Hidden Historic Sites of London - Part I

[@JaneNewAuthor]

When I was in London in 2015, a friend who's an actor and who has performed at The Globe took me to see it, but it was closed. We rounded a corner, and a small sign took us to an archeological dig which could be viewed by members of the public. It was the site of the original Globe, discovered when they were strenthening the foundations of an office building. Quite amazing, and incredibly moving, especially to my friend.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I also have seen a play at the reconstructed Globe Theatre and yes it was brilliantly moving :)

[@timbounds7190]

Southwark Cathedral....never ever been there! There again, I don't often go south of the river! Thanks for reminding me of its existence.

[@ballsack6547]

One of my local churches

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well worth checking it out!

[@brad270472]

Just a sidenote, if you want to go 'mudlarking' or search for things on the bank of the Thames.....your allowed to look but if you want to dig, scrape or use a metal detector, you'll need a permit from the port of London authority.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I was looking into that yeah, probably won't do it but it's a nice thing to think about :)

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks👍🏼

[@carriecraiger3929]

I’ve have looked into this as I plan to visit within the next 6 months or so. I’ll need to figure out how and where to get the permit.

[@pattierotondo1108]

This is a lovely video! I'm an American who has visited England several times, so I've spent something close to a total of three weeks in London. Every time I go, I try to find more of these hidden places, since I've seen most of the famous sites already. I also love to see what I find as I walk through the city. One of the best adventures I had was spending a day walking from the East End to Baker Street, wandering down various streets and into pubs, churches, shops and other places along the way. St Dunstan's is beautiful, even in its ruined state. I have never seen that bit of the Winchester palace - I didn't realize anything was left. It good to know there are still things to discover!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

You're totally right, just walking through the cities various streets and going into buildings is the best way to really see a city.

[@britanniahomecare5490]

That was wonderful...love the effort historian go to just to give us a feel of our past...love history...the harsh lifes,loss of so much that was grade only to be rubble...gives me gous bumps...keep them coming x

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! That's so kind :)

[@georgewilkinson6510]

I thoroughly enjoyed your video. These gems are one of the many things that make London so fascinating. Thank you.🇨🇦

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure!

[@KathrynLiz1]

I grew up in London...1942 - 1959..... I knew a few of these sites but some I was not aware existed. Fascinating....

[@dima97]

You grew up in London in ww2? Hmmmmmm

[@veronicaroach3667]

I'm 83 now, grew up in London and thought I knew it pretty well, but of course you never know everything, so most of these places I diud not know about. Long since moved to the US, and it was nice to find this little video - we are never too old to learn more, and of course there is so much new development in london that I would not recognize now also. Thanks for my learning session, very informative !

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure! That's what my channel is all about, finding out new things that isn't commonly known :)

[@arriesone1]

Just to say, Southwark is pronounced Sutherk with a hard th like in ‘brother’ 😊

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I made that realisation shortly after posting the video 😆 it sounds a lot like Suffolk which is the county just south from me. Blame my Norfolk accent!

[@adoculos4521]

Err no, you haven't got it completely correct as it's pronounced with an 'a', not an 'e'.

[@The_Butler_Did_It]

@@adoculos4521 Also, the R is usually silent. it's pronounced more like Suthak

[@adoculos4521]

@@The_Butler_Did_It No, it really isn't, the R should definitely be pronounced.

[@The_Butler_Did_It]

@@adoculos4521 No R here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaGthaFrYpprnNU

[@TheJonathanNewton]

I especially like 2:43 where you cherish the beauty of nature rather than decry the destruction of the church. I wouldn’t have thought of it like that. Thank you for showing me things from a different perspective.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I have been to many historic sites all over Britain, and I really do appreciate when nature is allowed to take over a little. Some of the best places for this is Jervaulx Abbey, Saxlingham Nethergate Church, Candleston Castle and Usk Castle

[@wertperch]

Thanks once again, I love seeing these little hidden places!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you're enjoying them 😊 plenty more to come

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

Excellent musical accompaniment, just the right mood.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ta! It can be quite tricky finding suitable music which is also copyright free

[@johnknight7296]

St Dustan's in the East is a remarkably peaceful place. I always make time for a visit when I get to London. It is well worth the time

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It is, very beautiful indeed. Unfortunately somewhat spoiled by all the 'influencers' looking for a backdrop to pose in front of. I suppose it's a better backdrop than most things!

