Dimensions
142 x 248 x 24mm
Did you know...
When George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, sold his property near Charing Cross for development, he insisted that every element of his name and title be commemorated in the new street names. So in addition to Villiers Street and Buckingham Street, there used to be a George Street, a Duke Street and even an Of Alley.
Piccadilly is actually an insult. A tailor called Robert Baker made a fortune selling decorated collars known as piccadills. The local wits called the house he built with the profits Piccadilly House; presumably they thought Mr Baker was getting above himself.
Euston Road was originally 'New Road' - it was built to ease the congestion of cattle being herded along Oxford Street to Smithfield Market.
Ever wondered if Cheapside is really cheap, what you do in Threadneedle Street, or who the knights of Knightsbridge were?
Take a trip down narrow lanes, through cobbled streets and crowded markets to discover the meanings behind our city's place names. Meet forgotten residents whose names live on in the places where they lived and uncover tales from London's murky past that have shaped the modern city.
From famous landmarks to forgotten rivers, grand thoroughfares to lost palaces, and ancient villages swallowed up as the city grew, Caroline Taggart explains the hidden meanings behind familiar places. If you have ever wanted to peel back the layers of history to discover the people, events and stories that shaped London, then come on a journey that will let you see our capital city in a new light...
