The White Conduit

I was admiring this pretty little shop off Lamb's Conduit Street when I noticed the blue plaque which says that "In the rear is The White Conduit (circa 1300 AD) originally part of the water supply to the Greyfriars Monastery, Newgate Street".

The Greyfriars were the Franciscans.  Their late 13th century monastery (about 1km away from this spot) was damaged by Henry VIII, then destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.  A church called Christ Church Greyfriars was built on the site by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century and then bombed in the Blitz in 1940.  I blipped the partially restored ruins years ago.

"Lamb's Conduit" was also called Holborn Conduit.  It basically channelled water to Holborn from a tributary of the River Fleet, and it was restored by a Mr Lamb in 1564.  The Greyfriars obviously got there first.

I just love the history of London and how echoes from centuries ago can be found in names today.