The House By the Thames

This book tells the story of 49 Bankside, an elegant 18th-century house on the South Bank of the River Thames opposite St Paul's Cathedral.

Over almost 450 years, the house has witnessed the transformation of its surroundings from marshy lanes to a bustling urban area, including events like the Great Fire of London.

Gillian Tindall brings to life the diverse inhabitants of the house—from prosperous traders and coal merchants to an early film star and London's poor—making their stories emblematic of the broader social and historical changes in London.

The narrative richly details the house's context, including its proximity to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern, and explores the cultural and economic shifts of the Bankside area.