Blue Umbrella Walks
In Search of Dick: The London of Sir Richard Whittington
Many of us know the pantomime story of the poor boy Dick Whittington who travelled to London to seek his fortune on streets paved with gold and accompanied by a cat. What though of the real Sir Richard Whittington? This walk will take you through the City of London and show you the man behind the myths.
Our walk starts at Blackfriars Station and introduces you to the monastery that used to stand on the site, before travelling up to one of the world's best known courts and finding out what it was used for in Whittington's time and how his money helped to improve conditions for those working there. We'll then continue onto the church that provides the bells that so famously called Whittington back to London.
We'll pass the Guildhall and hear about Whittington's time as Lord Mayor of London and see where more of his money went on philanthropic endeavors.
We'll hear about the investigation into the missing water before eventually finishing our tour at the place where Whittington lies buried.