The Castle is the only pub in England that, alongside its pub sign, is permitted to display the three balls of a pawnbroker. The Fence This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Fox and Anchor This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Green This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Horseshoe This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The One Tun This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Rising Sun This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Shakespeare This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Slaughtered Lamb This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. The Well This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Three Kings This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Vino & Vino This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. White Bear This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so. Ye Olde Mitre This pub existed immediately prior to the 2020 global pandemic and may still do so.
Clerkenwell was once known as London’s Little Italy because of the large number of Italians living in the area from the 1850s until the 1960s.Clerkenwell took its name from the Clerks’ Well in
Farringdon Lane. In the Middle Ages, the London Parish clerks performed annual mystery plays there, based on biblical themes. Part of the well remains visible, incorporated into a 1980s building called Well Court.
In the 17th century South Clerkenwell became a fashionable place of residence. Oliver Cromwell owned a house on
Clerkenwell Close, just off the Green. Several aristocrats had houses there, most notably the Duke of Northumberland, as did people such as Erasmus Smith.
Before Clerkenwell became a built-up area, it had a reputation as a resort a short walk out of the city, where Londoners could disport themselves at its spas, of which there were several, based on natural chalybeate springs, tea gardens and theatres. The present day Sadler’s Wells has survived as heir to this tradition.
Clerkenwell was also the location of three prisons: the Clerkenwell Bridewell, Coldbath Fields Prison (later Clerkenwell Gaol) and the New Prison, later the Clerkenwell House of Detention, notorious as the scene of the Clerkenwell Outrage in 1867, an attempted prison break by Fenians who killed many in the tenement houses on Corporation Row in trying to blow a hole in the prison wall.
The Industrial Revolution changed the area greatly. It became a centre for breweries, distilleries and the printing industry. It gained a special reputation for the making of clocks and watches, which activity once employed many people from around the area. Flourishing craft workshops still carry on some of the traditional trades, such as jewellery-making. Clerkenwell is home to Witherby’s, Europe’s oldest printing company.
After the Second World War, Clerkenwell suffered from industrial decline and many of the premises occupied by the engineering, printing publishing and meat and food trades (the last mostly around Smithfield) fell empty. Several acclaimed council housing estates were commissioned by Finsbury Borough Council. Modernist architect and Russian émigré Berthold Lubetkin’s listed Spa Green Estate, constructed 1943–1950, has recently been restored. The Finsbury Estate, constructed in 1968 to the designs of Joseph Emberton includes flats, since altered and re-clad.
A general revival and gentrification process began in the 1980s, and the area is now known for loft-living in some of the former industrial buildings. It also has young professionals, nightclubs and restaurants and is home to many professional offices as an overspill for the nearby City of London and West End.
Amongst other sectors, there is a notable concentration of design professions around Clerkenwell, and supporting industries such as high-end designer furniture showrooms.
