One of the most ancient sites in the City of London (4K)

A London walk through some of the most historic locations in the City of London. Support my channel on Patreon / johnrogers
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We’re back to unpick more of the City of London’s stories and discover some of its treasures. This classic London history walk includes some of the City's most important locations as well as its centres of power. We start by going in search of a plaque marking the site of Shakespeare's lodgings in London and this leads us to the site of St Mary Aldermanbury and the garden that marks the location of this church that was destroyed in the blitz. We next visit St Alban, Wood Street, the lonely tower all that remains of the Wren Church built after the great fire on a site that has had a church since at least the 10th Century. We cross London Wall, visit the location of St Olaf Silver Street, the Roman Wall in Noble Street, and the site of St Mary Staining. Our walking tour then takes us to the magnificent Guildhall, home of the Corporation of London, and ‘an enduring symbol of London's past and present’. In the basement of the Guildhall Gallery I visit the remains of the Roman Amphitheatre that once occupied the site and was said to have a capacity of 6000. Moving on to Lothbury we visit the Bank of England, the first privately owned Central Bank and also the Royal Exchange and the Mansion House all situated around Bank Tube Station.
1297 Magna Carta www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Ed...
Videos mentioned:
Walking London's Roman Wall • Walking London's Roman...
The Story of Gogmagog and the City of London • London's Street of Sto...
Walking the River Walbrook • City of London's Lost ...
City of London Churches Walks • City of London Churche...
music
Allégro - Emmit Fenn (KZbin Audio Library)
Ashkira - Place of Light (432 Hz) (Epidemic Sound)
Utakata - Sayuri Hayashi Egnell (Epidemic Sound)
Maps:
Open Street Map “© OpenStreetMap contributors” using data available under the Open Database Licence
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Make a donation to help support the channel paypal.me/JohnRogersLondon - many thanks!
Shot in 4K on a Olympus OM-D EM-1 mark 2 with audio recorded with a Rode Wireless GO
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[@thelastpilot4582]

In the early 1950's My father ( a Wood machinist) turned the wooden ball used on the chain of one of the Gog Magog statues in the Guild Hall.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s an amazing fact many thanks for sharing

[@lesleysmith2166]

I live in America but am still a Brit. Your walks make me so homesick especially the London walks.

[@skp7577]

I worked for the Corporation of the City of London in the early 70s. I’d go in to my office via the door in the building with the angled roof to the left of the Guildhall. We had our staff Christmas dinner in the Guildhall itself, and Gog and Magog are a magnificent sight. I’m sorry you did not get to see them. I also was shown the Great Seal, still used then, and probably now. I think they used layers of a type of communion wafer to emboss into. Many times, in my early 20s, I walked to the Bank of England, with enormous sums of cash and cheques in my shoulder bag to pay in to the Corporation’s account, as every hour counted for interest. I was so much less conspicuous then the men who, in those days, had briefcases handcuffed to their wrists. I am so sad that the magnificent Mappin and Webb building opposite the Mansion House was demolished. The replacement is not a patch on the Victorian building. I have only recently discovered your channel and have subscribed and look forward to seeing all your content.

[@motownkat3257]

You're so lucky, I envy you your job!

[@Ladynipchick2]

Lovely account, thankyou. X

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

Love that phrase, "ghost city."

[@MrScipio72]

Dinner eaten, dishes done - cuppa sitting to my right.................now for another of Uncle Johns walks. Ahhhhh............

[@morriganwitch]

Such an intense vibe in that area xxx

[@lindasueanderson8024]

Few things are better than turning a random corner and gasping at what you find - thank you letting us experience it with you.

[@PeterEccles]

I was lucky enough to live in The City for several years. Sunday mornings were magical, being able to walk the empty streets and discover new things. I felt very blessed for the opertunity.

[@rosiesharpley9011]

And listen out for the Church bells ringing in turn building up to the wonderful sound at St Paul's for the Angelus.

