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Are the Streets of Historical London Paved with Gold?

The story tells that the streets of historical London are paved with Gold but to be honest I am not sure whether that is really the case as I have never found any.

However what I can tell you is true that the streets are wealth of historical interest, telling their own story of the development of one of the greatest cities in the World. From Roman inhabitation up until the present day the streets of historical London reveal golden nuggets of history for everyone to appreciate and enjoy.

Roman and Medieval Wall.
Sections of the Roman defensive wall can still be seen, the walls that protected London from around AD200 from raids by Saxons and Danes and later although unsuccessfully from the Normans. The walls were maintained for over a thousand years when in the middle of the eighteenth century they were abandoned. Probably the best place to see as you emerge from Tower Hill underground station where on the left you will see part of the wall the bottom of which is Roman, the red tiled section, and the rest is from the medieval period.

Hidden Clubs and Passageways.
St. James Square between Piccadilly Circus and St.James Palace is a treasure trove of historical London's famous clubs and hidden passageways and mews. Within a short walking distance of each other you will discover clubs such as the Reform, Athenaeum, Turf and Carlton
to mention just a few. The passageways and mews of the surrounding area are a delight and give beautiful examples of the architecture of the eighteenth century.

Something Unusual.
London has many historical sites that the casual visitor will miss which is a pity, so here are a few for you to look out for. Number 1 Greek Street in Soho was built around 1746 and was a refuge for the homeless, the 400 year old Hoop and Grapes pub in Aldgate High Street was built in the seventeenth century only narrowly missing being destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666.

Lastly although there are many more, Charterhouse where you will find a Carthusian monastery founded in 1370 by one of Edward 111 famous Knights Sir Edward Manny.

So maybe the streets of historical London are paved with Gold, but Gold worth more to me than its prized matallic ingots, the golden nuggets of history. I recommend the next time you visit to take a quality guide book with you so as not to miss the wealth available and visit these lesser known sites for free instead of paying and queuing in the more well known attractions.

About the Author

Steve has a passion for English history and he has set up his web site to share his passion with you. He gives a simple introduction and some personal views on historical England from which you can enjoy and learn about the history of England, London and much, much more at www.historicalengland.org

Author Profile: greatsteve

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