April 2017 archive

The alleyways and courtyards of London: V

Vandon Passage SW1 It was on the site adjacent to this Passage that Cornelius Van Dun, a Dutchman and Yeoman of the Guard to Henry VIII, built a row of almshouses in 1575 for the well being of eight deprived women of the district. Not content with this singular generous deed, he provided the cash …

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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 …

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The alleyways and courtyards of London: T

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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, …

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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 …

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1619: Tottenham

In 1619, a survey was made by Thomas Clay on behalf of the Earl of Dorset, owner of Tottenham Manor, and produced this map of the Parish of Tottenham, Middlesex. Note that south is on the top of this map – so it is upside down compared with most other maps. Thomas Clay’s map depicts …

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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 …

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