Thomas Cromwell And The Curious History Of Austin Friars

austin friars history

Austin Friars is a street in London, just to the North East of the Bank of England. In terms of its shape it looks a bit like a wonky ‘T’ and has a couple of little alleyways shooting off from it such as Pinner’s Passage and Austin Friars Passage.  You enter through an archway on

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Hampstead’s Oldest House: A Visit To Fenton House

fenton house history

I find myself in Hampstead fairly regularly, but I had never been to Fenton House, the oldest house in Hampstead, until very recently. It is a beautiful late 17th century merchant’s house with wonderful walled gardens and is today owned by the National Trust.  Hampstead’s Origins Hampstead was once a small, fairly unremarkable, village outside

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Five London Streets Named After Inspirational People

A few of the major streets in London are named after people: Downing Street (Sir George Downing), Shaftesbury Avenue (the Earl of Shaftesbury) and Regent Street (the Prince Regent, future King George IV), to name a few. However, I wanted to highlight five streets in the city, named after lesser-known, but inspiring, figures. Let me

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St Mary Woolnoth: One Of The City’s Most Striking Churches

st mary woolnoth history

If you have ever walked around the financial district you would have almost certainly have seen St Mary Woolnoth church. It sits in a prominent position, at the corner of Lombard Street and King William Street, looking towards the busy Bank junction. It is not one however that many have been inside, so I paid

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