Little Britain, London
Little Britain is a street in the City of London, England, running from St. Martin's Le Grand in the east to West Smithfield in the west. It is situated in the Aldersgate and Farringdon Within wards. Postman's Park is also bounded by Little Britain.
Historically, Little Britain referred to a small district in the City just north of London Wall, including this street.
Washington Irving described this district in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., published in 1820. The opening paragraph reads:
According to Irving, its name is derived from "having been, in ancient times, the residence of the Dukes of Brittany" but this is disputed. Irving also called it "the stronghold of true John Bullism.. with its antiquated folks and fashions".
History
It is not correct, as often said, that the name comes from a medieval Breton enclave, or a possession of the Dukes of Brittany. It in fact refers to one Robert le Bretoun, who owned houses and tenements here in the 13th century. The street is recorded as Brettonestrete in 1329, as Britten Strete in 1547, and as Lyttell Bretton in 1602.Booksellers dominated the street from the mid-16th century, followed by goldsmiths and clothing trades from the mid-18th to the 20th centuries. The offices of the Daily Courant, the first British daily newspaper, in the 1700s were in Little Britain. Benjamin Franklin lived in Little Britain while working at Palmers printers.
The conversions of John and Charles Wesley in 1738 are recorded as happening at the house of John Bray at number 12.
Cultural references
Little Britain is mentioned in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations as the location of Jaggers' office. It is also mentioned in Waverley by Sir Walter Scott in connection with the publication of a manuscript.Benjamin Franklin mentions in his autobiography that he stayed there on his first visit to London.