Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bishops from 1106 to 1626 lived here as wealthy, worldly rulers of the Bankside area,
outside the jurisdiction of The City. They profited from activities illegal across the river,
such as prostitution and gambling. They were a law unto themselves, with their own courts
and prisons. One famous prison—the Clink—built by the bishops remained, even after its
creators were ousted by a Puritan Parliament.
Fifty yards farther west (along what is now called Clink Street) is...
The Clink Prison Museum
The prison—now an overpriced and disappointing museum—gave us our expression
“thrown in the Clink” from the sound of prisoners' chains. It burned down in 1780, but the
underground cells remain, featuring historical information on wall plaques, many torture
devices, and a generally creepy, claustrophobic atmosphere.
 
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