Hand and Shears

The Hand and Shears is a Grade II listed public house at 1 Middle Street, Smithfield, London.[1]

The Hand and Shears

It is on the Campaign for Real Ale's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.[2]

It was built in the early-mid 19th century.[1]

It was named after the former Bartholomew Fair, held at Smithfield for centuries, at which the Lord Mayor of London would come and cut a piece of cloth with a pair of shears to announce that the fair had begun.[3]

References

1. Historic England. "Hand and Shears public house (1193734)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
2. Brandwood, Geoff (2013). Britain's best real heritage pubs. St. Albans: CAMRA. p. 76. ISBN 9781852493042.
3. Rennison, Nick (2006). The Book of Lists - London. Edinburgh: Canongate. p. 10. ISBN 9781841959344.