How are you fellas?

Another spin of the wheel takes my TARDIS back in time to Easter 2014 and just a short walk away from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is Clink Street, Southwark –  filming location for the Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977). This episode is set in Victorian London when bodies are found in the Thames and terrorising the innocent are criminal gangs. The Fourth Doctor makes like Sherlock Holmes to solve the mystery, along with Leela, and prevent the talons of Weng-Chiang from shredding the human race! Dun,dun,duuuuunn! This episode is my Dad’s favourite and that of many others I expect.

I walked down Clink Street when I was travelling between the Tate Modern and the Golden Hinde, which is a replica of the real ship that Sir Francis Drake used to circumnavigate the globe during the 16th Century. He was a good friend and bowls companion of the Doctor and featured in the episode Four to Doomsday (1982) .

For a small street, it is very popular as I almost got squished when I was there. It was crammed full of tourists because it is full of history.When I was there it was daytime but the Doctor was there at night time when it was dark and misty and he was busy fighting the Tong – I’m glad I wasn’t there when the Doctor was because I would not like to meet the Tong!

Winchester Palace was on this site from the 12th to 18th Century and was home to the Bishops of Winchester. It was burnt down in 1814 but you are still able to see some of the walls and the window. I wonder if Shakespeare ever visited?

Have you ever heard the expression ‘to be thrown in The Clink’ when someone has been naughty? Well that expression is named after The Clink Prison which was on this street and was the first men’s, and possibly women’s prison, in England. It dates back to the 12th Century and was owned by the Bishops of Winchester and  was built in the grounds of the palace. The name ‘Clink’ probably comes from the sound of clinking chains or cuffs. It was a very gruesome place to be and was burnt down in a riot after the American War of Independence, and all the prisoners escaped. There is the Clink Prison Museum in it’s place now where you can go to get scared and learn more about The Clink.

This street has also been used as a filming location for Oliver Twist, Bridget Jones’ Diary and An American Werewolf in London. I’m not lying; you should go and see for yourself!

Alright fellas time to escape from prison (in other words – Bye, see you next week!).