67 Hopton Street – an island of antiquity in a sea of modernity

Everyone knows I like to explore all the nooks and crannies in London and find the less well known places and remnants of times past.

One such old place is hidden away behind the Southbank and despite almost the whole area being bombed out in the 1940s and since reconstructed, sometimes several times, 67 Hopton Street is an authentic old building as you could ever hope to find.

It was built sometime between 1699-1702 by James Price and thoroughly dwarfed by 21st century developments but it is safe for future generations as both the house itself and even the railings outside are both grade ii listed which in effect means they can’t be damaged or modified in any way.

The road used to be called Green Walk and then Holland Street after the famous 17th century brothel, ‘Holland’s Leaguer’ that used to be here which more than deserves a blog post of its own!

Now the street is known as Hopton Street which takes its name from another historical survivor just down the road, the Almshouses built in 1749 for the poor.

Quite how this house is still here defies belief but for those who go off exploring, it is well worth the effort of finding. It’s also still lived in which is just marvellous and they have a lovely little front garden which I won’t show out of courtesy to the owners.

It’s one of the places we visit on our Lambeth Walk Tour. I don’t know about you but I’d much rather live in this old and maybe cramped house than a modern soulless flat or apartment.