Crook Street





Crook Street was once Gerrards Lane, which ran from Watergate Street to Parson's Lane (now Hunter Street). It now ends at Hamilton Place.

The south end is a very narrow stretch closed at both ends of that section by bollards. The house on the corner with Watergate Street has a "false" window painted over a bricked up window on an upper floor, just above the enclosed row. To avoid the window tax some houses from the period can be seen to have bricked-up window-spaces (ready to be glazed or reglazed at a later date). In England and Wales it was introduced in 1696 and was repealed in 1851. City Records (AF/49f/6) show that the Row was enclosed in 1713 on the application of Robert Bavand, a "Doctor of Physick", on payment of a fine of £2 10s.