Eastcheap

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Eastcheap is a road in the City of London. Its name derives from cheap, market, and is in contrast to Cheapside (once known as Westcheap). In medieval times it was the City's main meat market, with butchers' stalls lining both sides of the street. The market is now long gone.

It is notable as the former location of Falstaff's Boar's Head Inn, featured in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One and Henry IV, Part Two.

The road leads from an intersection with Gracechurch, Cannon Street, and King William Street in the west, near Monument tube station east, and transforms into Great Tower Street to the east. Eastcheap formerly extended further to the west, but this section was eliminated when King William Street was built to provide a new access to London Bridge in the early 19th century. Falstaff's famed tavern, which stood in the western section of the road, was demolished at this time.

The ghost of the erased western section of Eastcheap is recalled in the name of the church of St Clement Eastcheap which, despite its name, is now left stranded to the north of King William Street, somewhat to the west of present day Eastcheap.

[edit] References

Smith, A (1970) Dictionary of City of London Street Names. David and Charles: Newton Abbot.

London postal district | Eastern Central

EC1 Head district | EC2 Bishopsgate | EC3 Fenchurch Street | EC4 Fleet Street