FIRE, TOWER & PIRATES Tour

FIRE, TOWER & PIRATES
We begin the tour at Seething Lane, the home of Samuel Pepys who witnessed the Great Fire of
London, and we discuss how the Great Fire created the need for direct and property insurance.
We visit the All Hallows by the Tower Church, the oldest church in the City, and the Tower of London,
and we will walk the Thames path through to Wapping.
En-route we will recount the dark tales of pirates, smugglers, and executions that took place at
Execution Dock, and we will stop briefly at the historic river-side pubs such as The Captain Kidd and
The Town of Ramsgate, whilst taking in the stunning Thames views and the fascinating history of the
area.
THEMES
The main educational themes of the tour are:
1) Insurance - How the Great Fire impacted the insurance industry
2) Commerce – The impact of the River Thames on trade
3) Legal - Crime and punishment of notorious criminals of London’s maritime past
ITINERARY
Icebreaker
Meet at Tower Hill tube for ice breaker and introductions.
Stop One
We take a short walk to Seething Lane which was the location of the Navy Office, the one-time
residence of Samuel Pepys. We briefly discuss the life of Pepys who witnessed the Great Fire and
recorded the event in his famous diary, which today serves as a vital witness account of a pivotal
moment in London’s history.
Stop Two
We cross the road to Tower Place and are greeted by the oldest church in the City of London.
The All Hallows Church by the Tower was established in 675 AD by Erkenwald, Bishop of London 300
years before the Tower of London. We marvel at the treasures held inside this historic church, such
as the original Crows Nest of Ernest Shackleton’s ship, the Quest, which Shackleton sailed during his
third expedition to the Antarctic.
Stop Three
We cross over to take in the view of one of London’s oldest and most iconic landmarks, the Tower of
London.
Built by Norman the Conqueror in 1078, the Tower has witnessed a succession of Kings and Queens
and infamous executions of traitors such as Anne Boleyn who is buried within the Tower grounds.
The Tower also houses the Crown Jewels and is home to its resident ravens and the Yeoman warders
that protect this national treasure.

Stop Four - Lunch
We arrive in St Katharine’s Dock. Built in 1828 to ease congestion on the Thames and named after St
Katharine’s Hospital which stood on the site since the 12th Century. The site now offers a vibrant mix
of residential housing, shops, restaurants, and private boats and yachts.
Whilst at St Katharine’s Dock we will stop for lunch at the Dickens Inn pub once owned by the
Grandson of Charles Dickens.
We will then continue along the Thames path to Wapping.
Stop Five
Wapping has been popularised by the nefarious sailors, dockers and pirates that were known to
frequent the various inns and taverns of the area.
We will stop at Execution Dock which was the place of execution for pirates, smugglers and
mutineers sentenced to death by the Admiralty courts.
Stop Six
We stop at the Town of Ramsgate pub beside the Wapping Old Stairs. There has been a pub on this
site since 1545, and it is enshrined in tales of smuggling and desertion.
Stop Seven
We take a pause at the Captain Kidd pub, nestled on the River Thames and named after the famous
pirate who was executed at nearby Execution Dock.
Whilst here we will learn the fascinating story of Captain Kidd and break here for an optional drink
stop before continuing.
Final stop and Farewell
We take a short walk to The Prospect of Whitby pub.
We will stop here for a final farewell drink whilst we explore the fascinating history of this beautiful
Grade II listed pub.
This site has housed a pub in different forms since the reign of Henry VIII and has seen an array of
colourful characters fill its rooms ever since.
CLOSE
Tour departs.
Guests can take a bus from Wapping High Street to Liverpool Street Station to return to Paddington.