
Florin Court is a classic Art Deco building in Clerkenwell.
Florin Court at Charterhouse Square features an impressive curved façade with projecting wings, a roof garden, setbacks on the eighth and ninth floor and a basement swimming pool.
Constructed in 1936 by Guy Morgan and Partners, who had previously worked for Edwin Lutyens until 1927, the building at 6-9 Charterhouse Square in Clerkenwell was one of the earliest residential apartment blocks in the area. The walls were made of beige bricks that were specially manufactured by Williamson Cliff Ltd and placed over a steel frame.
Regalian Properties renovated the building in the late 1980s, under the guidance of Hildebrand & Clicker architects, to create the interior layout and additional facilities that exist today. Before the refurbishment, the ground floor included a porter’s office and a flat for the head porter. The entrance hall had a marble floor adorned with the Charterhouse arms (now covered with carpet), and an inlaid ceiling covered the exterior of the entrance door before being plastered. In the basement, there was a public restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a clubroom. A single-story building behind the block contained two squash courts, which were converted into a two-story office space called "Florin Court Studios" in 2015.
Prior to Florin Court’s construction, the three-story Georgian buildings on the same site housed a vicarage and a lady’s school until 1859, at which point they were converted into a staff dormitory for Copestake, Crampton & Co. Ltd, a Cheapside-based lace manufacturer and wholesaler that had purchased the property in 1872. The hostel accommodated up to 100 men and 18 women until the company began to move to Nottingham, at which point the building was sold in 1934 to help offset some of the business’s losses.
In 1989, Florin Court became famous as the fictional residence of Agatha Christie’s detective, Poirot, known as Whitehaven Mansions.
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The Underground Map Added: 20 Sep 2020 13:01 GMT | Pepys starts diary On 1 January 1659, Samuel Pepys started his famous daily diary and maintained it for ten years. The diary has become perhaps the most extensive source of information on this critical period of English history. Pepys never considered that his diary would be read by others. The original diary consisted of six volumes written in Shelton shorthand, which he had learned as an undergraduate on scholarship at Magdalene College, Cambridge. This shorthand was introduced in 1626, and was the same system Isaac Newton used when writing.
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Katharina Logan Added: 9 Aug 2022 19:01 GMT | Ely place existed in name in 1857 On 7th July 1857 John James Chase and Mary Ann Weekes were married at St John the Baptist Hoxton, he of full age and she a minor. Both parties list their place of residence as Ely Place, yet according to other information, this street was not named until 1861. He was a bricklayer, she had no occupation listed, but both were literate and able to sign their names on their marriage certificate.
Source: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSF7-Q9Y7?cc=3734475
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Sandra Field Added: 15 Apr 2023 16:15 GMT | Removal Order Removal order from Shoreditch to Holborn, Jane Emma Hall, Single, 21 Pregnant. Born about 21 years since in Masons place in the parish of St Lukes.
Source:
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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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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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Steven Shepherd Added: 4 Feb 2021 14:20 GMT | Our House I and my three brothers were born at 178 Pitfield Street. All of my Mothers Family (ADAMS) Lived in the area. There was an area behind the house where the Hoxton Stall holders would keep the barrows. The house was classed as a slum but was a large house with a basement. The basement had 2 rooms that must have been unchanged for many years it contained a ’copper’ used to boil and clean clothes and bedlinen and a large ’range’ a cast iron coal/log fired oven. Coal was delivered through a ’coal hole’ in the street which dropped through to the basement. The front of the house used to be a shop but unused while we lived there. I have many more happy memories of the house too many to put here.
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Mike Added: 28 Feb 2023 18:09 GMT | 6 Elia Street When I was young I lived in 6 Elia Street. At the end of the garden there was a garage owned by Initial Laundries which ran from an access in Quick Street all the way up to the back of our garden. The fire exit to the garage was a window leading into our garden. 6 Elia Street was owned by Initial Laundry.
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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: 21 Apr 2021 16:21 GMT | Liverpool Street the Bishopsgate station has existed since 1840 as a passenger station, but does not appear in the site’s cartography. Evidently, the 1860 map is in fact much earlier than that date.
