BLACKFRIARS PRE 1530s WILLIAM NEWTON 1855

This section of a larger map, based on maps of the time, gives a Victorian eyed view to the layout of the Blackfriars area prior to the dissolution. To the right, at the water's edge Baynard Castle; then to the left the monastic land of the Blackfriars; again to the left the stinking sewer that was the Fleet River. This river was incorporated into Joseph Bazelgette's sewerage system during the mid Victorian period and is now no longer visible except under the streets. To the left of the Fleet River : Bridewell Palace, now infamously connected as a term for detention centres it originally started life as one of Henry VIII's residences. He lived here from 1515 - 1523. Upon his departure Bridewell then went on a slippery slope downwards before finally becoming a school which then moved to a site in Milford near Witley, ( Surrey ), and was renamed King Edward's School. See Wikipedia for more.

At the right hand edge of the Fleet River can be seen the westernmost edge of the old London Wall and identifies the western edge of what we know as the old City of London. The actual city limit if entering from Westminster began at Temple Bar - hence the name. Tradition has it that the monarch needs to get permission at this point to enter the city. The wall will be covered in a separate section.

It is also worth pointing out that the thoroughfares St Andrews Hill, Creed Lane and Ludgate Hill still exist as streets and in name as all the major city routes still do. The map gives the illusion of space. In fact the city by Shakespeare's time was heaving under the weight of population numbers and housing.