We met at Farringdon Tube Station, originally built as a Railway Station in 1863 and one of London's oldest.
Toff members were joined by walkers who came via the Greater London Forum for the Elderly.
We started by looking at what is left today of the St.John's Priory built during the
14 th and 15 th centuries as part of a religious settlement of 3 monasteries and a nunnery. The area supported ancient crafts including the manufacture of beer and gin because plentiful supplies of good water were available. Jewellery was made and sold here too.
From the 1400's to the 1970's ...a few yards away we were shown the exterior of a house built for Janet Street-Porter. I much preferred the older buildings!
St.John's Street (one of the oldest in London), leads to Smithfield (originally Smoothfield), a famous market for horses, cattle and livestock generally, since the 11th century.
Holloway Road nearby was the route of the livestock to market and was called
"Hollow Way" because their hooves had hollowed it out over the years.
|