The alleyways and courtyards of London: U

Union Court EC2

Prior to the 19th century it was quite common to hear people talking of a ‘union’ when referring to what now is more usually called a passage; a footpath linking two thoroughfares together, or to put it another way – a short cut. Pathways such as Lamb’s Passage, Lime Street Passage and Marylebone Passage were most probably identified in every day conversation as ‘unions’ and Union Court may very well have been either Broad Street Union or Wormwood Street Union.

Before recent redevelopments changed the face of this quarter, Union Court used to turn through 90° and emerge by way of a covered passage into Wormwood Street but now it terminates in a dead end and is in danger of total extinction. Even at the time of writing, the Court and its surroundings are undergoing further change and through the existence of high boarding, access is denied and the noise of pneumatic drills is an awakening sound.


The alleyways and courtyards of London

This page is taken from Ivor Hoole’s defunct GeoCities site listing the alleys and courtyards in Central London, last updated in 2004 and now taken offline.
The Underground Map blog lists this information as is, with no claim of copyright.

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