[@elizabethrampton2119]

Unfortunately he didn't show the Shard seen through one of the bombed out windows. A strange and beautiful sight.

[@RedcoatsReturn]

I stumbled on All Hallows House and the ruin of St. Dunstan’s after visiting the Chard 😄 This is a great idea to show the hidden gems of central London 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😊 I will certainly visit Southwark Cathedral next time 👍👍 I can recommend All Hallows Church by The Tower, very close to the Tower of London..the crypt is spectacular!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed ☺️

[@mayajrj]

@RedcoatsReturn. I've just come across this channel and your comment. All Hallows Church is a wonderful place to visit. A friend and I were lucky to go on a very quiet day and the person who showed us around was so knowledgeable and tested us on certain 'everyday' expressions and where they came from. It was fascinating . And seeing the Toc H lamp and learning that this was where the movement started all those years ago. It also has the Mariners Chapel too The time there was surreal. A place for everyone interested in history to go as it's also the oldest church in the City Of London @AlexTheHistoryGuy

[@RedcoatsReturn]

@@mayajrj I appreciate your sharing that visit and the tips too 😊 Thank you Maya 😉😊👍👍

[@mayajrj]

@@RedcoatsReturn It is a pleasure to share and the visit has stuck in my mind for over 20 years. I'm happy you enjoyed my memories with me.

[@ronwebb3242]

Absolutely fascinating. Many thanks

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DavidMcMillan888]

I agree, St Dunstan’s is a place one may restore true perspective on lives beyond time after pausing and sitting for just an hour.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Very much so...when the "TikTok and Instagram influencers" stop taking selfies of themselves in the church grounds anyway haha

[@ethericrose2307]

Excellent video. I just love medieval history.

[@maryanneslater9675]

If I ever get a chance to visit the UK, I shall binge on your channel beforehand so I'll know the best places to visit. Thank you!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy that's what my channel is for ☺️

[@055deltic]

What a fascinating film, so much packed into a few minutes. Though I lived in London for a time in the 70/80s I knew little of this hidden history. You have now given me the itinerary for a lovely day out, walking round this historic part of London. I always got the feeling London was a number of villages, with different identities, all grown together in one metropolis - would that be a future source of films from yourself? Liked and subscribed today - I look forward to enjoying more of your films

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it, these type of comments are exactly why I enjoy creating this type of content, letting people find hidden relics of Britains last which most people dont know about :)

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I don't claim to know much about geographical village/town/borough history but I sometimes do videos about the Origins of certain cities - I've done Norwich and Colchester so far. They take a massive amount of time for research and getting the footage so it's tricky to make those videos, but I hope to work on one soon :)

[@mavisemberson8737]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy It is quite a common opinion. After all the City pf London was and still is within the Walls and further villages grew up near the main roads These have centres usually grouped around high streets and parish churches so are easy to spot on maps of Greater London

[@jamesthompson545]

Marvelous cinematography and well researched educational material. Thanks. 5:08

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you I really appreciate that! This channel is all a one man band so nice to see kind comments about multiple aspects of my videos :)

[@nevillemignot1681]

As a Ex-London Walking Tour guide, there still exists some evidence of Roman buildings and some Roman walls in London. The big tell tale is the fired materials [Roof tiles, Bricks] used in the bottom layers to add strength to them, one of the walls has a very clear pattern in them of herring bone roof tiles.

[@sues7227]

I just loved seeing this video, thank you. It did just what I love doing in London. Walking and discovering amazing places. Made me a little sad though as I live in Australia and probably won't get back again, but never say never lol.

