Revolutionaries, royals, radicals, and a legendary pub clock. The path from Clerkenwell through Farringdon to Smithfield traces a route rich with medieval history, market tradition, and religious heritage. The area has evolved from a separate village outside London's walls into a bustling modern district while retaining key historic landmarks. In this electrifying episode, Eric Blair walks us through these very streets. Expect fistfuls of history, a dash of drama, and a proper pint’s worth of pub lore. We’re stepping inside five iconic watering holes with strong back stories. From the fiery riots of Clerkenwell Green to whispered plots against kings, and a maybe-just-maybe, a meeting between Lenin and Stalin in a local pub, this episode is packed with punch. If you thought London’s pubs were just about pints… think again. These places brewed revolution.
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Google map with pubs covered in previous episodes pinned, courtesy of Andy Meddick:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1xXDGJSfJIUy2gw_6uCASi-C45FpOg_M&usp=sharing
Or TinyURL: https://tinyurl.com/4xhc8w2s
The following resources are referenced or quoted frequently in these episodes:
- Ted Bruning -- Historic Pubs of London (ISBN 978-0658005022) and London By Pub (ISBN 978-0658005022)
- Wikipedia
- https://pubwiki.co.uk/
- https://camra.org.uk/
Additionally, the following resource(s) were used / quoted in this episode:
Clerkenwell & Merlin’s Cave
https://clerkenwellgreen.org.uk/history-summary/
https://www.ec1echo.co.uk/the-roving-pub-that-is-no-more/
Three Compassas & Cowcross Street
https://www.mykindoftown.co.uk/blog/2022/08/01/cowcross-street/
https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23372/
Dictionary of Pub Names ISBN 1840222662
The Hope
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1293085?section=official-list-entry
https://www.thepeoplespub.co.uk/hope-smithfield
Intro Music: Vivaldi - Spring Allegro by John Harrison w/ the Wichita State University Chamber Orch.
Photo: Ewan Munro
Website: https://historiclondonpubcast.com/
E-mail: hosteric@historiclondonpubcast.com
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