Little Compton Street

This is where the long gone Little Compton Street can be seen.

Location: Charing Cross Road, London

Description: In the middle of Charing Cross Road at its junction with Old Compton Street there's a raised central traffic island with a wide metal grill.

Through the grill beneath your feet you can see the old road signs for the now vanished Little Compton Street, which once joined Old Compton Street with New Compton Street.

On Horwood's map of 1799 the part between Greek Street and Crown Street is called Little Compton Street and is so named in the parish ratebooks from the 1820's.

It's clear the street here was much lower than all the area here today, a pub called the Coach and Horses was stationed at the address of 17 Little Compton Street. The basements of the buildings in the immediate vicinity could well have been ground level generations previous.

Tours: Quirky London

Tours: London 2012

Themes: Subterranean Subterranean Theme