HAY

Bales of Hay

There is a tradition that whenever an existing Thames bridge is undergoing reconstructive work bales of hay is hung out over the river from the lowest part of the scaffolding.

See Also: BRIDGES

Gracechurch Street

The City of London church St Benet Gracechurch's name was derived from the grass market that was held by it. The church was demolished in 1867.

Location: Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0EJ (red, yellow)

See Also: STREET MARKETS, DISAPPEARED

Haymarket

The first evidence of hay being sold in the Haymarket dates from the 1650s. The market was probably stimulated into being by the presence of the Royal Mews to its east.¹ The Mews was a large stables complex that occupied most of what is now Trafalgar Square.

In 1830 the hay market moved north to the then newly built Cumberland Market. (An offshoot of the Regent's Canal enabled the fodder to be delivered to the mart by water.)

Location: Cumberland Market, NW1 3RH (red, yellow)

Haymarket, SW1Y 4BP (blue, purple)

See Also: STREET MARKETS, DISAPPEARED

Website: www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol20/pt3

¹. In 1686 the May time cattle market that had been held in Haymarket was moved to what was to become Shepherd Market and Curzon Street.

Muting Hooves

Straw was lain on road surfaces to mute sound. In 1931 the authorities did so outside the home of the writer Arnold Bennett as he lay dying.

Location: 13 Hanover Terrace, NW1 4RJ (orange, yellow)

Whitechapel Market

Whitechapel Market street market grew up out of a hay market.

Location: Whitechapel Road, E1 1DT (blue, pink)

See Also: STREET MARKETS

David Backhouse 2024