NO MEAN CITY

The genuine Londoner, even though born south of the Thames, claims an association with Bow Church,

Cheapside, for any one born within the sound of Bow Bells is a cockney, a typical Londoner.

It is interesting to note that the city of London was first inwalled by Helen, the mother of Constantine the Great,

about A.D. 306. This work was later raised and strengthened, and a wall eight feet thick and twelve feet in height

was built.

London was earlier named Londium, Longidinum, and Lundinum. The Briton called it Lundayne; the Saxon

Lundenceaster, Lundenbrig, and Londennir, but the inhabitants themselves called it just plain London, and so it is

called to this day. Cheapside was originally called Westcheap, a name echoed in the vicinity of London Bridge by

Eastcheap. The word `cheap' indicates a market, it is found in the names of English towns compounded with the

word `Chipping', and is seen in the Danish equivalent Copenhagen. Branching off from Cheapside, streets still

retain their distinctive market associations, as Bread Street, Milk Street, Wood Street and Poultry.

It may be of interest to record the localities that were used by various trades in early times.

Goldsmiths, the south side of West Cheape.

Drapers, first in Lombard Street, then Candlewick Street.

Skinners in Bridge Street and Walbrook.

Stock fishmongers in Thames Street.

Wet fishmongers in Knightrider Street and Bridge Street.

Ironmongers in Ironmonger Lane to Thames Street.

Butchers in Eastcheape.

Hosiers in Hosiers Lane and Cordwayners Street.

Shoemakers in Cordwayners Street and St. Martins Le Grand and London Wall near Moorgate etc., etc.

`It appeareth by records, that in the year 1302, which was the 30th of Edward 1, the bakers of London were

bound to sell no bread in their shops or houses, but in the market' (Stow).

Fryday Street (now Friday Street), which was parallel with Broad Street, was so called by reason of the

fishmongers there, and the serving of fish in Friday's market.