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A
relaxed easy walk suitable for all
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.
We
follow the same Processional Route that Monarchs have travelled throughout the
centuries on their grand State occasions.
The Walk looks at the Mansion House and the history of its occupant The Lord Mayor, a role still very active and relevant in today’s City of London, whose contribution worldwide is highly regarded and sought.
We walk down Cheapside and look at the freeze at No. 1 Poultry, which depicts the history of Cheapside as a Processional Route. The church by Sir Christopher Wren of St Mary-le-Bow, where once a Queen with her ladies sat in a wooden structure to watch the celebrations of the birth of her son, later known as The Black Prince.
Passing
St Paul’s Cathedral and then towards the Old Bailey, Central Criminal Court, we
consider the route that wretched prisoners from Newgate Prison took on their way
to execution. Our pause will be for lunch in the beautifully restored Victorian
Pub The Holborn Viaduct, and later we shall take a look at the Pub’s
history below ground!
We look at the church of St Sepulchre and its connection with Newgate Prison, as we continue towards Smithfields, passing some historical and important sites in the City of London. We take a closer look at the way that doctors at
St Bartholomew’s Hospital carried out their research in years gone by!
The Walk finishes at Smithfields Market and the 12th century church of St Bartholomew-the-Great. This is a very interesting and different aspect of a part of the City not very well known by many people.