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White Lion Street
Norton Folgate. (E1) The old Priory of St. Mary Spital, founded in 1197, appears to have stood on or near the site of this street. Close by, at the corner of Spital Square, stood the famous Spital pulpit or cross, where for nearly three centuries sermons were preached three times during Easter, in the open air. On these occasions the Lord Mayor and Aldermen never failed to attend in their robes of state. On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth visiting Spital Cross in 1559, her guard consisted of a thousand men in complete armour, who marched to the sound of drum and trumpet, her progress being enlivened by the grotesque antics of morris-dancers, while in a cart were two white bears. (Reference: Jesse's London, vol. II, p. 421)
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