Paul's walk, Central nave in Old St Paul's Cathedral, London, England
Paul's Walk was the central nave of Old St Paul's Cathedral, a long corridor running through the interior that accommodated people of all backgrounds. The open space allowed groups to gather and conduct conversations without obstruction.
From the 16th to 17th century, this nave became the primary news hub before the rise of printed newspapers. Its importance grew as merchants, writers, and officials regularly visited to stay informed about current events and business matters.
The space took its name from St. Paul, the patron saint of the cathedral. During the day, the nave served as a gathering place where people from different walks of life came together to interact and share information.
This location was centrally situated and easily accessible to people traveling from different parts of London. Expect it to be crowded during daytime hours, especially when merchants and traders were conducting their business.
The correspondent John Chamberlain visited this place daily to gather news, which he then relayed in letters to contacts across England. His detailed writings today serve as a valuable record of how people exchanged information during that era.
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