The Oldest House in London

by Fiona Rule

Overview

London's old buildings hold a wealth of clues to the city’s rich and vibrant past. The histories of some, such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, are well documented. However, these magnificent, world-renowned attractions are not the only places with fascinating tales to tell. Down a narrow, medieval lane on the outskirts of Smithfield stands 41–42 Cloth Fair – the oldest house in the City of London.

Fiona Rule uncovers the fascinating survival story of this extraordinary property and the people who owned it and lived in it, set against the backdrop of an ever-changing city that has prevailed over war, disease, fire and economic crises.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781803993782
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	08/31/2023
Edition description:	New edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

FIONA RULE is a writer, researcher and historian. A regular contributor to television and radio programmes, Fiona also has her own company, House Histories, which specialises in researching the history of people’s homes. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Local History from the University of Oxford.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

Introduction 9

1 Land Grab 11

2 The Eagle & Child: The Oldest House in London is Built 25

3 The Proud, Bloody City of London: Cloth Fair in the Civil War 36

4 The Sign of the Red Cross: Death Visits Cloth Fair 61

5 London Was, But Is No More: Or How the Oldest House in London Very Nearly Wasn't 79

6 Knavery in Perfection: The Riotous Heyday of Bartholomew Fair 95

7 By Ordinance of God: The Wesley Brothers at Cloth Fair 109

8 The Newgate Six: Cloth Fair and the Gordon Riots 123

9 Property is Power: Cloth Fair at the Heart of Radical Politics 141

10 A Piece of Tyrannical Impertinence: Cloth Fair and the First Modern Census 165

11 The Death of Old London: Part One 181

12 The Death of Old London: Part Two 203

13 Saving London: Seely, Paget and the Second World War 221

14 Preserving the Past for the Future 247

Epilogue 257

Afterword 267

A Walk Around Cloth Fair 271

Select Bibliography 281

Index 283