Myddelton Passage: Victorian Police Graffiti Hidden in the Wall
Clerkenwell / New River Head · Clerkenwell → Angel → Rosebery Avenue → Great Ormond Street → Holborn · Street detail / police history / inscriptions
Story
Along a seemingly ordinary stretch of Myddelton Passage, numbers, letters, initials, and names have been carefully scratched into the stone. These are not recent graffiti. The accepted interpretation links many of them to nineteenth-century Metropolitan Police officers: several combine a collar number with a divisional letter, with the letter “G” appearing repeatedly, corresponding to the former G Division. The markings seem to have accumulated over decades, from the nineteenth century into the First World War period. At that time, Myddelton Passage had a far rougher reputation than it does today and appears in contemporary court reports, making a regular police presence in the area entirely plausible. It is not known who started this habit or precisely why this wall became their chosen spot for these unofficial inscriptions, but the place serves as an informal urban archive. To fully appreciate this detail, close looking is required. Do not expect a large interpretation panel; instead, move slowly along the wall and compare the various incisions. These marks are a silent testimony left by the people who patrolled these streets more than a century ago.
What to look for
Look for incisions in the stone, particularly numbers followed by letters (with "G" being the most common), as well as initials and names hand-carved directly into the wall.
Secret detail
The engraved numbers are interpreted as police collar numbers, effectively turning this wall into an informal and spontaneous log of the officers who patrolled this area.
Where exactly
On the south-side wall of Myddelton Passage. The inscriptions are roughly 40 metres west from Arlington Way.
Orientation
Walk west from Arlington Way and inspect the south wall around eye level; the marks are small and raking light often helps them to stand out.
Why it matters
This wall offers a unique glimpse into London's social history, revealing how 19th-century Metropolitan Police officers left their mark, connecting the present with the daily lives of those who maintained order in Clerkenwell's streets.
Access & opening
Public street; visibility can be affected by parked items, works or vegetation.
Free exterior detail.
Visible anytime
Accessibility
Public pavement; surfaces should be checked for step-free routing.