MarkKelleher

By MarkKelleher

When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch

St Leonard's church in Shoreditch was designed by George Dance in the Palladian style and completed in 1740. That's a pedimented Tuscan portico on the front.

There's been a church on the site for 900 years.

St Leonards was near 'The Theatre' which was England's first drama playhouse, built in 1576 by James Burbage. His son, Richard Burbage was a leading actor in many of Shakespeare's plays which were first performed in Shoreditch.

St Leonard's is also one of the churches in the old English nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons, which existed verbally for many years before being first printed in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book in 1744.

If you want to hear the whole tune, St Clement Danes in Westminster peals the whole tune from its tower.

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.

You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.

When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.

When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.

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