Search: 1700-1799

This story has been kindly contributed by Gerald Collins. Read more »

In the 1720s, Mrs Holt's Italian Warehouse (a warehouse was a sort of 18th-century department store) in the Strand opposite Exeter Change. According to the trade card that William Hogarth engraved for her, she stocked Read more »

Thanks to all who came to 18th Century Strand Day on March 25th.

Throughout the day participants took note of what key words they thought best represented 18th century Strand. I have turned their suggestions into a word cloud; the largest words denote words used most often by participants. 

The Strand Union Workhouse, Cleveland Street Read more »

In 1787 Robert Barker put a patent on a way of seeing: ‘panorama’. It is said that he came upon the term when surveying the city of Edinburgh from the top of Calton Hill. Moving to London, Barker reconstructed 360 degree views in a Leicester Square art gallery; an initiative mimicked by his son on the Strand in 1801. In 1830 the Strand panorama became a dissenting chapel; in 1832 an unpatented theatre – audiences were admitted free provided that they bought sweets from local shops: rose lozenges for the stalls and peppermint drops for the pit. Read more »

Can anyone tell me where the Crown and Anchor tavern used to be in the Strand? And point me to anywhere I can find out more about it please?

Click here to see a larger version.

The image is taken from Strype's 1720 revision of Stow's Survey of London (full bibliographic reference below): Read more »

Comet passing the spire of St Martin in the Fields on 26 January 1744.

Image property of British Museum. Read more »