[@capcompass9298]

Likewise.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ahh in sure you'll be able to make it back to London some time! :)

[@capcompass9298]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Only as a skint tourist. Lost contact(s).

[@vickilindberg6336]

Wish you could include the names of the places at the bottom of the video, for the spelling. Beautiful video. Thank you.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

From first to last featured - St Olaves Church, St Dunstan's Church, Southwark cathedral, Winchester Palace, Reconstructed Globe Theatre, Blackfriars, and the Roman/Medieval walls :)

[@cerberus6654]

This was really enjoyable. I have a Russian friend who lives in London and although he speaks perfect English he 'Russifies' place-names a lot. He pronounces Grosvenor as 'Gross-vee-nor' and as Russian doesn't have a 'th' sound he pronounces Walthamstow as 'Vall-sam-stov'. And Twickenham as 'Tweek-and-ham'. But he gets along just fine it seems.

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

Fascinating and very well done indeed!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ah thank you, much appreciated!

[@ahuddleston6512]

Just discovered your channel. Perfect for history buffs. ...you've got a new subscriber

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! Glad you like my videos - I really enjoy making them, I'm a rather busy person so I upload whenever I can 😆

[@moloney118]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy me to, I like history

[@rezalrahim5258]

I was studying in London in the early 1990s. I would have visited these places if I knew about them. Unfortunately the internet didn’t exist yet 😁

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well sounds to me that you need to revisit and check these sites out! ;)

[@dulcilass]

I've been to London a couple of times but the tours I took missed these sites.. Thanks for showing them to me.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Exactly what my channel if for haha ☺️

[@Nettsinthewoods]

Fun fact, Southwark was famous for its Stewes ( brothles) in mediaeval times and the Winchester Geese were the ladies of the Bishop’s brothel. Naughty Bishop….

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Interesting! I'm sure all sorts of shameful behaviour went on behind closed doors of the most high esteemed places

[@lesleysmith51]

Nice presentation. I lived in London and didn't know about these places.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

That's exactly what my videos are for 😊😊😊😊 glad you enjoyed and feel free to check out my other videos too 😁

[@paulamarshall3281]

I have seen all of these and more, I used to live there, thanks for showing it has brought it all bavk

[@openmindedwonderer]

Really great video, some interesting places to visit.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Indeed, thank you 😎

[@helentait6727]

Just wanted to say that you cannot take anything from the Thames foreshore without a permit (which they aren't currently giving out). You can get into trouble mudlarking without a permit.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

This is true haha

[@sentfrom4477]

Very impressive selection of lesser known sites. Well done.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you :)

[@ivanchapus1824]

Brillant video , thank you

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

Very interesting stuff, thanks for researching and putting together! The one 'hidden' sight that comes to my mind is Apsley house, once the house of the duke of Wellington. Certainly a gem but not actually very hidden.

[@robnewman6101]

My parents & I have been to Apsley House twice before.

[@emmafre-haack1746]

Wow! So well done! Thanks!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy thank you

[@JohnnyWrongo-b9l]

Wonderful video. Being a bit of an Anglophile I have some idea of the periods which these edifices were constructed. It is quite remarkable that parts those ancient Roman walls still stand. Probably a good thing they were hidden.

[@carolhofhine560]

Thank you for the tour; very interesting.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you :)

[@deniseramosgonzalez4799]

Love to see those little hidden gems. Thank you

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Hidden or underappreciated historic sites is what I love to show ☺️

[@Bigbro28]

I am still gobsmacked by the intricacies of church/cathedral architecture and sculptures. 🐨🇦🇺

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It continues to leave me dumbfounded every time too

[@acustomer7216]

Isn't it amazing? I wonder about the lives of craftsmen

[@udhaydasoar8199]

Thanks for your effort in putting this really informative video together. Much appreciated!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you, means a lot to me :)

[@jovanweismiller7114]

Two points. 1Southwark Cathedral hasn't been a monastic building for almost 500 years. It may indeed be a collegiate church, but there are no monks in residence. 2) Greyfriars was by no means the second religious house in England. The Franciscans were founded in the early 13th century. By then, there were Benedictine & Cistercian houses up & down the length of England.

