Hidden Gems

London’s historical hidden gems

St Ethelburga’s: A Church And A Bedouin Tent

st ethelburga's church history

On Bishopsgate, in the City of London, you will find London’s smallest church, St Ethelburga’s. Towered over today by the Gherkin, not only is it London’s smallest church, it can also be considered both London’s luckiest and unluckiest church. Today it is not an active church in the traditional sense but carries out a different […]

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The Story Behind The Wonderful Facade Of Cutlers’ Hall

cutlers hall history

On Warwick Lane in the City of London, minutes from St Paul’s Cathedral, you will find the rich, red brick facade of Cutlers’ Hall. This is one of the City of London’s 40 livery halls, home to the Worshipful Company of Cutlers.  The Cutlers Company is one of the 111 livery companies in the City.

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Thomas Cromwell And The Curious History Of Austin Friars

austin friars history

Austin Friars is a street in London, just to the North East of the Bank of England. In terms of its shape it looks a bit like a wonky ‘T’ and has a couple of little alleyways shooting off from it such as Pinner’s Passage and Austin Friars Passage.  You enter through an archway on

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Hampstead’s Oldest House: A Visit To Fenton House

fenton house history

I find myself in Hampstead fairly regularly, but I had never been to Fenton House, the oldest house in Hampstead, until very recently. It is a beautiful late 17th century merchant’s house with wonderful walled gardens and is today owned by the National Trust.  Hampstead’s Origins Hampstead was once a small, fairly unremarkable, village outside

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