Old House, Fore Street, ca.1884

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

"This house, of a type very rare in London - made rarer still by the demolition of this subject - dates probably from before the Great Fire. In old times great fires often ravaged London, but the lesson which they taught, only partly learnt, was too soon forgotten. Thus Stowe tells us: "Of old time, according to a decree made in the reign of Richard I., the houses in London were built in stone for defence of fire, which kind of building was used for two hundred years or more, but of later time, for winning of ground, taken down, and houses of timber set up in place." (Ed. 1842, p.111). A Proclamation issued after the Great Fire again forbade, under severe penalties, the building of timber houses. Experience has shown "the notable benefit of brick, which in so many places hath resisted and even extinguished the fire;" in this respect far better even than stone. It was therefore ordered "that no man whatsoever shall presume to erect any house or building, great or small, but of brick or stone; and if any man shall do the contrary, the next Magistrate shall forthwith cause it to be pulled down, and such further course shall be taken for his punishment as he deserves" (Noorthouck's History of London Appendix XLVIII., p.847). This house stood at the corner of Milton Street, a new name given some forty years ago to Grub Street, famous - or infamous in the annals of literature. The Street has long borne its old name. We find it recorded in 1320, that Richard le Cordewanere, of Grascherch, and his fellows, took from "William de Grobbelane" three pairs of false "shoes"; and the name occurs in the City records even earlier than this (Riley's Memorials, p.136)."

The above description, by Alfred Marks, has been taken from the letterpress which accompanies the photographs. Dixon's photograph shows the corner of Fore Street with Milton Street. This area was badly bombed in World War II, Fore Street being the site of the first bomb to fall on the City of London during World War II. Today Milton Street no longer intersects Fore Street and much of the area now houses the Barbican complex.