[@LeslieKing-hq9dd]

He could have just meant it was the second Franciscan house. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[@edwardjasper]

Very interesting I didn,t know a lot about London,s ancient past it,s fascinating.Being a Colchester lad I.would love to see your video on my home town.I,'ll have to subscribe now.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Great news - I have a video which discussed the entire history of how Colchester began. It's called "Origins of Colchester" hope you enjoy!

[@peterward3965]

Thank you so much, very very interesting.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy thanks :)

[@Pwnopolis]

That's all honestly really cool, thank you for showing us!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure:)

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

Well done.

[@kuri369kuri]

Wow! Great video mate! Had I happened to watch this before my wife and I visited London I’d have had a wonderful time visiting these spots. And we were dead close. Well, just a good reason to return for another trip.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy glad to hear - well it sounds like you'll need to revisit soon!

[@blueneeson9888]

Thanks So Much This Was A Truly Fantastic Video From Blue

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you :)

[@mrstraw153]

Absolutely loved this video

[@sgilbert5753]

So interesting. Thank you.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure!

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thank you for the tour.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🌺

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure!

[@ThailandTom]

You should check out a REALLY hidden historical site in London - in the Andaz hotel there is a masonic lodge that was covered for decades, still not openly seen. And make sure to visit the Benjamin Franklin House!!!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks I'll have a look at it 👀

[@VincentComet-l8e]

Fascinating - thanks for posting! Have subscribed...

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure :)

[@PeterWelch-o9y]

Brilliant, mainly for the fantastic footage you have of the Roman fort and city walls for me!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Yes I was surprised at how much was left, it was lovely to see it preserved

[@JP-su8bp]

Another solid little tour, thank you.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you much appreciated ☺️

[@friendoftellus5741]

Very interesting video ! Thank you very much !

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you liked it!

[@sophieking7508]

Really interesting, thank you!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure!

[@theresacrawford6743]

That was so cool! I didn't know that there was so much Roman structures in England

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ah there are loads, many of them gets covered over after excavation to help preserve them for the future though, so we have many many Roman sites surviving, just underground

[@nancytestani1470]

This is So Cool….thanks…so much want to walk around there..

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

And you can do it easily in just a single day !

[@lynnblack6493]

Can't wait to get back to London and see these treasures!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Let me know how you enjoyed it when you go ☺️

[@clareharrison3361]

Every inch of London is immersed in history, ancient and modern. Best city in the world.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well as a Norwich resident I'd have to say that Norwich is the best city in the world due to how much history we have haha. But yes London is definitely up there!

[@jasoncallow860]

There's a lot of cities that could claim that title, all over the world :D

[@pumpkensdiapers1417]

Nope, Philadelphia is the best city in the world 🤭🤣

[@eviemoore4717]

Just discovered you channel fantastic.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks and welcome :)

[@lynnclapper997]

Very well done. Thank you

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks!

[@corneliabayley723]

Good video. Thanks.

[@christijenkins5184]

Liked, subscribed and followed on Instagram! Love your history content!!!!!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayyy lovely stuff, thanks!

[@annpendigrast9682]

FANTASTIC VIDEO ❤

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you :)

[@toddbonin6926]

What an enjoyable video! New follower here!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Welcome aboard!

[@emmanewman9863]

Loved this

[@mariafletcher6603]

Hi Alex. out standing video. you've done yourself proud. And its nice to know you did your research. I new every place in your video. some I learned at school and some by history books. 2 of my favourite subject history and archaeology I think they go so well together. like strawberry's and cream. I will definitely check out your video on Roman history. well done. b safe take care. catch you on the flip side. from 🇬🇧👍 an old cockney gal

[@vickyingramnymann8543]

Excellent.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Many thanks!

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

Really enjoyed this video so subbed immediately ✌️

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Welcome aboard!

