The great city of London has many layers of history lying buried beneath its streets. In a few places, remnants of the capital’s ancient past are still visible in the form of important and often royal buildings, such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. However, these magnificent, world-renowned places are not the only survivors of a long lost world. Halfway down a narrow, medieval lane on the outskirts of Smithfield stands 41-42 Cloth Fair – the oldest house in the City of London. This book uncovers the fascinating survival story of this extraordinary property and the people who built it, owned it and lived in it, set against the backdrop of an ever-changing city that endured war, disease, fire and economic crises.
