Cloth Fair facts for kids
The oldest residential dwelling in London (numbers 41 and 42)
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| Type | Residential street |
|---|---|
| Length | 150 yards |
| Postal code | EC1 |
| Nearest Tube station |  Barbican |
| Southwest end | Little Britain |
| Northeast end | Middle Street |
| Other | |
| Known for | Medieval cloth market |
Cloth Fair is a street in the City of London. Long ago, in medieval times, it was a very busy place. Merchants, who were like traders, came here to buy and sell fabric. This happened during a big event called the Bartholomew Fair.
Today, Cloth Fair is a short street where people live. It is located in the north-western part of the city. You can find it just east of Smithfield. The street is part of an area called the ward of Farringdon Within.
Contents
What is Cloth Fair?
Cloth Fair runs from southwest to northeast. It starts at a street called Little Britain. It goes on for about 150 yards until it meets Middle Street.
To the north, it runs next to Long Lane. To the south, you can see the old Anglican church of St. Bartholomew-the-Great.
A Look Back in Time
This street has a very long and interesting history. It used to be inside the grounds of the Priory of St. Bartholomew's. A priory is like a monastery where monks live.
Until 1910, Cloth Fair was a special separate area called a "liberty." It even had gates that were closed at night! But this small area couldn't get things like street lights and sewers easily. So, it became part of the main city again.
Famous Homes and Places
Cloth Fair is home to some very old buildings. Numbers 41 and 42 are thought to be the oldest homes in all of London!
The Landmark Trust looks after some properties here. One of them, number 43, used to be the home of a famous English poet named John Betjeman. You can find the door to his home in Cloth Court, which is just off Cloth Fair. For a while, a restaurant on Cloth Fair was even named after him!
The City Music Foundation also has its base in Church House on Cloth Fair.
Getting There
If you want to visit Cloth Fair, it's easy to get to by public transport.
- The closest London Underground station is Barbican. You can reach it using the Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines.
- The nearest main train station is Farringdon.
Images for kids
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Blue plaque marking the entrance to John Betjeman's home in Cloth Court off Cloth Fair
