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The Association of British Counties

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British Place Names

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Shoreditch, Middlesex

Shoreditch is a metropolitan district and an ancient parish in Middlesex, forming part of the East End of London. The village developed around the junction of the Roman road Ermine Street (known here as Shoreditch High Street) and the ancient routeway Old Street-Hackney Street. Augustine nuns founded Holywell Priory in the 12th century. It was dissolved in 1539 and its ruins built over. The current St Leonard's Church (known for its inclusion in the nursery rhyme 'Oranges and Lemons') dates from 1740 but there has been a church on the site since mediæval times, possibly from Saxon times. Shoreditch was an important centre of the Elizabethan Theatre, being the location of The Theatre (1576-1598), where several of Shakespeare's plays were first performed, and The Curtain (1577-1624). Shoreditch had become a suburb contiguous with London by the 17th century. From 1900-1965, for local government purposes, the ancient parish formed the basis of Shoreditch metropolitan borough. The district is within the council area of Hackney.

Place Type: Town
Historic County: Middlesex
Lat, Long: 51.527155,-0.079257
Grid Reference: TQ 3334 8266
Council Area: Hackney CA
Strategic Authority Area: Greater London SA
Police Area: Metropolitan PA

GBPN ID: 40268
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Shoreditch,_Middlesex_40268

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