What a treasure this little alley is. In thre middle of theatre land, linking Charing Cross and St Martin's Lane. Antiquarian Book Store, original cartoons, rare maps, so much to keep you browsing for hours.Cecil Court was laid out in the 17th century, named after Robert Cecil the first earl of Sailsbury a spymaster, a scretary of state for Elizabeth I and James I.
A very small street but packed with history, it was the address of W.A. Mozart and his family. Other long term residents include T.S. Eliot and actors Ellen Terry and John Gielgud.
Films, books, politics, Cecil Court has played an important role in them all.
The street is still owned by the Cecil family, and the buildings you see now date from the 1894 improvements.
14 comments:
I have always loved Cecil Court. Thank goodness it wasn't redeveloped, as they once threatened to do.
Mozart and T.S Eliot, would have been fun neighbors to have.
Great post. I agree with Steffe.
I had no idea a family could own a street. Love that it retains it's character!
I went through Cecil Court on my last visit to London, and just loved it. You don't see streets like this in New York, not even downtown really.
A litte road tucked away that I will have to look for on my next trip.
Love this post. The history lesson is awesome! I didn't know TS Eliot and WA Mozart lived there... . excellent little area!
Good grief - this is living history. Love those names, too - Charing Cross, St. Martin's Lane, the Antiquarian Book Store...
Is this the lane with the cheese mongers where the staff all wear straw boaters, etc.? I may be confusing it with another pedestrian street.
Watkins bookshop? My maiden name, going back to my NZ father's distant roots in Wales.
All packed into one little street. Funny to think that the improvements date back to 1894. The Cecil family must be heavily branched by ere now.
Sounds like my kind of place!
Wow, Mozart, Eliot, Gielgud!! What a street! I wonder if I walked down there during my travels last weekend...
I was told on a "London Walk" that Cecil Court has retained its gas-illuminated street lamps. Plus the first British use of Identikit solved a murder on this street: http://www.historybytheyard.co.uk/identikit.htm
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