For some reason, even though I have only visited the city three of four times, I follow various accounts on Instagram about the history of London. 41-42 Cloth Fair, the 'oldest house' which is still lived in, popped up on one post and I was instantly intrigued. Just my luck that Fiona Rule has written all about the past lives of the property, which was built at the turn of the seventeenth century and has survived civil war, the Great Fire, plague, riots and developers!

The land in Farringdon was bought by the original 'Richie Rich', the most powerful and the most obnoxious of the King's ministers', after the Dissolution . Building on Launders Green, part of the former Augustinian priory, began in 1613 and the first tenant, William Chapman, opened an alehouse on the ground floor called the Eagle and Child. Later, when the Cloth Fair from which the building took its name became Bartholomew Fair, 'an anarchic fusion of today's Glastonbury and Edinburgh Festivals', the business was a draper's shop. The house, which was turned into two houses during the eighteenth century, has also been closely associated with Charles and John Wesley, the founders of Methodism, and finally, after a downturn in the economic, social and architectural status of the area, Cloth Fair became the centre of a campaign to save old London.

Although I did enjoy the comprehensive history of London, from Henry VIII to the Gordon Riots to workhouses and the census, the house is little more than the words running through a stick of rock. I think I wanted to read more about the fabric of the building, such as the original staircase and any other treasures which have survived history. I enjoyed the final chapters, about the 'death of old London' and the architects John Seely and Paul Paget, who made Cloth Fair the heart of their restoration partnership. The number of ancient buildings and streets which were swept away in the name of 'sanitary improvements and commercial redevelopments' - read: money - in the twentieth century is galling to read about!

The book - which is probably best read in print format rather than on Kindle - also includes the directions for a walk around Cloth Fair, illustrations and a note from the present 'owner/caretaker'. Fascinating content for anyone interested in the history of the city, whether you live there or not! ( )