Esoteric London

Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16. Photo © Roger Dean 2012

The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. – Washington Irving, 1820:

During the time of the [St. Bartholomew’s] fair, which is held in the adjoining regions of Smithfield, there is nothing going on but gossiping and gadding about. The late quiet streets of Little Britain are overrun with an irruption of strange figures and faces; every tavern is a scene of rout and revel. The fiddle and the song are heard from the tap-room, morning, noon, and night; and at each window may be seen some group of boon companions, with half shut eyes, hats on one side, pipe in mouth, and tankard in hand, fondling, and prosing, and singing maudlin songs over their liquor.