[@KMWeir]

Are these places open to see for tourists? Are there costs to any? I appreciate this tour & history lesson.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Every site here is open to the public and every site is free :) you have to pay if you want to go inside the globe theatre reconstruction but it's only small

[@juliehathcock8910]

We are coming to visit May 2023. Do you have a PDF or a guide for the walk?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

If you have Instagram you can DM me on there and I can send you a map of all the destinations and best walking route :)

[@paul-ks3jt]

Brilliant 🙏👍👍

[@davidmg1925]

I've got to 1:35 and nothing is an "icon" or "iconic" so far. Well done!!! Gonna send to my Mum who was brough up in London.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy lovely stuff, thank you for sharing:)

[@racheltaylor6578]

There is a coat of arms on the Kings Head in Southwark from the medieval London Bridge

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Oo lovely, I'll keep an eye out for that!

[@gmanette188]

Fascinating Thanks much

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

A pleasure

[@butch907]

excellent stuff

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you kindly!

[@samkrauss2412]

Loved your video! Thank you! Do you have the google maps route so those of us that might want to walk it can find our way?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I do indeed, message me on IG and I can send it :)

[@brianthesnail3815]

I used to work in the City and would go and have my sandwich lunch in the grounds of St Dunstan's. It is a beautiful quiet place to sit on a warm sunny day that is right in the heart of the commercial world. My wife used to work just a few yards from Pudding Lane where the Great Fire of London started.

[@denniswilliams160]

No mention of Clink Prison next to Winchester Palace - in (the) clink was a common expression meaning to be incarcerated in prison. What about the Cross Bones Graveyard a short distance away where the Winchester Geese were often buried.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well, I have recently just posted Part II of Hidden Historic Sites Of London, and I am currently working on Part III so I thought I better not put too many places all in one episode so I can save some for later ;)

[@RobertScott-pp6gj]

