Saint Christopher's Place
Shopping Area
Main inscription reads:
St Christopher’s Place
“From a forgotten backwater to one of London’s loveliest shopping streets”
18th Century – Originally known as Barretts Court after the local owner John Barrett. In the 18th century and
early 19th century the area became a slum, situated off Tyburn Street, now Oxford Street, which lead {sic)
directly to the Tyburn Gallows at Marble Arch. The last public hanging took place in 1783.
19th Century - Redeveloped in the 1870’s for social housing under the patronage of Octavia Hill, joint founder
of the National Trust, the street also included a variety of of historic trades – lampmaking, chandlers,
cheese-mongers, drapers and bookmakers. The Lamb and Flag public house became a favourite haunt for
anarchists.
20th Century – While adjoining Oxford Street became the busiest shopping street in Britain, St Christopher’s
Place declined and by 1967 there were many empty properties. A major modern office redevelopment was
proposed with the buildings being demolished.
It was then that Robin Spiro, a somewhat unconventional property developer, appeared on the scene
believing, against the prevailing trend, that demolition was not the answer and that a period, small scale,
shopping thoroughfare could successfully preserve something of the past in today’s busy world.
And so St Christopher’s Place was transformed into one of London’s loveliest shopping streets.