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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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STEPHEN ARTHUR JACKSON Added: 14 Nov 2021 17:12 GMT | Lynedoch Street, E2 my father Arthur Jackson was born in lynedoch street in 1929 and lived with mm grandparents and siblings, until they were relocated to Pamela house Haggerston rd when the street was to be demolished
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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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LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT |
 
Matthew Proctor Added: 7 Dec 2023 17:36 GMT | Blackheath Grove, SE3 Road was originally known as The Avenue, then became "The Grove" in 1942.
From 1864 there was Blackheath Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on this street until it was destroyed by a V2 in 1944
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Peter Added: 4 Dec 2023 07:05 GMT | Gambia Street, SE1 Gambia Street was previously known as William Street.
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Eileen Added: 10 Nov 2023 09:42 GMT | Brecknock Road Pleating Company My great grandparents ran the Brecknock Road pleating Company around 1910 to 1920 and my Grandmother worked there as a pleater until she was 16. I should like to know more about this. I know they had a beautiful Victorian house in Islington as I have photos of it & of them in their garden.
Source: Family history
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Added: 6 Nov 2023 16:59 GMT | 061123 Why do Thames Water not collect the 15 . Three meter lengths of blue plastic fencing, and old pipes etc. They left here for the last TWO Years, these cause an obstruction,as they halfway lying in the road,as no footpath down this road, and the cars going and exiting the park are getting damaged, also the public are in Grave Danger when trying to avoid your rubbish and the danger of your fences.
Source: Squirrels Lane. Buckhurst Hill, Essex. IG9. I want some action ,now, not Excuses.MK.
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Christian Added: 31 Oct 2023 10:34 GMT | Cornwall Road, W11 Photo shows William Richard Hoare’s chemist shop at 121 Cornwall Road.
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Vik Added: 30 Oct 2023 18:48 GMT | Old pub sign from the Rising Sun Hi I have no connection to the area except that for the last 30+ years we’ve had an old pub sign hanging on our kitchen wall from the Rising Sun, Stanwell, which I believe was / is on the Oaks Rd. Happy to upload a photo if anyone can tell me how or where to do that!
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Phillip Martin Added: 16 Oct 2023 06:25 GMT | 16 Ashburnham Road On 15 October 1874 George Frederick Martin was born in 16 Ashburnham Road Greenwich to George Henry Martin, a painter, and Mary Martin, formerly Southern.
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Christine Bithrey Added: 15 Oct 2023 15:20 GMT | The Hollies (1860 - 1900) I lived in Holly Park Estate from 1969 I was 8 years old when we moved in until I left to get married, my mother still lives there now 84. I am wondering if there was ever a cemetery within The Hollies? And if so where? Was it near to the Blythwood Road end or much nearer to the old Methodist Church which is still standing although rather old looking. We spent most of our childhood playing along the old dis-used railway that run directly along Blythwood Road and opposite Holly Park Estate - top end which is where we live/ed. We now walk my mothers dog there twice a day. An elderly gentleman once told me when I was a child that there used to be a cemetery but I am not sure if he was trying to scare us children! I only thought about this recently when walking past the old Methodist Church and seeing the flag stone in the side of the wall with the inscription of when it was built late 1880
If anyone has any answers please email me [email protected]
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City Temple The City Temple is a Nonconformist church on Holborn Viaduct. Clerkenwell Priory Clerkenwell Priory was a priory of the Monastic Order of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, located in Clerkenwell, London. Hicks Hall Hicks Hall (1611 - 1778) was a building in St John Street, Clerkenwell. 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. Alfred Close, EC2Y Alfred Close (Alfred’s Close) was a 1939 renaming of the former Alfred’s Place. Andrewes Highwalk, EC2Y Andrewes Highwalk is named for Lancelot Andrewes, rector of the nearby St Giles-without-Cripplegate Church. Aylesbury Street, EC1V Aylesbury Street - after the earl of Aylesbury who owned a house near here in the 17th century. Baltic Street East, EC1Y Baltic Street East was built by a timber merchant around 1810 who named local streets after trade-related activities. Banner Street, EC1Y Banner Street was named after the Banner family, late 18th century landowners in the area. Barbican, EC2Y Before becoming part of Beech Street, a road called Barbican had its own presence. Berry Street, EC1M Berry Place and Berry Street were named after Thomas Berry, local early 19th century landowner. Brackley Street, EC2Y Brackley Street was named after Viscount Brackley - the title given to the eldest sons of the Earl of Bridgewater who owned a townhouse on Bridgewater Square. 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.
