Anchor Yard is named after a former inn here of this name.
During they 18th century the popular Anchor Tavern graced this part of Old Street. In those days the Yard was much larger than it is today, probably with an opening wide enough to accept a dray cart. Here would have stood the empty wooden hogsheads awaiting collection on delivery day, and on summery evenings there would very likely have been multitudes swilling jugs of ale while looking on at a friendly skittle or bowling match.
For nigh on 200 years the Yard has been without its tavern; the Anchor was demolished at the beginning of the 19th century.
