A Topographical and Statistical description of the County of Middlesex, etc (1810) by George Alexander Cooke
Cheapside
We now enter the rich and busy street ,called Cheapside ,which received this name originally from the splendour and multitude of its shops , "Chepe " signifying a market. This street was, in the year 1246 , an open field denominated from an inn at its east end, The Crown Field ,at which period and for 200 years after it none of the street of London ,excepting Thames Street and the space from Ludgate-hill to Charing Cross were paved. The view of Cheapside previous to its destruction by the great fire, represents it as spacious and beautiful.
Gracechurch Street
Fish Hill Street leads into Gracechurch Street, upon the right side of which , near the corner of Fenchurch Street, stands the parish Church of St Benedict, which having suffered in the fire of 1666, was rebuilt in the year 1685…Gracechurch Street was originally, as Stow informs us, a grass market ; it appears however to have been the place of sale for various other articles.
Use the "Show me" link to locate Gracechurch Street on the map. You may need to scroll down to see Gracechurch Street highlighted.
Chapter 8 