[@margaretgreenwood4243]

Snap. I lived in Stepney and on Sundays (Im 81 years old now) I would as a very young person, take a bus to the City, and run around the empty streets which I loved, as if I owned them. Dancing around and exploring. Thank you for bringing such wonderful memories to mind

[@TXMEDRGR]

I envy you the "streets littered with history." How wonderful to stumble upon various scenes of history as you walk. Thanks for showing us around this interesting part of London.

[@j0nnyism]

Try living in Edinburgh York or Chester. Cities that are so full of history it’s inescapable. Oh and Oxford of course

[@valpayne2963]

But America has an incredibly rich Native American history, which is something we don’t have.

[@TXMEDRGR]

@@j0nnyism I've been to all of those, except York, and you are correct. It must be wonderful living in those cities.

[@TXMEDRGR]

@@valpayne2963 True, I am particularly interested in the pre-Columbian Mound Building cultures and enjoy visiting places like Poverty Point in Louisiana and Mound City in Alabama.

[@CarloRossi54523]

@@valpayne2963 It's not even documented by written records

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Cracking good walk John. Loved the guildhall . many thanks

[@FindsByPirjo]

I'm visiting London from Germany this September and enjoyed this first video I found from your channel. I'm going to visit Guildhall during my visit, so got a nice walk to that from here. Thank you all the information around the old London.

[@dannyward673]

There are 2 doubles of Gog & Magog. The giant wicker ones which sit just in the corridor of the hall and you have the smaller stone ones which sit up high keeping watch over the hall. It’s a wonderful place, your walk & talk are doing great justice sir. Thank you.

[@shaunjeffries2628]

Just this very afternoon I have taken Australian friends to the Guildhall Amphitheatre. Threw in Postman's Park and the view of St Paul's from the roof of One New Change for good measure. I really can't beat the City when I want to persuade visiting friends to love London like I do.

[@estherdoyle8175]

I was sitting on the 43 bus just beside those lovely side gates at 17.44 last Friday on my way to do some mooching with my old mucker Cath. We did the area round the back of the Tower - a very short walk as my Achilles tendons were pinging - but we regularly go walkies starting from London Bridge. We've been as far as Pimlico in the freezing winter, and down to Greenwich when the tall ships were all moored up there, via Bermondsey and the fabulous story of Dr Salter in Rotherhithe. Not to mention the trip via Wapping to Canary Wharf in and out of the old pirate pubs. I'm sure you must have done walks down Borough High Street with the wonderful coaching inn and the Marshalsea and Crossbones graveyard. We met some lovely ladies from Southwark Cathedral down at the parish office and they gave us chapter and verse about the area. Anyway, back to your video today. Another old mucker used to work for Museum of London archaeology and he was there when they unearthed the colosseum under Guildhall Yard. He told us that when the pavement had to be reinstated above the Yard, the work was so dangerous and intricate that they brought in an Irishman who was more used to tunnelling in the Tubes and the big sewerage projects as he was the only one who had the knowledge and wherewithal not to either kill himself or bring the whole yard down on his head. My friend said he was the bravest man he ever met.

[@milobell5525]

I used to spend so much time cycling through, in and around the city without stopping off to really explore so your videos are a real tonic and give me something to look forward to when i finally get out of my exile. Thanks so much.

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

Hi John- Way behind on your videos but had to watch this one first as it is the area I worked for over 20 years , so much to see. Cheers Kev

[@angelenoof206]

One of the best. Freaky how it so retains a Roman atmosphere visually. So suggestive rummaging through deep remembrance

[@QuinctiliusVarus]

These vids help to make life worth living. No hyperbole there…just the truth.

[@benedictmarshall7031]

It’s always an absolute pleasure listening to you on your video trails throughout London, John. You’re such a mine of information, and your videos truly open another window on the past.

[@gloriashoemaker2429]

My daughter and I are going to London in November. We’ve been planning it for almost a year and I’ve enjoyed your videos very much. The Magna Carta is on my list. Your walks are so informative! Thanks from two California girls. Perhaps we’ll see you as we do our own London walks!

