Page 177 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

SMITHFIELD AND SPIT ALFIELDS  175

Roman roads converged, this
has been a site of worship for
millennia. The Norman St
Leonard’s was the original
“actors’ church” and many
famous names of Tudor
theatre are buried in the crypt,
including Richard Burbage,
who played the first Hamlet,
Macbeth and Romeo, and his
brother Cuthbert, founder of
the Globe Theatre.
Erected in 1736–40, the current
Palladian-style church is the
oldest building in Shoreditch.
Its fine acoustics make it
popular as a performance
space with musicians.
s Columbia Road
Market
Columbia Rd E2. Map 8 D3.
1 Liverpool St, Old St, Bethnal Green.
Open 8am–3pm Sun. See Shops and
Markets p336. ∑ columbiaroad.info
A visit to this flower and plant
market is one of the most
delightful things to do on a
Sunday morning in London,
whether you want to take
advantage of the exotic species
on offer or not – though it’s hard
The grand bedroom of Dennis Severs’ House to resist, as prices are compet-
itive and the range impressive.
p Dennis Severs’ outside. This highly theatrical Set in a well-preserved street of
House experience is far removed from small Victorian shops, it is a
more usual museum recreations lively, sweet-smelling and
18 Folgate St E1. Map 8 D5. and is not suitable for the under- colourful event. Apart from the
Tel 020 7247 4013. 1 Liverpool St. 12s. Praised by many, including stalls, there are several shops
Open noon–4pm Sun, noon–2pm artist David Hockney, it is truly selling, among other things,
Mon (last adm: 1:15pm), 5–9pm, Wed unique. The house’s motto is home-made bread and
& Fri. Private and group bookings “you either see it or you don’t”. farmhouse cheeses, antiques
welcome. &
∑ dennissevershouse.co.uk Around the corner on Elder and inter esting objects, many
Street are two of London’s flower-related. There are also
At No. 18 Folgate Street, built earliest surviving terraces, cafés, a tapas bar and pubs to
in 1724, the late designer and where many of the Georgian refuel at along the street.
performer Dennis Severs red-brick houses have been
recreated a histor ical interior carefully restored.
that takes you on a journey
from the 17th to the 19th
centuries. It offers what he a St Leonard’s
called “an adventure of the Church
imagination… a visit to a time-
mode rather than… merely a Shoreditch High St E1. Map 8 D3.
look at a house”. The rooms are Tel (box office) 020 7377 1362.
like a series of tableaux vivants, 1 Old Street, Liverpool Street.
as if the occupants had simply Open Mar–Oct: noon–2pm Mon–Fri.
5 10:30am Sun. 7 Concerts
left for a moment. There is and theatrical performances.
bread on the plates, wine in the ∑ shoreditchchurch.org.uk
glasses, fruit in the bowl;
the candles flicker and horses’ Standing as it does on the Columbia Road flower market presents
hooves clatter on the cobbles spot where several major beautiful blooms on a Sunday morning

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