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51°31′02″N 0°05′40″W / 51.51735°N 0.09454°W / 51.51735; -0.09454 Silver Street was a street in London. It ran from the north end of Noble Street at Falcon Square to Wood Street.[1] It originated in medieval times, and is one of the streets shown on a map known as the "Woodcut map of London" or the "Agas" map, which survives in a 17th-century version.[2][3]

Its inhabitants included the Mountjoy family with whom William Shakespeare lodged at the beginning of the 17th century.[3] According to Charles Nicholl, who has written a detailed analysis of Shakespeare's life on Silver Street, their house can be identified on the "Woodcut map".[4] The Mountjoys were Huguenots who ran a business making luxury headgear for ladies, including theatrical costumes.

During the Second World War the Cripplegate area, where the street was located, was virtually destroyed in the Blitz.

Legacy

"This was the Parish Church of St. Olave Silver Street, Destroyed by the Dreadfull Fire in the Year 1666"

A commemorative stone marks the site of St Olave's Church, Silver Street, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

Plaque on Noble Street commemorating Shakespeare and the Mountjoys

On 21 April 2016, the City of London installed a blue plaque in Noble Street, near the site of the Mountjoys' house.[5][6] The plaque reads "William Shakespeare had lodgings near here in 1604, at the house of Christopher and Mary Mountjoy".

References

  1. ^ 'Cripplegate, one of the 26 Wards of the City of London' Baddesley, J.J p76: London; Blades, East & Blades; 1921
  2. ^ "Silver Street". Map of Early Modern London: edited by Janelle Jenstad (University of Victoria). Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b Ralph Agas (attributed) (1633). "Agas' Map of London: William Shakespeare's Lodgings in Silver Street". London Picture Archive. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  4. ^ Nicholl, Charles (2007). The Lodger: Shakespeare on Silver Street. London. Allen Lane. The Lodger Shakespeare: His Life on Silver Street. New York: Viking.
  5. ^ AFP (22 April 2016). "Anniversary Plaque Marks Site Of Shakespeare's London Home". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Shakespeare plaque". Open Plaques. Retrieved 7 March 2021.


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