1. WALKING NORTH
FROM ST. KATHARINE’S MARINA TO PETTICOAT LANE.
— via Tower Hill, the Royal Mint, and Algate —
From your Home at First apartment at St. Katharine’s Marina—itself officially outside of The City, but nevertheless rich in history from medieval times forward—depart through the north entrance to the marina by the Ivory House and onto East Smithfield Street. Cross the busy street at the pedestrian crossing, then turn left and head west in the direction of Tower Hill. Like St. Katharine’s and The Tower of London, Tower Hill is just outside of the London Wall, but its history has been inseparably tied to events inside The City. Most notably, Tower Hill was the site of public executions during the Middle Ages. The guests of hone were frequently prominent persons—nobles and clergy, but not royalty (who were executed in private within the walls of the Tower of London)—including St. Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell during the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century. St. Katharine’s and Tower Hill belong to The Tower Hamlets, now a Borough of London, but, 1,000 years ago, a largely uninhabited region with several small villages (total population: 800) administered by officials at the Tower of London.
VIEW TOWARDS THE CITY OF LONDON
FROM ST. KATHARINE'S MARINA
Take a look at Tower Hill from a distance of 200 yards, before turning right (north) on Mansell Street. The land bordered on the south by East Smithfield Street and the west by Mansell Street was occupied by the Royal Mint from 1811-1971, and still known as Royal Mint Court. Once you cross Royal Mint Street, Mansell Street becomes the border of The City (west) and the Tower Hamlets (east). Within 300 yards Mansell Street crosses Whitechapel Street and becomes Middlesex Street at Aldgate, once an entry gate through the London Wall. Middlesex Street was formerly called Petticoat Lane. Just a minute or so north along Middlesex Street, a warren of little streets (including Wentworth, Goulston, Old Castle, and Bell Lane) intersect to form the site of the Petticoat Lane street market.
TOWER HILL: EMPEROR TRAJAN,
THE MEDIEVAL WALL, & THE TOWER