
Names behind some of the Streets of London
Let me take you by the hand….in the words of Ralph McTell

I must admit I certainly have, and the City of London where I worked for 27 years has some of the strangest, I’ve ever seen.
So, my curiosity got the better of me, and I dug a little deeper, into some of the City of London’s quirkier street names.
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Savage Gardens

The street takes its name from Sir Thomas Savage, who lived near here in the 1620s and was an English peer and courtier in the court of Charles I. He amazingly had 19 children.
Want to discover more than about London?
We have a little book on our shelves that we sometimes delve into when we're about to hit an area of London.
Packed full of historical facts, and broken down into the different regions of London, it's a great resource to help you see what's hidden in plain sight.
Available in Kindle & Hardback editions, it's an excellent addition to anyone's collection who loves London.
Pope’s Head Alley
Pope’s Head Alley in EC3, is named after a 13th-century inn, the Pope's Head Tavern that once stood here.

Cornhill

Chancery Lane

What’s with the Blue Plaques?
Bow Lane and Bow Churchyard
Bow Lane and Bow Churchyard are named after the nearby St Mary-le-Bow church. It was formerly known as Hosier Lane, after the local stocking making trade.

Bow Churchyard
This historic church was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren due to the Great Fire of London in 1666.
According to London tradition to be a true Cockney you must be born within earshot of the sound of Bow Bells.
Austin Friars


Threadneedle Street

Cloth Court

The fair was for the woollen and drapery industries, with Italian and Flemish cloth merchants.
There’s so much history just within this small region of London, take a look at my Smithfield post.
How strange!
Little Britain
Little Britain got its name from the Dukes of Brittany who built a house here in the 15th century. From 1575 – 1725 there were mostly booksellers on the street until they all moved to Paternoster Row where it was free to sell books.
Little Britain is also mentioned in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations as the location of Jaggers', Pip's surly lawyer office.

Cock Lane
Cock Lane in EC1 doesn’t have a very upbeat history, as it is thought to be named after cockfighting and cock breeding that formerly occurred here.
Although just on the corner with Cock Lane is the “Golden Boy of Pye Corner”.

This golden memorial was erected in memory of the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is ascribed to the Sin of Gluttony.
The Golden Boy once sat above the “Fortune of War” pub, which was pulled down in 1910.
Pudding Lane

Change Alley

Watling Street

The length of this road is around 276 miles (444km). It is believed that the Romans paved Watling Street during AD 47 and 48, so this has undoubtedly seen some footsteps.
Passing Alley

However, the Victorians changed its name to Passing Alley.
This is another interesting part of the City of London, take a look at our Clerkenwell post, for little more, behind the scenes.
Jerusalem Passage

I understand it has been called Jerusalem Passage since the 17th-century.
It was named after the St. John of Jerusalem tavern which up to 1720 was at the northeast corner of the lane.
French Ordinary Court

The ‘ordinary’ part refers to a ‘cheap eating place’, which were common during the 17th & 18th centuries and served meals that all cost the same price.
A French-style Ordinary stood on the site of the court in EC3.
Friday Street

How to get there
If you are not a London dweller, then one of the easiest ways to get to the capital is by train. Catch all the routes into London here and find your most convenient itinerary.
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