In Fleet St
Walking between Spitalfields and the West End, Fleet St has emerged as a favourite route in recent years, because the detail of this magnificent thoroughfare never ceases to fascinate me with new interest – and so I spent a morning wandering there with my camera to record some of these sights for you.
Alsal Watches
Royal Courts of Justice by George Edward Street, opened 1882
This marker at the entrance to the City of London was unveiled in 1880 and is the work of Horace Jones, architect of Tower Bridge and Smithfield, Billingsgate and Leadenhall Markets
Hoare’s Bank from Hen & Chicken Court
Hoare’s Bank founded in 1672
Clifford’s Inn founded in 1344
Entrance to Middle Temple, 1684
St Dunstan-in-the-West
Angels at the entrance to St Dunstan-in-the-West
Statue of Queen Elizabeth I that once stood upon the west side of Ludgate, demolished in 1760
Sixteenth century statues of King Lud and his sons that originally stood upon the east side of Ludgate
Old King Lud
Removed in 1878, Christopher Wren’s Temple Bar now stands at the entrance to Paternoster Sq
Prince Henry’s Room over entrance to Inner Temple, 1610
St Brides by Christopher Wren, 1672, reflected in the Daily Express building by Ellis & Clarke, 1932
St Bartholomew House by Herbert Huntly-Gordon, 1900
Carving upon The George
Pulpit in St Clement Danes by Grinling Gibbons
Eagles in St Clement Danes
Statue of Dr Samuel Johnson
Looking east down Fleet St
What a stunning portfolio of photographs! You are, Gentle Author, as accomplished with your camera as you are with your pen. Respect!
Thank you for the lovely walk down Fleet Street. As we scurry along pavements it’s so easy to miss what’s above eye level and we take for granted the treasure trove of history right on our doorstep.
Which one is the statue?
I started work in Fleet Street in 1960. These wonderful images bring back many happy memories. At that time ‘The Street’ was buzzing day and night, today it seems much more ordinary and lacking in soul.
Excellent images.
In 1988 I got a job working just off Fleet Street (Salisbury Court), and I know the area very well, it is indeed a lovely walk, always plenty to see, and lots of interesting pubs, notably the Olde Cheshire Cheese, which was a regular haunt.
In those days the Telegraph was still on Fleet Street, the Mail was not far away.
I remember the Cock when they still had gas lamps, it was a shame when it was modernised in (I think) the 1990s. And of course there was the Old King Lud, now a bank I think.
Lots of memories.
I once worked in Fleet Street , in a newspaper office when they were all there. London has never been the same place since they moved away
The poignant photo with Dr. Samuel Johnston in the background tells a story….
TERRIFIC…Thank You..
A superb portfolio – it’s a great pleasure to admire these sensational pictures. Coincidentally, I walked the length of Fleet Street, one of my favourite London thoroughfares, yesterday in similarly bright sunlight and explored Hen & Chicken Court and the unusual octagonal interior of St Dunstan-in-the-West. You have reminded me of more to investigate – I will return!
Thank you Gentle Author for an evocative early morning stroll for me along that historic street ……beautiful photographs as always.
Beautiful photos!
Thank you for reviving memories. I used to work on the News of The World for Rupert Murdoch and Paul Hamlyn during the early seventies. Women were not allowed to drink at the bar (where journalists congregated) at El Vinos. We had to skulk through to the back where the lawyers used to sit and pontificate …
What about the days when Fleet Street, was most famous as the home of newspapers _ and they wouldn’t serve womeni in the pubs and wine bars?
Brought back a lot of memories. Specifically when i first arrived in London in january 79 and was staying at a friend of a friends on Gt Titchfield st. I wasn’t entirely welcome there so used to scurry down to Fleet st every morning to get the first edition of the ‘Standard’ to check out flats for rent. It did lose a certain energy when the papers moved out but it’s good to see it’s mostly still there.
Concur with all the comments above. Worked in that area in the mid 80s until a few years back. Full of amazing buildings all around. Great job Gentle.
What wonderful photos. I am now going to hunt out those dragons!
One of my favorite London thoroughfares. Worked at various locations for different solicitors’ offices in and around there starting in 1962. Went back recently, but other than most of the amazing architecture remaining, the ‘Street’ has changed. Missed seeing the hustle and bustle around the Daily Express building, but still love the hushed feeling in side streets and alleys such as Kings Bench Walk and Essex Street. Great photos GA.
