Portrait, oil on panel, of Sir Rowland Hill, wearing the Lord Mayor's chain of office

Businessmen

‘At the foot of the city wall flows the Thames and merchandise from every country that Christian merchants do business with arrives on this river. The men in London are particularly resourceful.’
(Thomas of Britain, about 1170)

Medieval London was famous for its commerce. As they still do today, many people came here to seek their fortunes. Some were so successful that their names have passed into legend.

To find out more about the London’s medieval businessmen, click on the names below.

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