[@14caz68]

I’m a ‘local’ and shamed to say I had no idea the Magna Carter was in there. I plan now to visit. !

[@geoffpoole483]

There is a copy of the Magna Carta in Salisbury Cathedral. Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed is near Windsor and easily accessible from London. There is a monument placed by the American Bar Association.

[@kerryannestevenson6099]

Every day for the past few months I’ve thought I must ferret out John Rogers,I haven’t seen him for ages and then you popped up on my feed so I can along with you on this walk and as usual you didn’t disappoint.Thankyou John.

[@TimG1]

Excellent show, John! Tim from Syracuse

[@ursulaclarke6066]

20 fabulous years living and working in London - I love your videos John, sometimes I get terribly homesick for London, but I always enjoy the videos, learn something, and remember my 20 amazing years in together best city in the world.

[@stevegee7593]

It's good to see both the Guildhall Art Gallery , The Bank of England Museum, Bartholomew Lane are now free. When I last went there only people who lived or work within the City could get in Free on a Friday afternoon. My son who was around 13 (now 30) was only slightly impressed with the Roman Amphitheatre, but enjoyed looking at the pictures. Also tiring to pick the gold bar in the Banks Museum. Little did we know at that time, my 6 times grandfather was born just a short walk from the Royal Exchange, in the 1700s.

[@kkimmings4920]

A wonderful watch, i went along to the Guildhall on a Saturday about 20 years ago , they erected a mock amphitheatre above the original ,they had Roman gladiators reenactors, including lady gladiators , there was a big spread in the Evening Standard about the amphitheatre and tickets for the event ,from memory they found a lady Gladiator burial in London ,seems like yesterday to me where does the time go !

[@mrking7608]

I worked in London for over 20 years and barely scratched the surface of its history. I love your videos. About 20 yards up from the Duke of Wellington statue at Bank is another of James Henry Greathead, known for his work on the Tube. You'll see a grill around the bronze base thats actually a vent for the Tube. Keeps him warm in winter!

[@acmehorse]

I happened to be walking in the same area on my last visit to London 2019; seems ages ago! Happened to see this Shakespeare plaque. I'm more excited that I walked where you did, John!

[@john80c]

Great video John. I used to mark exams in the CII building in Aldermanbury and had lunch in the mini park in Love Lane. There is a wall plaque in Wood Street which was where the first bomb of the blitz was dropped on London.

[@maverick4177]

Superb Episode 👍🏻👏🏻

[@huntrrams]

Best KZbin recommendation! Thank you for your tour! Makes me want to see London again. Can you do Haunted London?

[@markames3688]

Another lovely walk. I kept thinking of "City of London" by The Mekons.

[@michelledavies6585]

Thank you so much for my channel. I recently found it by chance and as someone who has PTSD and anxiety but loves learning the history of places your videos bring me an abundance of information. Thank you.

[@icatz]

The amount of history there never fails to blow my little mind. Thanks!

[@kimrobinson6280]

brilliant as always John

[@stevewells8152]

I worked at 11 Ironmonger Lane which is around 70m from Guildhall and in the basement there is a small section of mosaic floor from the Roman era. It is open to the public but is little known. It fascinates me just how much lower the old Roman London was to the current city street level (approx 3m). You can see this from your video showing the old amphitheatre in basement of Guildhall and the Mithreum in the Walbrook building.

[@HonestSonics]

12:35 that's a lovely shot, John. More of that mate!

[@MorrisOnions06]

I used to work in the City, in the Lloyds of London Building, also on King William Street, on London Wall and other places. I nearly always took a walk around the City at lunchtime, it is a fascinating place to wander round. Your video brought back many memories.

[@waynehicks2035]

What a great way to start my week. I woke up early this morning and thought I'd kickstart my day by watching your adventures through London. I've asked before and I'll unashamedly ask again - I would love to see you cross the river and start a walk from the southern side of London Bridge. Your curiosity and enthusiasm would lend itself perfectly to a wander around one of my favourite areas of London - Southwark, the gateway to the old City of London. Have a great week, John.

