Winchester Palace

You might well pass by these ruins in Clink Street without a second glance, in which case you would miss an interesting part of London's interweaved history. The palace dates back to the 12th Century, back then bishops had to have a seat in London to keep track of the political trends of the time. The Bishop of Winchester set up shop here, and owned a lot of the land hereabouts. South London increased in importance in the 16th century when entertainment and prostitutes were banned from the City of London. The good bishop licensed the prostitutes on his turf, and they gained the name of "Winchester Geese" as a result. The Crossbones Cemetery where many prostitutes were buried is close by.