​@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Yes, the Bishops of Winchester needed a house near London because at that time they were ex-officio Lord Treasurer and Lord Chancellor. I don't think the modern church would approve of the Bishops of Winchester, with their Liberty including all the things banned in the City -- prostitutes, bear-baiting pits, cock pits and shock--horror 2 theatres, and of course the unconsecrated graveyard for heretics and prostitutes! It's said (but may well be exaggerated) that the prison was usually used for heretics and people who didn't pay their bills in the brothels! (I suspect it was for debtors generally -- there was another liberty just to the south which IIRC was a "safe house" for debtors, certainly it was full of them, and considered the most unhealthy stew in London, worse than Jacob's Island, where Dickens had Bill Sykes live in Oliver Twist.) Talking of which, Dickens told a friend that he imagined Oliver meeting the Artful Dodger in the doorway of what is now 83 Barnet High Street (the market used to be all round Barnet Church -- when the council moved the market away from there many years ago, they knowingly renamed the street next to the new location "Chipping Close" to make it seem that it was an old market site, but it wasn't!) Anyway, Barnet Church is 11 miles from Saffron Hill where Fagin's lair was supposed to be -- a long way to walk to and from "work" -- Victorian children were tough! (BTW, Barnet Fair, of rhyming slang fame, was granted a charter at the same time as the market, in 1588. It still runs every year, but now as a pleasure fair, not for animal sales.) Other interesting places include the Middle and Inner Temples, which may well be the only two remaining liberties in the UK and, adjacent to them, a 20th century (1950s, I think) office block (I forget which one) in Fleet Street, inside which is the innards of an old coffee house, not Lloyd's IIRC, but another of the period, where deals were done by insurer and other businessmen. It's not open to the public, but I was lucky to see it due to work around 30 years ago. It was, and presumably still is, closed away inside a large empty ground floor room. You might manage to blag access. Another hidden feature exists, kept safe in the basements of Canary Wharf. The Wet India Docks were built in 1802, for trade with the West Indies as you would expect, but there wasn't enough trade to fill the length of the Northern (Import) Dock, so they leased a part of it to be Canary Dock, for trading bananas etc from the Islas Canarias. Two wonderful coincidences: the dock walls are carefully preserved under the new building because they have a near-unique profile, which is usually described as "banana shaped"; and the docks are on the Isle of Dogs, so-named long before the docks were built -- as were the Islas Canarias = The Isles of Dogs. BTW, the area south of the docks, called "Mudchute" is not, as some suggest, a euphemism. It was what would now be called a tailings pond -- an area surrounded by a high bund, into which they chuted the mixture of clay and water dredged from the docks during construction and the first few decade of maintenance. The bunds and the very flat now-solidified clay inside are still very obvious. For many decades there were occasional deaths of people who ventured onto the solidifying crust and fell through. Those may be a bit too recent for you, but here are some a little older, and one even with a Norfolk connection: Norwich Palace was built on Strand in the early 13th century for the Bishop of Norwich, and later had the Earls of Suffolk as neighbour to the SW (where Charing Cross Station now is). (Properly, the street is "Strand" , not "The Strand".) Why there was space for a palace between a street whose name means "beach" and the river, has always puzzled me, but there were about 150 m between the two (before the Victoria Embankment added another 150 m), and the palace's water gate still exists. After some changes of ownership, Norwich Palace became York House, eventually owned by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, who sold it to developers on condition he was commemorated by the road names George Street, Villiers Street, Duke Street, Of Alley, and Buckingham Street. When I checked them in the late 1960s [thus proving I don't get *all* my facts from Wikipedia], they were all still so-named, though some have since disappeared or been renamed. . And then there's the matter of the strange spelling of so many London names, which tends to have happened for two reasons. Sometimes, there has been confusion, either real confusion or jocular alterations, between unusual words and more common ones (at the time) or in later centuries, bowdlerisation. So, for example, the pub name in honour of a Spanish princess who was becoming an English queen consort, the Infanta of Castille, becomes the Elephant and Castle; Latin-speaking friars carrying a stick topped with a cross (Latin: crux), became the Crutched Friars (with a road named after them), and a road infamous for overflowing cesspits, originally Shiteborne Street (in various spellings), became gentrified to Sherborne Street after its drainage was improved (a bourne or burn is a stream). But often, the main issue was that pronunciations generally have changed markedly over the centuries, sometimes even to the point where the original spelling was barely conceivable. For example, of the many places in London named after a St Mary's Church, let's consider two: St Mary Bourne (by the Tyburn stream) and St Mary-le-Bow (the church with the loud and low-pitched "Great Bell of Bow" which finishes "Oranges and Lemons" and is said to have called Dick Whittington back from 5 miles away). Confusion between the names, along with an imagined original St Mary la Bonne, led to St Mary Bourne becoming St Mary-le-Bourne, then St Marylebone, pronounced St Marlibən for no good reason. But the most dramatic change I know of is the Old English word Rotherhythe (rother=cattle, hythe=wharf). IMO (I differ slightly from Wikipedia here) by the 18th century, that was pronounced something like Rethrithe, or with the same sort of local accent as nowadays, Redriv. Those building a new road to it wrote that in eye-dialect as "Redriff Road". The pronunciation of "Rotherhythe" then continued to alter, on the way to its present pronunciation, while "Redriff" remained little changed, so that they are now considered "alternative names for the area", when actually, they are only alternative spellings of the same name, now with different pronunciation too! Which brings us to the pronunciation of Southwark. Interestingly, the OED doesn't include Southwark as a lemma, so doesn't opine on its pronunciation. Wiktionary (at en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Southwark) gives /ˈsʌðə(ɹ)k/ which you can find, using the IPA key they give, approximates to Suthək with a non-rhotic accent (where ə is a "schwa", the indeterminate sound like "a" in "about") or Suthərk with a rhotic, eg US, Scottish or West Country accent, just as all the locals have been saying. BTW, while I think a South-East Londoner would pronounce Suffolk something like Suffək, I suspect a Cockney would pronounce it Suvək, in which case, for them, Suffolk and Southwark are homophones! I was pleased Wiktionary had the pronunciation for Southwark -- the amount of work put into that site in the last decade is phenomenal -- so I thought I'd try them with Stiffkey. I was highly impressed to see they had that too! en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Stiffkey

[@twiggyclarklondon]

Southwark is pronunced as suvuk . Thanks for the nice video xxx

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha yes, unfortunately I had only ever seen the name written down, I was thinking it couldn't possibly be pronounced the same as the county of Suffolk! Oops!

