Talk:Clerkenwell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] Clerkenwell Green

I hope no-one minds but I could not see why Clerkenwell Green was listed as a nearby place when it's actually smack in the middle of it. So I've made it a couple of sentences in the article itself, rather than a link. Nevilley 13:56, 26 May 2004 (UTC)

I work in what terms itself Clerkenwell (EC1R), but it's actually in the London Borough of Camden. Is this technically a different locale from Clerkenwell proper, or does Clerkenwell straddle Islington and Camden?Billyblunt 14:37, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

Clerkenwell proper is not in Camden - it's a ward in Islington. I guess there may be some parts to the West which people refer to as Clerkenwell but which are in Camden. Similarly, the Southern tip of Clerkenwell extends into the City. 82.35.192.171 09:27, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

All of Clerkenwell lies within the LB of Islington. There is no overlap with Camden. Clerkenwell is bordered on the west by Farringdon Road, on the east by Goswell Street, to the South by Smithfield Market/the City of London, and to the North by Rosebery Avenue. It is a small area, reflecting the size and extent of the village it once was. --SandyDancer 15:03, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

I don't think that's the only common definition of Clerkenwell. For a start it excludes Mount Pleasant, which is usually taken to be in the area. It also excludes the triangle bounded by Clerkenwell Road, Farringdon Road and Rosebery Avenue, which according to the Rough Guide is the part of Clerkenwell with the strongest Italian links - although admittedly Rough Guides often get things wrong. I'd say Clerkenwell is partly in Camden, and indeed partly in WC1. Lfh 21:32, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Goswell Street? I think you mean Goswell Road old chum. Beanhead McGinty 13:18, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Hostel in Clerkenwell Close

In the autumn of 1972, I stayed for about a week in a hostel in Clerkenwell Close. I cannot remember its name, but it was located in a warehouse building opposite St. James's Church. Its clientele was mostly in their 20's, as I was then. It was an interesting mix of types ranging from recovering addicts to a couple of office hands from the City. I was doing historical research at the Post Office in St. Martin's Le Grand, so the location was convenient at least. I remember it being 50p a night, including a breakfast consisting of a bap and a 2 oz piece of cheese. At the time, Woolworth's was paying 5 quid a week to shopgirls, as they were called.

In those days, Clerkenwell Green had various small workshops. One place made wooden "louvred" shutters. As mentioned in the article, you could tell it was once a village, but other than the small scale of the buildings, there was not much charm.

Even so, I have a couple of vivid memories. I heard bellringing practice in the church opposite the hostel. On another evening, I looked out the window as I went down the stairs, to see an old woman standing beneath a lamp, looking up at me. She had on a flouncy, tattered black outfit, with a hat, and carrying an open black parasol! I had once seen a Giles cartoon of a similar scene, but the women were much younger. Could this have been the oldest tart in London? Monomoit (talk) 23:27, 17 December 2007 (UTC)