Greetings from Boston,
GA, what great shots of Fleet Street – the black ‘n white presentation makes the details on the buildings so much clearer. I love walking in that area, and continue to enjoy the architecture even when we are crawling along in a bus. So much variety and history.
Headed for London in a few days and will review these photos before leaving…
So many memories of one of my favorite London areas. Also not allowed to drink in El Vinos back in the day. Thanks for the tour!
Your pictures are great!! Loved this stroll along Fleet Street – so where to next?
Such an excellent street to stroll down, whistling. I always look for the statue of Mary Queen of Scots when I am there. Somehow I am pleased to see her still in place.
Used to live in Clifford’s Inn, off Fetter Lane, when working in Fleet Street in 60s, great times to have lived and worked in such busy area in the start of my working life, every day was an adventure,meeting famous people,and the not so famous of the time, drinking in the pubs,was.real eye opener,the Street was never quit even weekends, remember Conrad opening his first Soup Kitchen,side of the Daily Express,for the rich,not the poor,his waitress,were the best looking of all,all the printers took up drinking soup,just for a look,LOL open very late in the evening, just selling soup,couldn’t make it up. Remember the reporter Tom Mangold,walking about with a Black Face and tinted Black Hair,having a photo shoot at the Mirror,to find out what it was like for Black people in the UK and how they where treated by the local people. My local Barber Shop in Fetter Lane,had Wee Willie Harris in there one day,having his hair tinted bright red,for a photo shoot, the place,called Clifford’s Hairdressers, also had an all night service,and mobile service for the printers,and lawyers.
Just thought about another moment this Street had for me,and the time had a large collection of stamps, a stamp dealer at the time,had his shop,next too Clifford’s Inn,got chatting to him about selling my collection,he bought the lot about 6 albums full,now young man what are you going to do with all this money, next thing got introduced to the Banker Mr Hoare,he gave me sound advice,been there ever since, Londons Oldest Bank
What a fascinating set of comments: i never knew women were not allowed to drink in some of the bars. Thank you for taking me back to walks i used to take with my father, who loved the city of London, the churches, and Samuel Johnson. He sits on my shoulder now, as i admire these photographs.
Wonderfull medium black & white, especially for architecture.
I remember Fleet Street and the bombed churches from the top of a No 11 from L’pool St to Chelsea in the late fifties.
Also the trucks delivering newsprint down narrow lanes off Fleet Street. Ancient offices of important colonial newspapers “The Straits Times” from Singapore where you could go and read back numbers. Incidentally this paper was received by the City Business Library as late as the 1970s.
There was a pub on the south side towards Ludgate Circus (Punch?) with a gas flame for the lighting of cigars.
Once a year I used to hand deliver to the dailies a press release covering a national seafarers’ charity’s AGM. Seem to remember it could all be achieved in an hour except a bus ride was necessary to The Guardian then in Grays Inn Road.
Thank you for the marvelous photos of an area dear to my heart. My great-great grandfather had law offices on Essex Street, my great grandfather was christened at St. Clement Danes and later had offices at Paper Building Middle Temple and tried andv/or defended many cases in the Royal Courts. I have visited several times but it’s not likely that I’ll return so the details of your photos are much valued.
I worked in Fleet St in 1966, for E.J. Wills, an agent for numerous regional newspaper groups.
The going rate for a cup of tea then was 3d, but there was a small cafe much used by printers, from memory it was in, or near, Fetter Lane, the tea there was 2.5d ( twopence ha’penny, or 1 new pence)
There was another cheap place called the Soup Bowl that served home-made soup in 2 different sizes of blue and white striped mixing bowls, served with half of a French stick.
The first time I went looking for the Soup Bowl I was misdirected and ended up at The Soup Kitchen which was a trendy spot frequented by the “Bright Young Things” by the time I realised, it was too late and a week’s lunch money had vanished. 😂
Anothe lunch memory was to get sandwiches and savoury snacks from, “Jolly, the Appetiser” a deli near the Ludgate end, then eat in the churchyard of St Brides, where some folks would take a nap with a note tucked in their top pcket saying something like, “Please wake up at 1.00”
Happy days