Discovering Shakespeare’s London
Panorama of Old London. The Old Bridge stood to the west of the new one.
https://www.britain-magazine.com/features/inspiration/shakespeares-london/.
Of course Shakespearean London is post Ricardian but most of the streets and buildings covered in this interesting article would have been there in Richard’s time.
For anyone visiting London, this article would be an excellent referral point especially for covering the lesser known parts. Starting at St Pauls station, via Bankside, a thoroughfare since the 13th century, ending back at St Pauls, the walk covers much including Borough Market, the church of St Magnus Martyr, where two stones from the original Medieval bridge are still in situ, Eastcheap, the London Stone, close to Cannon Street Station where once Warwick the Kingmaker’s London house, the Erber, stood and St Pauls, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the disastrous Fire of London 1666.
I’ve posted some photos here of places covered on the walk although I’m not sure these are in the book, see below, from which this article is an extract.
The London Stone on temporary display at the Museum of London
The London Stone, Cannon Street.
Remains of Winchester Palace, Clink Street
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Old photo of the medieval church of St Magnus Martyr, a surivivor of the Great Fire where it stood close to the northern entrance to the old bridge.
The article is an extract from a book ‘A Visitor’s Guide to Shakespeare’s London by David Thomas. Being a Londoner myself I will certainly find room for this book on my book shelf.
Hi Sparkypus, very timely article for me, thanks! I’ve been trying to find material on London c. 1450’s (NOT EASY!) There seems to be plenty AFTER 1500 and before 1400, alas, just as there is with so much else in Ricardian/ WoTR research, that period is buttressed by the Hundred Years’ War and Edward III or the Tudors!
For those who like to get into the research ‘weeds’ I have found a couple sources that might be of use to others here –
Marjorie B. Honeybourne, The City of London’s Historic Streets, from a 1971 article, can still be ordered online. Also her longer article in London Topographical Record (no. 22, from 1965), also something that can be ordered from the Society. More recently, A.R. Myers published Chaucer’s London, available from Amazon.
If anyone knows a good resource for clothing of the period (WoTR) I would appreciate it! I have everything from Toni Mount (she is great, btw, very witty and informative, and a Ricardian to boot! She does have a fine ‘across the medieval period’ Everyday Life in Medieval London, but I am looking for quite specific info).
Thanks again for the article and post!
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