[@shanemolloy7862]

So the books I mentioned are "Londons hidden walks vol 1,2 and 3" by Stephen Millar. They are packed with his own photographs and ram packed with all sorts of info. Perfect for the budding London psychogeographer. They are only tiny pocket sized books but each has about 380 pages and a tube map in the back each one covers 12 or 13 walks. I highly recommend them. They're only 9.99 each. A real treat and bargain I'd say!

[@funksoulbrother3620]

William Kent also wrote a book called "London for Heretics" which is a great title. There's one on ebay at present.

[@robertmorrey547]

Just love these London city walks 👌🏻👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Brilliant walk - love the discovered plaque for Shakespeare! & the 'ghost' churches!

[@jchanning72]

I work on Wood Street, and it was fascinating to see all of the history on my doorstep!

[@daveaum]

I learn so much about my city from watching these clips.. Thanks as always to John for the great, informative content 🙂👍

[@peterbrittain9839]

All your City of London walks have been great but this is the best. Thank you!

[@topdog2247]

I am lucky to live just very close to the City and it's one of my favourite London walks. Thank you for this video.

[@paulhutchins6019]

Another terrific walk John, thank you. An Aunt of mine married a chap who had a senior role in the Bank of England and they used to go to the Lord Mayor's Banquets at the Guildhall, she kept the invitations on the mantle peice. When I went to dinner at her house with my parents it was the first time I saw more than one knife and fork on the table lol ☺️

[@andrewhulson4000]

Not only are your videos fantastic, you have used fantastic music from Huma -Human etc. This really does add to the feeling/ emotion….

[@minijames2777]

Thanks for another great walk John.

[@pauld5337]

Great walk John, really enjoy them. See episode 2 of BBC “In search of Shakespeare” time stamp 29:35 for some old photos, Shakespeare’s parish church in London and a theatre in Shoreditch. Also episode 4 time stamp 4:15 for Silver street / London Wall.

[@janetsherwood7210]

Always enjoy your informative walks. Thank you Mr John Rogers. Like to dream you are waking in the steps of some of my ancestors. Surnames Northrop, Holden, Nunley, Powell. Thank you again for all your walks! Blessings from East Tennessee USA.🌿🌾🌳🍃

[@shiprapandey43172]

A good walk through in the church and city .You made another video of good creativity The pigeon reminds me Thomas gray poem 'An elegy written in a country churchyard'.Great architecture of Guildhall.Shakespeare drama,comedy and play and poem are very famous in India 🇮🇳 😀 ❤ and at that time of Shakespeare university wits are also very famous . In English literature it is must to read Shakespeare in Indian courses.I also went to the site in description.Sir nobody can told us so much about England except you. You have a good knowledge about your country 'England' 🇬🇧. Really nice video respected sir.🙂💖💝✍👩‍💻At that time England was in control of Church Pop's rights.This is most important thing.good walk sir 👍 😀..

[@michaelwhite8031]

Sadly, so many lost old churches. Love your London walks John.

[@michaelkiehn9254]

Another Monday vacation to London with my favorite tour guide! Thanks as ever John!

[@robbojax2025]

Any walk through the City is great for me. As you covered the City elections it is worth mentioning the Lord Mayor's Show parade on the second Saturday in November. Few Londoners even know about it.

[@iansteel5569]

I love the London walks.

[@valerieoldfield3481]

Love all your walks, John but being born and bred in Wycombe these are my favourites. They bring back lots of lovely memories. Now reside in NZ since 1972.

[@chrisstamp1]

Amazing video, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of the streets of our great city!!

[@alltheteam69]

Another excellent walk John. As a 13yr old Eastender, early 60s I would wander around the City with friends most weekends never really knowing it’s history. I’ve always wondered why the history of an area you live in, especially one as important and influential as London is never taught in school, it saddens me.

