A Stiff Collar's The Clue

Picadilly - named after a 'stiff collar' or 'Picadil'.

Location: Piccadilly, SW1

Description: London's traditions are far and wide and it's history is the envy of the world. And so to Piccadilly - why - well it's name comes from days gone by.

In fact the area was named after a 'stiff collar', or as they were known and worn by Elizabethan dandies, 'picadils'.

A tailor called Robert Blake made a fortune selling them from his shop in the strand. With all his hard-earned cash, he went into build a large 'country' house just north of Piccadilly Circus in about 1612 - locals christened the house 'Piccadilly Hall' - and the name stuck

Themes: Historical Historical Theme