The Guild of Freemen of the City of London

After supper The Master presents a cheque to Peter Tompkins, for the Lord Mayor's Charity Appeal
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City Walks 28th May and 3rd June

28 May 2009

This started in Paternoster Square, the original site of the Stock Exchange and market in the 16th Century.

Cheapside, site of the original meat markets where tournaments, jousting and pageants all took place, before everything moved to Smithfield in the late 16th Century. Mercers' Hall was the first Merchant Company in Ironmongers Lane to be established for trading purposes. Dick Whittington, a merchant of Mercers became the first Lord Mayor of London.

Onto Threadneedle Street, Cornhill where the Bank of England was established in 1694, and into the Royal Exchange which was built by Sir Thomas Gresham. In 1570 Queen Elizabeth said it would be the Royal Exchange forever.

In 1752 Mansion House was built. The first underground was built and operated from the Bank by JH Greathead in the late 19th Century. Coffee Houses were popular in the City in the 17th Century.

The tour came to an end outside the Lloyds Building which was built in 1996 by Richard Rogers - an inside/outside building. As always Peter Tompkins, our guide gave a fascinating tour and insight into Markets / Exchanges of yesteryear.