The Gazetteer

London and Middlesex

Ankerwyke Priory - The remains of the Priory are a good place to see Snowdrops in February.

Bankside - The Lions Part at 12 noon on Twelfth Night (6th January) outside the Globe Theatre. This is a celebration of the new year mixing ancient seasonal customs with contemporary festivity. Seasonal plays are performed outside the Globe, followed by a procession through the streets to Borough Market for mulled ale, fine food, storytelling and dancing. Contact +44(0)208 9280404, e-mail info[at] thelionspart.co.uk.

Barnet - Barnet Horse Fair is held in early September. Nearly 800 years old, originally London cabbies bought their horses here, now they seek ponies for their children. Near Barnet station and the Great North Road.

Battersea Park hosts the London Harness Horse Parade on Easter Monday - This started in 1886 to improve conditions for cart horses in London and encourage their wider use. It was amalgamated with the London Van Horse Parade in 1965. The parade now includes private horse drawn vehicles as well as light commercial ones. It starts at 10.15am and the Grand Parade of Winners is from 12 noon 1pm.

Drury Lane - Drury Lane Theatre has a custom on Twelfth Night (January 6th) called Baddeley Cake - the cast of the current play eat cake and drink wine in memory of an actor from the 18th Century who bequeathed money to the theatre's hardship fund.

Green Men of London - The Green Man and French Horn, St Martin's Lane and the Green Man, Berwick Street, Soho, are pubs which remind us that once this was a Royal Hunting Forest. See also the many Green Men adorning the buildings of Mayfair (The May Fair itself was suppressed in 1764 for 'licentiousness').

Up until the turn of the 19th century, great May Day parades of Jack in the Green and the Sweeps happened all over London, much quoted as among the 'popular pastimes of the lower orders', from Bromley to Bermondsey, Chelsea to Camberwell, Lewisham to the Kennington Oval. See the book by Roy Judge

A number of London pubs have Green Man names

Notting Hill - on August Bank Holiday, the biggest street carnival in Europe and, after Rio de Janeiro, the biggest in the world. On Saturday 7-9pm there is the National Steel Bands Panorama; on Sunday 11am-9pm the children's Day Parade; on Monday 11am-9pm the main parade. Contact the Carnival Office on +44(0)20 8964 0544. The area also has a Parish Map.

Parish Maps of London and Middlesex

Barbican, Bexley, Brixton, Camberwell, Croydon, Deptford, Fryent Country Park, Grand Union Canal, Hackney, Hayes, Highbury, Maida Vale, Notting Hill, Plumstead Common, Regents Park, Southwark, Waddon, Wandsworth.

Please TELL US if you know of any maps which are not mentioned on this page, or have any more information on ones that are : email info [at] commonground.org.uk

Pinner - Pinner Fair. Originally granted to the Archbishop of canterbury in the 14th century to be held on the Wednesday after Whit Sunday. Nowadays held on the Wednesday following the Spring Bank Holiday, which means it can fall at the end of May or beginning of June. The funfair stands in the main streets of the town. Reputed to be the best - busiest! - one-day fair in England. Find out more about English fairs at the Showmen's Guild web-site.

Serpentine - Christmas Day Race. The Serpentine Swimming Club meet in Hyde park in all weathers to race in the 'Serp' as they have done since 1864. It is one of the oldest swimming clubs in the country, and many of its members swim in the river every day.

Soho - The Green Man and French Horn, St Martin's Lane and the Green Man, Berwick Street, Soho, are pubs which remind us that once this was a Royal Hunting Forest. See also the many Green Men adorning the buildings of Mayfair (The May Fair itself was suppressed in 1764 for 'licentiousness'). Up until the turn of the 19th century, great may day parades of Jack in the Green and the Sweeps happened all over London, much quoted as among the 'popular pastimes of the lower orders', from Bromley to Bermondsey, Chelsea to Camberwell, Lewisham to the Kennington Oval. 

Spitalfields - A Pancake Race is held on Shrove Tuesday in February. Contact Alternative Arts, +44 (0) 207 375 0441.

Strand - Oranges & Lemons Service, St Clements Danes in February - childrens' service at 1.30pm where the 'oranges and lemons' rhyme is read and the fruit are given out. The carillon rings out at 9am, noon & 6pm. Contact St Clement Danes Church, +44 (0) 207 242 8282

Apple Day, October 21st

Find events in London and Middlesex and across the country on the APPLE DAY EVENTS LIST
or read about London and Middlesex Orchards and Orchard Produce

TELL US about an event you are holding : email info [at] commonground.org.uk