Like Velociposse, we know that “most cycling clubs are based on people starting rides from their local area”. So, although "our members are spread out all across London", we will be starting this ride on Saturday December 9th at 9.30am at the Southwark Needle. As cyclists like to do "loop" rides, it will finish where it started.
This will be a social cycle ride where we pay a visit to Spitalfield Market. The 12 mile route for this ride can be downloaded from here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45099595.
There has been a market at Spitalfields, next to what was the Priory and Hospital of St Mary Spital, since the thirteenth century. However, it was not until 1885-93 that the buildings bearing the above plaque were built for the owner Robert Horner. If you are wondering where the date is in this plaque, you can find it almost lost in the foliage at the bottom right.
Spitalfields is very close to Petticoat Lane, but you won't find this on a map. This is because, thanks to the sensibilities of the Victorian era, the street was renamed Middlesex Street nearly 180 years ago, in 1846.
Although we take it for granted that all streets should have a name, just as all cycling groups have a name, this was not always the case. Before the Fire of London in 1666, there were no street signs. But after the fire, it was decided that it would be useful to name streets. One of the first street signs in London was this one:
It is dated 1678, only 20 years after the Fire of London, and can be found on the now defunct Old Rose pub.
There is another old sign on the wall of the former Whitechapel Bell Foundry building on Plumbers Row. The inscription reads: ‘This is Baynes Street 1746’. Baynes Street is a former name for Plumbers Row.
The second oldest sign in Whitechapel can be found at the corner of Brick Lane and Sclater Street. The inscription reads ‘THIS IS SCLATER Street 1778’:
Ride Leader: Nigel Bee (tel: 07415 315 690, email: cisadmin@cyclistsinsouthwark.org.uk )