Samuel Pepys in the City: London #45

'SITE OF THE

NAVY OFFICE

IN WHICH

SAMUEL PEPYS

LIVED AND WORKED

DESTROYED BY FIRE

1673'

 

The above plaque is at the west side of Pepys Street near Seething Lane.

 

'SAMUEL PEPYS

DIARIST

1663–1703

ERECTED BY

THE SAMUEL PEPYS CLUB

AND PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION

1983'

 

Pepys's bust is in Seething Lane Gardens. Pepys and Sir William Penn are said to have buried their wine and parmesan cheese in the Navy Office gardens to protect them from the fire of London in 1666. The horns are unintentional.

 

The Hung Drawn & Quartered pub in Great Tower Street is named after Pepys's famous black-humoured remark shown on the wall:

 

'"I went to see

Major General Harrison

Hung Drawn and Quartered.

He was looking as cheerful

as any man could

in that condition."

 

Samuel Pepys

13th October 1660'

 

Thomas Harrison was one of the signatories of King Charles I's death warrant and a leader of the Fifth Monarchists. Harrison was executed at Charing Cross.