A monument to the people that collected Shakespeare's plays together
Make sure that you are standing at position (5) on the map.
This monument, although it has a bust of Shakespeare on
it, is in fact commemorating Henry Condell and John Heminges, who were important in the production of the First Folio of William Shakespeare's plays.
When
Shakespeare died, eighteen of his plays had already been published, the First
Folio included those and another eighteen that had not been published before,
making thirty six in total. The First Folio did not include Pericles, Prince of Tyre, The Two Noble Kinsmen, and the two lost plays, Cardenio and Love's Labour's Won.
Condell and Heminges had worked with Shakespeare in the Globe Theatre as actors, and doing other jobs. They lived in the St. Mary Aldermanbury parish and were buried in its churchyard.
Condell and Heminges had worked with Shakespeare in the Globe Theatre as actors, and doing other jobs. They lived in the St. Mary Aldermanbury parish and were buried in its churchyard.
From Love Lane, turn right
into Aldermanbury. Continue down it then
go left into the Guildhall courtyard. In
the Guildhall Art Gallery is a Roman Amphitheatre (ask at the door – free
entry) perhaps the earliest theatre in London. There are also toilets here.
When you
have seen the Amphitheatre, leave the Guildhall Gallery and turn left into
Guildhall Yard. Go straight across Gresham Street into King Street, then turn left
into Cheapside. Continue along, the road
turns into Poultry. Just before you get to Bank, there is a road called Walbrook on the right. This marks the
path of the Walbrook River (flowing to the Thames) that rose in Shoreditch where
the walk started. It has been culverted
since the middle of the 15c, but in Roman times was partly navigable. A Temple of Mithras was built on its banks.
Go past
Bank, and continue up Cornhill (go to the right side of the Royal Exchange) past the Statue
of JH Greathead, the Chief Engineer of the City and South
London Railway.
When you
get to Gracechurch Street, turn right (this corner was the site of the Roman Forum and Basilica in London) and continue until you come to the Crosse
Keys pub (marked 6 on the map). This is a good value place for
a drink, a meal and access to toilets.
Continue to next stage >
Continue to next stage >
