Old London. Shoreditch to Smithfield - Walter Thornbury

The area covered by this book is one of the oldest and most interesting parts of the City. Many of the old Livery Companies have their halls here and St Bartholomew's, perhaps London's oldest hospital, has a chapter. Smithfield, a grim place of execution in its day, Cloth Fair, which remained for centuries the centre of the drapery trade and Pie Corner, where the Great Fire of London finally flickered out are all included. The great school, Christ's Hospital, first stood on the site of the Grey Friars Convent in Newgate. To the North lies Clerkenwell where the ancient order of Knights Hospitallers and Templars flourished for many centuries.;Further north, Islington, once a country retreat, became one of London's first suburbs. It was also infested with footpads, robbers and highwaymen. The "Angel" was the first resting place for coaches on their way out of London, and Canonbury was once advertised as an ideal resort for invalids as the air was so pure.;In addition, this volume features Shoreditch, Aldersgate, Highbury, Sadlers Wells, St Martins le Grand and the GPO, Little Britain and Cripplegate.