The Cut, London facts for kids
The Cut (once called New Cut) is a street in London. It runs between Waterloo Road in Lambeth and Blackfriars Road in Southwark. It's quite close to the railway lines. At the western end of The Cut, you'll find The Old Vic theatre, a very famous place for plays. Halfway along the street is the Young Vic theatre, which often shows more experimental plays. Lewisham Southwark College is also on The Cut. At the eastern end, you'll find Southwark Underground station. Other nearby train stations include Waterloo and Waterloo East.
The Street Market's History
For a long time, starting in the early 1800s, The Cut and a nearby street called Lower Marsh were the main shopping areas. A writer named Henry Mayhew looked at the market in the 1840s. He thought about 300 "costermongers" worked there. Costermongers were people who sold fruit, vegetables, and other goods from carts or stalls in the street.
Changes to the Market
The market on The Cut changed a lot over time. In 1851, Henry Mayhew wrote again about it. He said the market had become much quieter. This was because of new rules from the Police. Traders were no longer allowed to set up fixed stalls. Instead, they had to carry their trays or keep moving with their carts. If they didn't, they could be taken to a "lock-up house," which was a temporary jail.
Because of these new rules, the bright, busy stalls were replaced by simple wooden boards. The bright lamps that lit up the market were mostly gone, replaced by dim candles. Even the number of shoppers went down by half. The street was not as crowded with people and carts as it used to be.
The Market's End
The market on The Cut continued until the 1950s. At that time, the street was made into an important road called the B300. The remaining traders moved to Lower Marsh, where some street stalls are still open today (as of 2019). Other traders moved into new shops that were built on areas that had been bombed during the war.
Other Interesting Facts
The Cut has some interesting history. It's believed that a boxing gym, located above a pub on The Cut, is where the modern rules for boxing were written down. These are known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules. Today, The Cut is a lively street with many restaurants, shops, and offices.
