Exhibition: Nursery Rhymes of London Town

Nursery Rhymes of London Town, published in 1916, was the first literary success of the renowned writer Eleanor Farjeon. It led to a string of much-loved children's stories, poetry, plays, biographies and novels. Young children still learn her poem 'Cats sleep anywhere' at school, today's church-goers sing her hymn 'Morning has Broken' while for lovers of First World War poetry, her poignant memoir Edward Thomas: The Last Four Years is a must. A life-long resident of Hampstead, Farjeon died in 1965, but is still commemorated annually by the Eleanor Farjeon Award for outstanding contribution to children's literature presented by the Children's Book Circle.


The book contains over fifty nonsense rhymes, all based on London place names, including King's Cross and Oxford Circus, as well as local areas such as St. John's Wood, Highgate and The Spaniards. Originally enjoyed by Punch readers, including many serving on the Western Front, these quirky rhymes were immensely popular with both adults and children and were recited and sung in classrooms up and down the land. A second volume More Nursery Rhymes of London Town was published in 1917.

The popularity of the books was due in no small part to the delightful illustrations by MacDonald Gill, best known for his humorous pictorial maps for the London Underground, including the Wonderground Map of London Town.

To mark the centenaries of the two books, Burgh House & Hampstead Museum is hosting a special exhibition including first editions, art, photos and memorabilia from the estates of Eleanor Farjeon and MacDonald Gill.