One of three of the last remaining timber frame buildings surviving from before the fire of London is the pub know as the Hoop and Grape. After the fire, wooden buildings were forbidden in the City.

At the time of the fire it was a private house and later became a wine shop, and was converted into a pub about 150 years ago. It is the oldest licensed house in the City, built in 1593 and originally called The Castle, then the Angel & Crown, then Christopher Hills, finally becoming the Hoop & Grapes - referring to the sale of both beer and wine.

At first you'll notice the appealingly crooked Tudor frontage with sash windows fitted in the seventeen twenties at eccentric angles.

In the cellar is an old iron hook, held back by a lead catch. The Aldgate pump was not far from here and the water table is high, so it was probably used to fetch water. Especially as the is a sealed metal plate on the floor below.

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Upstairs, there is a listening tube, centuries old yet covered over when a speaker system was fitted recently. This tube enabled whoever was in the cellar to hear what was spoken in the bar and vice versa.

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There is also a blocked up cellar entrance which is said to lead to the Tower of London.

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Coordinates: 51°30'51.48"N 0°04'26.88"W