Cock Lane, EC1A Cock Lane leads from Giltspur Street in the east to Snow Hill in the west. Duke Street, EC1A Duke Street ran off Smithfield, becoming part of Little Britain in 1885. East Market, EC2Y East Market is one of the streets of London in the EC1A postal area. Fann Street, EC1Y Fann Street is one of the streets of London in the EC1Y postal area. Fore Street, EC2Y Fore Street is one of the streets of London in the EC2Y postal area. Gee Street, EC1V Gee Street is one of the streets of London in the EC1V postal area. Half Moon Court, EC1A Halfmoon Court is the southern most of five passages leading eastward from Kinghorn Street. Helmet Row, EC1V Helmet Row is one of the streets of London in the EC1V postal area. Holborn Viaduct, EC1A Holborn Viaduct is a road bridge in London and the name of the street which crosses it. 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. Jewin Crescent Jewin Crescent - as The Crescent - existed from the end of the eighteenth century. Lauderdale Tower, EC2Y Lauderdale Tower is the westernmost tower in the Barbican, facing onto Lauderdale Place. Little Britain, EC1A Little Britain is a street in the City of London running from St Martin’s Le Grand in the east to West Smithfield. London Wall, EC2Y London Wall is one of the streets of London in the EC2Y postal area. Long Lane, EC1A Long Lane is one of the streets of London in the EC1A 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). Sans Walk, EC1R Sans Walk was named after Edward Sans in 1893, who was then the oldest member of the local parish vestry. Silk Street, EC2Y Silk Street is one of the streets of London in the EC2Y postal area. Silver Street, EC2V Silver Street was the location of a house in which William Shakespeare lived during his time in London. Snow Hill, EC1A Snow Hill is one of the streets of London in the EC1A postal area. 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. The Postern, EC2Y The Postern is one of the streets of London in the EC2Y postal area. Wallside, EC2Y Wallside is one of the streets of London in the EC2Y postal area. Wood Street, EC2Y The northern section Wood Street lies between London Wall and the Barbican. Coach & Horses The Coach & Horses was situated at 71 Bartholomew Close in Smithfield. Hat and Feathers At the corner of Clerkenwell Road and Goswell Road sits the Hat and Feathers pub. 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. 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 Barbican is a residential estate built during the 1960s and the 1970s in the City of London.During World War II, the City suffered serious damage and loss of life. The Cripplegate ward was virtually demolished and by 1951 the resident population of the City stood at 5,324 of whom 48 lived in Cripplegate. Discussions began in 1952 about the future of the site, and the decision to build new residential properties was taken by the Court of Common Council on 19 September 1957.
The estate was built between 1965 and 1976, on a 35-acre site that had been bombed in World War II. The complex was designed by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, whose first work was the ground-breaking
Golden Lane Estate immediately north of the
Barbican. The estate of 40 acres was officially opened in 1969 and is now home to around 4000 people living in 2014 flats. The flats reflect the widespread use in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s of concrete as the visible face of the building.
It contains, or is adjacent to, the
Barbican Arts Centre, the Museum of London, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the
Barbican public library and the City of London School for Girls, forming the
Barbican Complex. The complex is a prominent example of British brutalist architecture and is Grade II listed as a whole with the exception of the former Milton Court. Milton Court once contained a fire station, medical facilities and some flats and was demolished to allow the construction of a new apartment complex which also contains additional facilities for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
The residential estate consists of 13 terrace blocks, grouped around a lake and green squares. The main buildings rise up to seven floors above a podium level, which links all the facilities in the
Barbican, providing a pedestrian route above street level. Some maisonettes are built into the podium structure. There is no vehicular access within the estate, but there are some car parks at the periphery of the estate. Public car parks are located within the
Barbican Centre.
What is now
Barbican station was opened by the Metropolitan Railway in December 1865 when they extended their original route between Paddington and Farringdon.
The station was first called
Aldersgate Street, this being the name of the street on which it stands. This changed to
Aldersgate on 1 November 1910, then to
Aldersgate and Barbican in 1923, and to the present name from 1 December 1968.
The station replaced an earlier building at 134
Aldersgate Street, which for many years had a sign claiming ’This was Shakespeare’s House’. Although the building was very close to the nearby Fortune Playhouse, there is no documentary evidence that Shakespeare lived here; a subsidy roll from 1598 shows a William Shakespeare as owner of the property, but there is nothing to indicate that it is the playwright.