About

Hi, I’m Mark and welcome to my blog charting the notorious history of one of the most fascinating parts of London: Borough and Bankside.

Today this district on the south side of the Thames, across the water from the City of London, boasts popular tourist attractions, plush apartments, modern offices and luxury shopping. But for many centuries it had a less than favourable reputation as a rowdy pleasure quarter and the home of polluting industry. Outside the City walls and control of the authorities, this district was looked down upon by many and was considered on the Wrong Side of the River.

In recent decades the area has been transformed through re-development, but glimmers of its less than glamorous past are still there to be discovered if you know where to look. Through this blog I’ll show you the hidden and forgotten history of an area, stretching along the southern bank of the Thames from Tower Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge, by exploring its churches, markets, museums, places of entertainment, pubs and other sites.

I hope you enjoy the blog!