Marking 600 years since Dick Whittington left his fortune to the City of London
The City of London’s Leadenhall Market will be paying tribute to a significant person in its history throughout May, with plans to celebrate four-time Lord Mayor of London, Sir Richard “Dick” Whittington (1356–1423).
Having left his fortune to the City of London when he died 600 years ago, Leadenhall Market will mark the anniversary with a series of limited-edition guided walks and a story-telling painted display on one of the shopfronts revealing the myths and reality behind the 15th century ‘hero’ of London; a great philanthropist who later became immortalised as a pantomime figure and folktale character – along with his cat.
To find out more about Whittington and his role in the history of the City, the Leadenhall Market: Turn Again Whittington, Lord Mayor of London! City of London guided walks, created to mark the 600th anniversary, will take place every Wednesday throughout May from 6.30-8pm. Places must be booked in advance here and cost £7 plus a booking fee.
Dick Whittington is a central figure in the market’s history and contributed to making it what it is today. Originally, in the 1300s, the market building was a lead-roofed manor house owned by Sir Hugh Neville, located at the old centre of Roman London. In 1408, the former Lord Mayor of London, Richard “Dick” Whittington, acquired the leasehold of the building and it quickly became one of the best places in London to buy meat, game, poultry and fish.
In 1411, Whittington acquired the Leadenhall Market site, which he then gifted to the City of London Corporation, who have been running it ever since. Now, more than 600 years on, Leadenhall Market is home to boutique retailers, restaurants, cafes, wine bars and an award-winning pub, The Lamb Tavern. Meanwhile, the legacy of a poor boy who came to London, had a cat which helped him make a fortune in an exotic foreign land, and was four times Lord Mayor of London, lives on. As a wealthy merchant, Richard Whittington was a member and former master of the Mercers’ Company, one of the 110 livery companies in the City of London. His charity – The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington – was created under his will and the Mercers’ Company was entrusted with it on his death. The charity was formed to provide almshouse communities for the elderly, in London and in Surrey; and to provide grants to support people in need.
The Mercers’ Company is still focused on being a philanthropic force for good and is currently holding a Dick Whittington exhibition for schools at Mercers’ Hall.
Read more about Dick Whittington here.