Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell
28 September 2011 1 Comment on Clerkenwell
Image by dgbdgb via Flickr
Clerkenwell is not as well known as it should be, yet historically it is a fascinating area. It started as the home of religious communities in the C12th. The sweet waters of the River Fleet and Clerkenwells proximity to London led to it becoming a prime location for entertainment throughout the ages for city dwellers and outlying villagers alike. Early craftsmen and women established themselves here and for a while during Tudor times the area was known for the large houses of the wealthy. Spa resorts brought all manner of people to the locale. A continuing increase in industrial presence led to Clerkenwell becoming one of the most densely populated suburbs of a fast growing London, a combination that naturally evolved into a renowned centre of radicalism. Later still, Victorian slum clearances introduced new housing followed by the Blitz which destroyed a lot of the area. This allowed for new opportunities for C20 architects like Berthold Lubetkyn. All this hot on the heels of historical notorious activities including gaming, prostitution and drinking! Today Clerkenwell is a reputable centre for all sorts of designers and, once again, is a desirable place to eat, drink and live.
We will shortly be offering guided walks in this area – so do come and join us when we do.
1 Comment
We did this walk guided by Debbie Pakulski. It was good fun and informative and we learnt a great deal about an area we thought we knew well! Would recommend.