London - Southwark

Start at South end of Southwark Bridge

On the eastern side of the road is the Georgian frontage that is Anchor Terrace. This was the main offices of Barclay, Perkins & Co. Ltd. The brewery was directly behind.

Use the steps to descend to Park Street.

The Rose and the Globe.

Watch out for the signs.

Brew Wharf Market Brewery Courage & Co. Ltd Sarson's Vinegar Brewery Hop Exchange Hop Factors The George

This is a walking tour of Southwark - A place of brothels and bear baiting

Start on the West Side and the centre of Southwark Bridge. Looking west you can view the Globe Theatre. However, this is the more recent recreation and not even on the site of Shakespeare's Globe. That lies on our walk.

Proceed on the same side until you are facing Anchor Terrace. These are the substantial remains of Barclay, Perkins (Thrales). Cross the road and descend to the lower level which is Park Street. Head eastward and almost immediately is an open space which shows you the ground layout of the Globe. As you can see Anchor Terrace is built over part of the area previously occupied by the Globe. As the Terrace is a listed Georgian building, they cannot demolish it and so expose the rest of the remains of the Globe - what a dilemma!

As you may already know, the Globe burnt to the ground in 1613 when a canon used during a performance of Henry VIII set light to the thatched roof and wooden supports of the building. However, it was famously partly extinguished by a patron with a bottle of beer he was carrying. Once again beer changes the course of history.

There is an urban myth that says the main method of collecting the entrance fees in these places was for a number of boxes to be passed around the audience just before the performance. These were collected together for counting in a central room, forever known as "The Box Office". However, there is no imperial proof but a nice story nonetheless.

The remains of the Rose Theatre, another Elizabethan theatre and a great rival of the Globe, is just next door. Well underneath the building on the other side of the bridge underpass. Access for viewing is available.

All around the area are plaques detailing the history of the Anchor Brewery and its owners. Take time to walk around them all. However, nothing remains of the brewery. Return to Park Street and head east towards Clink Street along the river frontage. Passing the Anchor Bankside.

This old pub has been here for hundreds of years, having been rebuilt twice after fires, once in 1750 and again in 1876. Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of London from one of those earlier versions of the Anchor. It was known as one of the great "stews" of Southwark.

It was always a local for the actors of the Globe and the Rose and the operators of the local bear baiting gardens. And one can assume the actors of the more modern Globe, once the tourists have gone home!

It was also the local for the Thrales when they owned the brewery and of course their great friend Samuel Johnson, who also had rooms at the Anchor Brewery where he did much of his work on the Great Dictionary.

The Anchor also boasts actors David Garrick and writer Oliver Goldsmith amongst its patrons.

Over in North London, Curtain Road, actor manager James Burbage was in charge of The Theatre, a very early playhouse. In 1598, he dismantled the building and transported it to Southwark. Parts of the building were then used to build The Globe in 1599. Expanding the successful business venue to house nearly 3,000 patrons.

Incidentally, Clink Street used to house one of the areas most notorious prisons and has given us the generic term Clink to mean prison.

Explain the route to Market Porter brewery, Brew Wharf.

Exit Borough Market into Southwark Street.

Hop Exchange building, ask and you may be granted permission to view the inside.

View terracotta frontage to Hop house - what is the inside of the pub.

Cross Borough High Street to the George.

The George is famous as being the sole remnant of the great galleried coaching inns of London.

On one side is White Hart Yard mentioned by Shakespeare in Henry VI and where the Pickwickenians met Sam Weller.

The other side is Tabard Yard, where Chaucer's famous pilgrims gathered before their trek to Canterbury.

Its age is proven by it appearing in John Stow's survey of London in 1598.

It is said, unproven, that a young Shakespeare performed from the back of a cart in the yard.

This particular building dates from 1676 after being rebuilt following a fire.

It is also mentioned by Dickens in Little Dorrit.

Sadly it was partially demolished in 1889 by the Great Northern Railway when they expanded their goods depot.

Even though the current St Thomas' Hospital is over adjacent to Westminster Bridge, there was an earlier one here which would have been known to Shakespeare. Certainly Southwark Cathedral was known by him.

Walk down Tooley Street, to Shand Street to see White thing and Sarson's Brewery. Sadly this is a restored brewery but never brewed beer.

Return to Tower Bridge Road and cross to the east side following the signs for the Engine House. Descend the stair case to Shad Thames to view the remains of Courage's Anchor Brewery. Now a set of luxury apartments with unparalleled views of Tower Bridge. There is a plaque on the wall detailing the brew house history.

The whole of this area was part of the brewery and its stores.

The walk ends here but there is much to see and do in this area known as Butlers Wharf, including a spectacular view of Tower Bridge.