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Leadenhall Market to celebrate the life of Dick Whittington
The City of London’s Leadenhall Market will be paying tribute to a significant person in its history throughout May, with plans to celebrate four-time Lord Mayor of London, Sir Richard “Dick” Whittington (1356–1423).
Having left his fortune to the City of London when he died 600 years ago, Leadenhall Market will mark the anniversary with a series of limited-edition guided walks and a story-telling painted display on one of the shopfronts revealing the myths and reality behind the 15th century ‘hero’ of London; a great philanthropist who later became immortalised as a pantomime figure and folktale character – along with his cat.
Dick Whittington - a very poor, hungry boy, bullied and friendless. Or was he?
Visit Leadenhall Market to hear the real story of this beloved pantomime character. We'll uncover his roots, his career, his passions and his impact which is still felt today in the City of London and no more so than at the beautiful Leadenhall Market which may not have existed without him!
Dick Whittington is a central figure in the market’s history and contributed to making it what it is today. Originally, in the 1300s, the market building was a lead-roofed manor house owned by Sir Hugh Neville, located at the old centre of Roman London. In 1408, the former Lord Mayor of London, Richard “Dick” Whittington, acquired the leasehold of the building and it quickly became one of the best places in London to buy meat, game, poultry and fish.
In 1411, Whittington acquired the Leadenhall Market site, which he then gifted to the City of London Corporation, who have been running it ever since. Now, more than 600 years on, Leadenhall Market is home to boutique retailers, restaurants, cafes, wine bars and an award-winning pub, The Lamb Tavern. Meanwhile, the legacy of a poor boy who came to London, had a cat which helped him make a fortune in an exotic foreign land, and was four times Lord Mayor of London, lives on.
Having left his fortune to the City of London when he died 600 years ago, Leadenhall Market will mark the anniversary with a series of limited-edition guided walks and a story-telling painted display on one of the shopfronts revealing the myths and reality behind the 15th century ‘hero’ of London; a great philanthropist who later became immortalised as a pantomime figure and folktale character – along with his cat.
Dick Whittington - a very poor, hungry boy, bullied and friendless. Or was he?
Visit Leadenhall Market to hear the real story of this beloved pantomime character. We'll uncover his roots, his career, his passions and his impact which is still felt today in the City of London and no more so than at the beautiful Leadenhall Market which may not have existed without him!
Dick Whittington is a central figure in the market’s history and contributed to making it what it is today. Originally, in the 1300s, the market building was a lead-roofed manor house owned by Sir Hugh Neville, located at the old centre of Roman London. In 1408, the former Lord Mayor of London, Richard “Dick” Whittington, acquired the leasehold of the building and it quickly became one of the best places in London to buy meat, game, poultry and fish.
In 1411, Whittington acquired the Leadenhall Market site, which he then gifted to the City of London Corporation, who have been running it ever since. Now, more than 600 years on, Leadenhall Market is home to boutique retailers, restaurants, cafes, wine bars and an award-winning pub, The Lamb Tavern. Meanwhile, the legacy of a poor boy who came to London, had a cat which helped him make a fortune in an exotic foreign land, and was four times Lord Mayor of London, lives on.
To find out more about Whittington and his role in the history of the City, the Leadenhall Market: Turn Again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London! City of London guided walks, created to mark the 600th anniversary, will take place every Wednesday throughout May from 6.30-8pm. Places must be booked in advance and tickets cost £7 plus a booking fee:
Leadenhall Market,
Gracechurch Street,
London EC3V 1LT
Wed 3 May to Wed 31 May 2023
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