The area shown on the map is rough, based on this map from John Strype’s 1720 map. I’m not sure how far north Clerkenwell then extended.
Clerkenwell
Map
The overlays that highlight 17th century London features are approximate and derived from Wenceslaus Hollar’s maps:
- Built-up London – London before the Fire
- City of London wall and Great Fire damage – London after the Fire
Open location in Google Maps: 51.522915, -0.101212
Log in to post an annotation.
If you don't have an account, then register here.
References
Chart showing the number of references in each month of the diary’s entries.
1661
- Dec
1663
- May
1665
- Mar
1667
- May
3 Annotations
First Reading
Terry F • Link
Clerkenwell is apparently a parish whose church's green leads into Aylsbury Street intersecting St John's St to the east on this segment of the 1746 map http://www.motco.com/map/81002/Se…
Pedro • Link
Clerkenwell
(Army) Tents, bedding, shovels, picks and field equipment came from the Office of Tents and Toils in Clerkenwell
(Childs…Army of Charles II)
Second Reading
Bill • Link
Clerkenwell, a parish extending northwards from St . Andrew's, Holborn, and Smithfield to the Pentonville Road, and having the Fleet River—the old River of Wells—for its western, and Goswell Road for its eastern boundary from the Charter House to the Angel at Islington. The original village grew up about the Priory of St. John of Jerusalem, the site of which is marked by St. John's Square and its still remaining gatehouse.
After the suppression of the monasteries, and especially in the early part of the 17th century, Clerkenwell became the residence of many families of distinction. The Bruces, Earls of Aylesbury, obtained a grant of the site of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and built a mansion which is commemorated by Aylesbury Street. Spencer Compton, Earl of Northampton, possessed considerable property, since held by his descendants, and had a mansion where is now Northampton Square.
In Clerkenwell Close, the St. Mary's Close of the ancient nunnery, was Newcastle House, the residence of the Dukes of Newcastle, which has bequeathed its name to Newcastle Place and Newcastle Row. On the opposite side of this close, where is now Cromwell Place, was another large house commonly called Cromwell House, which was popularly connected with the Protector and with his secretary John Thurloe. It was probably the "fair large house" built by Sir Thomas Chaloner, distinguished alike as statesman, soldier, and writer in the great Elizabethan days.
Isaak Walton came to live here about 1650. He wrote in his family Prayer-book, "My last son Isaac, born September 7, 1651, was baptized in the evening in my house in Clerkenwell."
---London, Past and Present. H.B. Wheatley, 1891.