What Makes ‘Dicks’ so Dirty?
Usually getting a giggle from passersby, Dirty Dicks on Bishopsgate dates back to 1745 when it opened as ‘The Old Jerusalem’ pub.
But the name today comes from a local resident that has to be one of the most eccentric historic Londoners.
Nathaniel Bentley (or some say Richard Bentley) was a local dandy and businessman who owned a hardware shop in Leadenhall Street around the 1750s.
He was hit by tragedy when his bride-to-be died on their wedding day and the resulting legend goes that from that day on, he resolved never to wash;
“It’s of no use, if I wash my hands today, they will be dirty again tomorrow”
Nathaniel (or Richard) festered in his own filth until 1809, sitting amongst the table laid out for his wedding feast and only changing his clothes when they rotted off him.
It became something of a tourist attraction and the canny local pub changed their name to Dirty Dicks in 1814, when they adopted some of the paraphernalia.
These dead, mummified cats used to hang behind the popular ‘Dustbin Bar’ at Dirty Dicks.
Image from spitalfieldslife.com
Before you vow to never visit, the pub was rebuilt in the 1870s. However, there are still some artefacts in a glass case – near the toilets, naturally.
To discover more bizarre stories and colourful characters of this area, you can join my Spirit of Spitalfields walking tour. Find out more here.
More London Inspiration
28 Nov Burney Street Benches
Some unusual-looking benches on Burney Street in Greenwich lead to the history of an interesting charity......
This charming Spitalfields warehouse has a fascinating history, here's the story of Tenter Ground from industrial site to gallery......
If you’ve walked along the Strand recently, there’s been a wonderful improvement. The surrounding area of St Mary Le Strand has been pedestrianised and this 300 year-old church can be fully appreciated. I was recently invited to have a look inside (and go behind-the-scenes!) of......
17 Oct Inside 4 Princelet Street
It’s one of the most captivating (and photographed) facades in Spitalfields, but what lies behind 4 Princelet Street? I got a chance to look inside this 18th century terraced house thanks to a free exhibition of Christo’s ‘Early Works’, hosted by the Gagosian Gallery. (It’s......
Once one of the most magnificent Gothic revival churches in London, the Grade I listed St Michael and All Angels in Shoreditch is now set to become office space. It seems quite the juxtaposition, but there’s a lot more to the story… History of St......
The Young V&A (formerly the Museum of Childhood) in Bethnal Green isn’t just a fabulous museum, its building also has a fascinating history to tell. Travelling back 350 years or so, Bethnal Green was a popular suburb for London’s upper classes. There were some large......
Adrian Butters
Hi
Quite a sad and macabre story about Nat Bentley, and it just shows how far we have come in Britain with social care, etc, to help people in tragic stressful times. Closest story I could think of from the Midlands was the strange case of Topsey Turvey. Topsey Turvey was a wrestler (19th century I believe) and in a rage killed his wife, and tried to kill his step daughter, to keep the crime quiet, but she survived, gave evidence against him, and he was hung. His body was nailed up on a tree or a fence, and left there for many decades as a warning to others. The plaque to this is in Leicestershire, just off the A444, just south down from Twycross village. Strange but true.