Old Houses in Aldersgate Street, ca.1879

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

'Howel, writing in the middle of the seventeenth century says of Aldersgate Street: "This street resembleth an Italian street more than any in London, by reason of the spaciousness and uniformity of the buildings, and straightness thereof, with the convenient distance of the houses; on both sides whereof are divers very fair ones, as Peter House, the Palace now and mansion of the most noble Marquis of Dorchester. Then is there the Earl of Tenet's (Thanet's) House, with the Moon and Sun Tavern [s] very fair structures." We have refrained from giving to the principal house of the group shown in No.30, its assumed name of "Shakespeare's House." Allen (History of London, iii., 56), writing about 1828, speaks of it as "an old building, formerly the Half Moon Tavern" (probably the Moon Tavern spoken of by Howel). "noted as the place of resort of the most celebrated wits of the seventeenth century. It has been let for the last 40 years in tenements." In the illustration which he gives there is not any more than in his text to any reference to Shakespeare. The legend connecting this house with Shakespeare is quite modern, and destitute of foundation. The house was demolished in 1879. The name of the Tavern still survives in Half-Moon Passage.'

The above description by Marks has been taken from the letterpress which accompanies the photographs.