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Optional visit to the Old Bailey might be possible
For
many centuries English monarchs have marched in grand procession through the
streets of the City of London, often from the Tower through Cheapside. They
would travel down the street, then known as Knightrider Street, because knights
used to ride through it on their way to the Smithfields tournaments.
People
and traders, in their hard working lives, welcomed all this colourful pageantry
through their streets. In particular, in the 16th century they loved to see
their Queen, Elizabeth I in her elaborate costumes, strings of pearls and much
jewellery and adulation, accompanied by the Lord Mayor and hundreds of
courtiers.
Not all entertainment was joyful. As much as the people loved to watch all this pageantry, they equally flocked to see the torture and killings of many innocent victims. After all, there was no television in those days and they led very hard lives with no other form of entertainment.
The
same route was taken by the victims as late as the 19th century. For many of
those condemned at the Sessions House in Old Bailey and put in Newgate Prison,
this was the last route that they would see.