City Mulberry Trail: from Bank to Blackfriars

Event Information

This walk traces various slices of London history through its mulberry trees. We start at the Bank of England, where four Black mulberry trees (hidden from view in an inner courtyard) serve as a reminder that the inner bark of mulberry trees (Paper mulberry and White mulberry) was pulped to make the first paper money in 7th century China. Our guide, Peter Coles, visited the governor, Andrew Bailey and was able to see the trees, growing above the Bank’s vault – stacked with gold bullion.

A short walk away, in the front garden of Drapers’ Hall, two Black mulberries lean over the railings of the garden (one planted by the King in the 1970s, then Prince of Wales). Drapers’ Hall is built on the site of the 14th century Austin Friars monastery, requisitioned by Henry VIII's Chief Minister, Thomas Cromwell, for his home. The grounds once extended north towards the Roman city wall and contained a fine veteran mulberry tree until the 1930s.

Next stop is Girdler’s Hall, where a tall Black mulberry can be seen just inside the railings. Once again, a much older mulberry used to grow in the Hall’s gardens. Skirting the site of the Roman amphitheatre under the Guildhall – and Londinium’s first century Basilica (recently uncovered) – we learn that mineralised mulberry pips from Roman times were found near here. We walk on to reconnect with mulberries and Romans at an impressive stretch of Roman wall (and Saxon London), near the Barbican, where we find both a black and a white mulberry tree.

The walk then passes through hidden Postman’s Park - with its Black Poplar and Handkerchief (Davidia involucrata) trees – onto St Paul’s churchyard and its Weeping White Mulberry. We then wind through 17th / 18th century backstreets to Blackfriars, where the beautiful Art Nouveau Blackfriar pub beckons the thirsty (on the site of a 13th century Dominican priory). Thameslink and District/Circle line underground stations are a few yards away.

Contributors

Morus Londinium / Conservation Foundation

Non-profit project hosted by the Conservation Foundation to document, preserve and raise awareness of UK mulberry tree heritage.

www.moruslondinium.org

@LMulberries

Peter Coles

Peter Coles is a freelance writer, translator (French to English), editor and photographer. He is Visiting Tutor at the Centre for Urban and Community Research, Goldsmiths, University of London, where he contributes to the Photography and Urban Cultures MA programme.  Mulberry, Peter’s latest book, is published by Reaktion Books (November 2019).

In 2016 Peter collaborated with the Conservation Foundation to set up  Morus Londinium, a project to document, preserve and raise awareness of London’s mulberry tree heritage. Hosted by  the Conservation Foundation, the project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Morus Londinium is winner of a European Heritage / Europa Nostra Heritage Award 2021. Visit the website to find Peter’s many blog articles revealing London’s heritage through its veteran mulberry trees. 

In 2018 Peter helped to set up the first Urban Tree Festival.  He is a member of the festival’s Steering Group and a regular contributor, giving talks and leading walks.

Location of event

Location: BBank Tube Station, opposite Bank of England on Threadneedle St, London EC3V 3LA

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Ends: Near to Blackfriars Tube and Thameslink stations.