Essex Street Stone Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Essex Street in London has a rich and storied history dating back to the late 17th century. The street was laid out in 1675 by Nicholas Barbon in the grounds of Essex House, a grand mansion that once stood in the area. From its inception, Essex Street became a hub for the legal profession, with many prominent lawyers and judges choosing to reside here over the centuries.

Among the notable legal figures who called Essex Street home were Sir Orlando Bridgeman, who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in the 1660s, and Brass Crosby, the Lord Mayor of London in the late 18th century. The street also boasts a literary connection, as the renowned novelist Henry Fielding, author of “Tom Jones,” lived here in the mid-1700s.

Essex Street’s fascinating history extends beyond the realm of law and literature. In 1750, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, stayed at a house on the street during a visit to London. The street also played a role in religious history, as the Unitarian minister Rev Theophilus Lindsey founded Essex Street Chapel here in 1774. And in 1783, the legendary wit and writer Dr. Samuel Johnson established an evening club at the Essex Head, a local tavern.

Today, Essex Street remains an integral part of London’s legal district, with many chambers and offices still lining the street. The blue plaque commemorating the street’s illustrious past serves as a reminder of the many notable figures who have walked these pavements and called this corner of Westminster home over the centuries.