[@eddyarcher8509]

Another great walk John. I'm currently living in Italy and I'm in hospital at the moment. Thankfully got very good news today from the Docs! Your videos have been an amazing help to me,and have helped me through some extremely difficult times. I was born in Whitechapel, brought up in Hoxton and Bethnal Green, so I absolutely Love to see all the London walks, keep up the Great work, and Thanks again. Ps, I ran The Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden for 28 years with my Brother, and would love to see you do a London Pub walk sometime?🍻

[@Ladynipchick2]

Surprised this didn't get an answer. Fairly sure my brother used to frequent the lamb and flag 🤔

[@eddyarcher8509]

@Ladynipchick2 Thanks for your reply, what's your Brother's name, maybe I knew him?

[@Ladynipchick2]

@@eddyarcher8509 No, I checked with him, and he didn't know what I was talking about. Sorry to dash your hopes 😧I do wish you well though.

[@rossybink]

Great stuff, please do Make 100 more city of London videos 😍😀

[@philanderson5138]

one of your best... love your insight into the key london buildings and their history

[@mickeythompson9537]

Exceptionally interesting adventure this time!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Mickey

[@waynemarvin5661]

Thanks, John! I really enjoy stepping back into the past with you. It's informative, and Fun!

[@nickcooper1260]

Great video, John, it is amazing to see how the powerful buildings are represented by classical architecture, with their mighty columns - The architecture of eternity.

[@goldieandblackie]

Another great walk John and good weather to boot, rounded off with a pint or two off camera.

[@2Sugarbears]

You took me back to places I haven't seen in many many years. Thanks John, always a pleasure.

[@walkingworld6441]

Love this walk. Very informative and inspirational. 👍

[@chrismccartney8668]

I worked on South Bank Strand Southwark Bridge Road and St James Park, a lovely area with little streets and back turnings with surprises round every corner !.

[@EllaOstrova]

Hi! Thank so much for this walk! Love London a lot!

[@AntonyGoodall]

What a cracking walk indeed. Great video John! I shall make a point of visiting some of those sites when I'm in the City very soon.

[@ianmaddams9577]

Brilliant walk John . I’ve been on 35 Moorgate all last week on a job where they have taken down part of a building. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the city . I’ve missed seeing some of the old beautiful buildings.I get a glimpse of St Alban church as I drive past in my lorry . Nice to see you using the maps again . Makes me smile . All the best 👍🏻

[@c.t5136]

Thank you. I really enjoyed this. I have been visiting London from a very young age and have not heard of the things that you showed us today. You have inspired me to get lost and find things, which is also how I like to travel: roam free and be surprised.

[@seanjamescameron]

Nothing to do with Shakespeare but some of the bricks from the house of Charles Dickens are contained within the gardens of the British Medical Association.

[@okiejammer2736]

Your music choices are simply exquisite..🎶 Thank you.

[@trevorcoles1162]

Once again a fascinating and educational walk.

[@heleneburgess7674]

Just a joy as usual...thanks John 😊

[@lawrencegt2229]

Nice one, John. At the end there you were just a few steps away from (Ex)Change Alley and the memorial to my ancestor's coffee house (Garraway's - I am a Garraway too)- confusingly apparently the first person in the UK to sell tea!

[@rosiesharpley9011]

We owe you so much. How would I survive without my Rosie Lee ?

[@marty9011]

Loved this walk - all those iconic buildings. Particularly enjoyed the bits of Roman wall - wow.

[@toddjoe123]

Nice walk John... with winter around the corner I hope you keep up your great work and stay safe.

[@WoodsideWalker]

That certainly was a cracker! I was lucky enough to visit London in May and I visited the Guildhall. As soon as I walked in that courtyard, I just said Wow. It looks like it should be in Belgium. Even the modern buildings around it, look amazing. I just want to come back and delve deeper into Londons amazing history. I hope you got a good pint somewhere before heading home. 🍺

[@markriley4665]

I love this walk John. I have followed similar routes around the city. Thank you for this video.

