Monuments to Murder: Smithfield's Bloody History

The martrydom of Larimer and Ridley, from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs 1563

Smithfield, in the north west corner of the City just the City Walls, was for many centuries used for the public execution of traitors, miscreants and men who refused to change their religion at the Monarch's decree.  It was also used for other antisocial activities like butchering animals; London's largest meat market is still on the site.  

The walk will explore the stories of violence and punishment throughout the City of London's long history, from the Crusaders who set out from St Sepulchre's Church to forcibly drive Muslims from the Holy Land to the leader of the Peasants Revolt, killed at Smithfield, and the murderers, like the Yorkshire Ripper, who were tried at the Old Bailey.  We look at the surviving monuments to those who died in in violence of various kinds and discuss the power of religion to provoke murder.

We start at 11am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, meeting at the City Information Centre in St Paul's Churchyard.  The walk is led by  Susan Gane when advertised here, and a qualified City Guide at other times.  It will last one and half to two hours and end at the monument;  the cost is £7 per person, £6 concessions, with accompanied children under twelve free of charge.