Thomas More's London

• All Hallows Church: More regularly made pilgrimages, always on foot, in and around London. He visited the famous Marian shrine at this church, which was near the Tower.
  
• The Barge: More's first home, where all his children were born, was called "The Barge." This was in an attractive part of London, on Bucklersbury Street, and was aromatic because of the many spice dealers in the area.
  
• Blackfriars: When Parliament met here in 1523, More served as Speaker of the House of Commons. In his opening address, More argued for freedom of speech-the first such appeal ever recorded.
  
• Charterhouse: While studying law, More attached himself to this strict Carthusian monastery to receive spiritual formation. It was Henry II who originally invited the Carthusians to come into England-as part of his reparation for the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170.
  
• Crosby Hall: More bought the lease of this magnificent home in 1523 (Richard III had been a previous resident), but shortly afterwards sold it to his good friend Antonio Bonvisi. In 1910 the great hall of this estate was moved to Chelsea.
  
• Furnivall's Inn: More taught law at this school from 1503 to 1506.
  
• Guildhall: More served as undersheriff and handled a great deal of city business in this grand municipal center.
  
• Lincoln's Inn: Both Thomas and his father studied law at this inn of court and remained active there throughout their careers. Lincoln's Inn was considered the best law school in England.
  
• London Bridge: Both Thomas and his father served on commisions charged with the maintenance of London Bridge.The head of Thomas More was displayed here just after his execution.
  
• Milk Street: More's birth place. Milk Street was a prosperous residential area off the busy commercial district of the city. Sir John More lived here for most of his life; the exact location of his home is no longer known.
  
• Old Swan's Wharf: After his trial at Westminster on July 1, 1535, More landed at this wharf and then walked along lower Thames Street to the Tower.
  
• St. Anthony School: The school More attended as a child. Just north of Threadneedle Street, St. Anthony's was among the best grammar schools in London.
  
• St Lawrence Jewry, Church of: This was the Mores' parish church, where young Thomas lectured on Augustine's City of God.
  
• St. Paul's Cathedral: More's good friend and spiritual advisor Fr. John Colet was rector of this church.
  
• St. Stephen's, Walbrook: While More lived at The Barge, this was his parish church. It was here that he buried Jane, that he married Alice, and that Margaret married William Roper.
  
• The Tower: More was imprisoned in the Bell Tower of this fortress for more than a year before his public execution on Tower Hill. His body is buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula.
  
• Tower Wharf: Margaret's last meeting with her father occurred at this spot.
  

The maps on this webpage are copyrighted and are taken from Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage, 1995, Scepter Press, P.O. Box 1270, Princeton, N.J., 08542-1270