[@janebaker966]

So you have got one of Madeleines books (Mrs Robert Henrey),there are a lot more and all evocative of their location and time. I wrote a short letter of appreciation of her work in 1987 and posted it to her son at the Henrey farm in Normandy. In the letter I called her "the chronicler of the 20th Century par excellence" her son sent me a nice short acknowledgment and said his Mother really liked my description of her. I'm missing some of your walk in typing this - but I can watch it again.

[@mamnisel4815]

Fascinating wander around the City of London especially the magnificent Guildhall and the part of the Roman Wall.Another very historically interesting video John!!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Mam

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

I always love how your videos start John. This one in particular had serendipity as I was in Wood Street the week before last. Loving how this is panning out so far - I'm hooked already.

[@lizstevenson7801]

Thank you for this lovely walk John. I worked in Lombard St when I left school in 1962 so I wlked past many of these buildings years ago, so nuce to see the familiar amongst all the new builds. So much history in just a small area amazes me, I never get tired of learning new things about places I grew up with. Thanks for this walk, loved it 💕🇦🇺

[@Useaname]

My girlfriend worked in Lombard Street in 1982 after she left school. Maybe you were her boss at that point?

[@East_Anglian]

I had many a sandwich staring at the Folio pedestal, my office was on the Square at Aldermanbury until just last year, and I sorely miss that part of the City. There is an incredible Roman Mosaic in the basement of the BoE, patterned with the ancient Eurasion symbol of divinity / spirituality - aka the swastika, which was discovered by chance during excavations. If you ever get invited to a tour of the BoE, it is exrtaordinary. Great to be reminded of some special places... thanks John.

[@lawrieflowers8314]

The Shakespeare location you're hunting (and much more) is explained in the fascinating book The Lodger by Charles Nicholl (2007) St. Olaf's (with the plaque) was bang opposite his lodgings on Silver Street, literally just a few yards across the road.

[@lisaholly3846]

I’m so excited to see this video. Watching it on our big tv! Thank you for posting! 😊

[@puddinggeek4623]

Excellent video as always. Have you ever considered/ already done a video about historic pubs, taverns & cafes of The City of London? One of my favourite places in London on the rare occasions I visit is Simpson's Tavern, just off of Cornhill down an alley (Ball Ct). A lovely little hidden gem.

[@oliverclothesoff5397]

Love your content! I always enjoy walking through my state capitol of Hartford CT. Lots of history, but nothing compared to the abyss of history of London. Keep up the great work m8!

[@talesfromtinpanalley-thedo6198]

Glad you're sill making these videos John. Excellent

[@leecaston]

John absolute great video. your energy in this video is wonderful. thanks so much. loved it

[@broadsword6650]

You mentioned the Haberdashers' Hall, which was redeveloped in the 1990s. Fret not, as that hall (the third) only dated from the mid-1950s. The previous halls had both burned down - the first in the Great Fire, the second in the Blitz.

[@jimglendenning6281]

I live in Liverpool John but your walks are always brilliant so much info and always done in a easy going way.Keep up the good work.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Jim - I really want to get back to Liverpool soon

[@AliB102]

Just catching up now. I love all of your walks however these are my favourite. Uncovering the history that is being smothered by the the new London. Just allows us to take a moment and appreciate what’s right there staring us in the face hidden in plain sight by the hustle and bustle of modern life. Thanks John 🙂

[@highpath4776]

If you can get out (which I forget to do ) to take photos when buildings are being demolished you see different views for a short time

[@margaretfoster2883]

Thanks for all the book references! We're learning loads. We'll be back in September to discover more. 👍

[@stevejones3635]

Thanks again John for another great video. Glad you managed to find the William Shakespeare plaque. I walk past it most mornings on my way though to Mansion House station, and thought you would have walked past it when you did the London Walk video!

[@russellsprout2223]

Fantastic video, absolutely steeped in historical interest. Thank you so much for uploading. Atb 👍

[@davidcole8268]

The Wren church rebuilt in Fulton Mo you refer to- it was negotiated by the college there to commemorate Churchill’s life given he had been invited there previously to give what became his famous Iron Curtain speech.