This London Square’s Bloody History

London – History, Architecture & Hidden Gems

Join Roger in as he takes a walk through the historic streets of Smithfield and Clerkenwell. From the chaotic days of the Bartholomew Fair to the bustling trade at Smithfield Meat Market, Roger dives into the stories that shaped these iconic areas.

Along the way, he shares the brutal history of public executions, including Queen Mary’s persecution of Protestants, and explores landmarks like Bartholomew’s Hospital, where William Wallace met his grisly end.

Roger also examines St Bartholomew the Great, London’s oldest parish church, revealing how it survived the Great Fire.

Marvel at the stunning architecture of Smithfield Market, designed by the same mind behind Tower Bridge, and check out some classic telephone boxes preserved for posterity.

As he moves into Clerkenwell, Roger uncovers its past as a hub for printing and radical thought, with connections to Karl Marx and the Knights Hospitaller, whose legacy lives on through St John Ambulance. Explore hidden passageways, restored historic buildings, and intriguing little details that often go unnoticed.

Wrapping up in Hatton Garden, Roger shares personal stories from London’s jewellery quarter, with a light-hearted take on the Prince Albert statue and its modern-day associations.

A perfect stroll for anyone fascinated by history, architecture, and hidden gems.

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🔗 LINKS

History of Smithfield Market
https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/london-stories/history-smithfield-market

St Bartholomew’s Hospital History
https://bartsheritage.org.uk/restoring-historic-barts/learning/museum-and-archive

The Knights Hospitaller and St John Ambulance
https://www.sosjinternational.org/history

The Great Fire of London and Its Impact
https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/facing-catastrophe-great-fire-london

The History of Hatton Garden
https://www.queensmith.co.uk/journal/hatton-garden-jewellers-a-brief-history

Bartholomew Fair – A Look Back at the Infamous Event
https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Bartholomew-Fair

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📖 CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome to Smithfield
00:35 Bartholomew Fair
02:05 Bloody Mary
03:35 Bartholomew’s Hospital
05:15 St Bartholomew the Great
08:41 Pipe & Stonework
10:09 Little Britain
11:11 Dumped Metal Myth
13:53 Barts Restoration
14:50 St Bartholomew the Less
15:26 Smithfield Market
17:31 St Johns Street
19:38 Lovely Pipe
21:21 Clerkenwell
23:35 Pennybank
24:51 Hatton Garden
25:37 Ely Place
26:59 Prince Albert

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