One of my favourite stories about the now hugely popular Bankside, concerns the plaque on the wall of a cottage standing virtually alone amongst it’s more prominent and later-built neighbours.
The story goes like this. Back in the 1960’s when Bankside was run down and still bomb damaged from the war, the local council who thought little of conservation – that sort of thing didn’t happen till later – came up with sweeping plans to redevelop the area.
One by one, the old workman’s cottages that lined the riverside were demolished by the developers until they came to no 49, a Queen Anne period cottage. Here they stopped and gazed at the plaque outside the building. It clearly said that Sir Christopher Wren had lived there while building St Pauls’ Cathedral opposite.
Well, you can imagine the consternation on the faces of the planners. Did they dare demolish a house that the city’s most famous and eminent architect had once lived? Luckily, they chose prudence and the house was saved, but it turns out they were completely fooled. A previous owner, astute enough to be worried about future redevelopment, had this fictitious sign about Christpher Wren made and put on his wall. And just for good measure, he added that Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII had stayed there too! He clearly had a sense of humour.
Not to say that number 49 doesn’t have an interesting history. It used to be the site of a brothel and then an inn called the Cardinal’s Hat which was frequented by the likes of William Shakespeare and Samuel Pepys. Well, that’s if you can believe me of course….
