Alleys

London’s Alleys: Braidwood Passage, EC1

This is a narrow dark modern-looking alley that provides the only gap in a wall that gives access to the warren of streets behind a long row of unremitting office blocks.

London’s Alleys: East Passage, EC1

This alley is a result of the dissolution of the Monasteries, as it sits within the lands owned by St Bartholomew’s Priory.

London’s Alleys: Royal Exchange Avenue, EC2

Although today it’s largely a wide open alley, it was once a classic of the area, narrow and winding between rows of narrow Victorian buildings.

London’s Alleys: Half Moon Court, EC1

When the area in this part of London was occupied by St Bartholomew’s priory, there was a large garden on the south of their estate, and this alley pretty much follows the line of that long lost garden boundary.

London’s Alleys: Sun Alley, TW9

This is a short alley in Richmond town centre with on its corners, two restaurants, a pub and a community hall.

London’s Alleys: White Lion Court, EC3

This is another of those ancient alleys that seems to have existed since forever, and somehow is still here.

London’s Alleys: Craven Passage, WC2

In an area where most of the old roads were swallowed up by the railway, Craven Passage is a rare survivor of a path that dates back to when the area first started to be developed.

London’s Alleys: St Alban’s Court, EC2

This is a modern looking alley that follows an ancient path, and is named after the ruined church in the middle of the road.

London’s Alleys: Gower Mews, WC1

This short cul-de-sac leads off from Gower Street in central London, an area developed with upper middle-class homes, but now dominated by educational establishments.

London’s Alleys: Cobb’s Court, EC4

This narrow right angled alley runs behind blocks of offices and shops, today offering a convenient place for fire exits and windows.

London’s Alleys: Johnson’s Court, EC4

Long before Dr Johnson arrived, there was a Johnson’s Court – a long alley that sliced between long deep buildings fronting onto Fleet Street.

London’s Alleys: Cowper’s Court, EC3

This is one of those alleys that’s been around for centuries, yet managed to leave hardly a trace of its existence in history.

London’s Alleys: Cliffords Inn Passage, EC4

This is one of the oldest surviving alleys in London, emerging around Tudor times when the area along Chancery Lane was first starting to be developed from fields.

London’s Alleys: Barnard’s Inn, EC1

Through a small gap in the line of shops and offices of Holborn can be found a medieval enclave of learning.

London’s Alleys: Turk’s Head Yard, EC1

This rather shabby looking car park of an alley is a lingering remnant of a time when the area was filled with old warehouses and factories.

London’s Alleys: Marigold Alley, SE1

This is a short modern alley that’s actually much older than it looks, and in the wrong place. Oh, and gargoyles.

London’s Alleys: Wilks Place, N1

This is a tiny stump of a lane that was once much longer, and vastly busier, for on it was the entrance to a Victorian music hall. Wilks Place first seems to appear on a John Rocque map of 1746,…

London’s Alleys: Frimley Street, E1

This short narrow alley seems oddly named, for streets tend to be large and wide — but it’s actually a lingering remnant of a lost road.

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Alleys

London’s Alleys: Braidwood Passage, EC1

London’s Alleys: East Passage, EC1

London’s Alleys: Royal Exchange Avenue, EC2

London’s Alleys: Half Moon Court, EC1

London’s Alleys: Sun Alley, TW9

London’s Alleys: White Lion Court, EC3

London’s Alleys: Craven Passage, WC2

London’s Alleys: St Alban’s Court, EC2

London’s Alleys: Gower Mews, WC1

London’s Alleys: Cobb’s Court, EC4

London’s Alleys: Johnson’s Court, EC4

London’s Alleys: Cowper’s Court, EC3

London’s Alleys: Cliffords Inn Passage, EC4

London’s Alleys: Barnard’s Inn, EC1

London’s Alleys: Turk’s Head Yard, EC1

London’s Alleys: Marigold Alley, SE1

London’s Alleys: Wilks Place, N1

London’s Alleys: Frimley Street, E1

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