[@tedtimmis8135]

Hard to fathom the destruction Henry VIII inflicted upon England when he invented his own religion to further his adultery.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

That is very true. I often think about it, I also think that the money he raised from selling off the abbeys and monastic sites was used to fund the Royal Navy which protected us from the French invasion so maybe we'd be speaking French if he didn't dissolve the monasteries? Who knows!

[@tedtimmis8135]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy The dissolution of the monasteries lined quite a few pockets but it was 250 years prior to the Napoleonic Wars.

[@patcardiff2563]

Thank you Alex wow

[@karinbergman1646]

Very nice! The audio throughout sounds a bit "hollow" or slightly tinny. Thank you 🌷

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I will hopefully be investing into a better mic soon! ☺️

[@karinbergman1646]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy thank you! It doesn't detract from your excellent content.🌷

[@HauntedandAbandonedNorfolk]

Been meaning to visit St Dunstan church ruins in London for a while - great video again Alex 👌🏻

[@michellebruce5092]

Great video I enjoyed it. Have you ever checked out kings Arthur s grave, or Fyvie castle in Scotland I heard it's great to find things there.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Do you mean King Arthurs grave at Glastonbury abbey?

[@michellebruce5092]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy yes

[@doonhamer252]

Use to visit and stay with my Da's cousin in London when on Leave or was posted duties in the city.. we could step out the front door, look down the street and see St Pauls.. Everyone seem to know everyone on the street , a true multi cultural universe, all sorts of smells and flavours from cooking.. even when jumping off the bus and walking down their street, niebours knew me by name , and some even let me know that they was at the boozer or bookie's.. They were forced out of their home that they lived in through the blitz and into retirement by the council, moving to essex, their community destroyed.. returned there several years ago to find that the council wrecked their street , sat empty for a decade and sold it to a East European Developer for high end flats..

[@richardsingh5827]

I like Southwark cathedral too

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It's a lovely little gem

[@Samouraii]

I'd like to imagine you walked to London with a cloth bag on a stick like Dick Whittington remarking on the areas of Historical Interest on the way

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha I'd love that! I was planning to do historic tours of my home town Norwich while dressed in full Norman armour but I moved away for work. Maybe in the future!

[@avagrego3195]

nice - thank you

[@garryferrington811]

Nice video, 'though I don't see how you get "syfork" out of Southwark.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha well I had never heard it pronounced, only seen it written on paper, plus I live near Suffolk so I assumed Southwark wasn't pronounced the same way - I should have done more research but I was on a time limit for this video due to external commitments so I had unfortunately overlooked it !

[@davidbonner-k9b]

Very interesting about ye olde London and all this seen and done in one afternoon that's some going i use to love London but not now days as of the changes that have been going on.😊

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Honestly it was a great day. The context is I was waiting for my friends to wake up in our hotel, I went on a morning stroll from our hotel in Aldgate and I think it was a morning well spent haha.

[@allysloper1882]

Very interesting.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you think so!

[@richardrule3134]

The Romans definitely very interesting

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Very much so. I plan to make more videos about the Romans influence on Britain in the future - unfortunately getting footage of Roman sites is rather tricky!

[@mossyoak1205]

As an American this stuff is just fairy tale. Absolutely amazing.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha I'm glad you enjoyed - you'll probably love my other content then ;)

[@RoadlightsFactory]

nice,impressive

[@deborahtheredbrickchick468]

Notice how the bricks have transformed into stone? Very interesting 🧱❤️

[@zonabrown9241]

Enjoyed your tour comment was right about The pronunciation of Southwark😊 Outhw