'Cause in the Liberty of Norton Folgate walking wild and free' (c)

’T was August, and the fierce sun overhead  

Smote on the squalid streets of Bethnal Green,       

And the pale weaver, through his windows seen      

In Spitalfields, looked thrice dispirited.'  

Matthew Arnold.   East London  (1822–1888)

Norton Folgate was a liberty within the metropolitan area of London, England, located between the Bishopsgate ward of the City of London to the south, the parish of St Leonard, Shoreditch to the north and the parish of Spitalfields to the east.

The name is recorded circa 1110 as Nortune and means 'north farmstead'. It is formed from the Old English 'north' and 'tūn', with the affix 'Folgate' perhaps derived from the manorial family name Foliot.  

„Five crispy pancakes in a frying pan, flip them and toss them and catch them if you can” (c)

Since the Middle Ages the Guildhall has been the centre of Government for the City of London. The current building has stood in the geographical centre of the Square Mile since 1411.

This year the City's annual inter-livery Pancake Race saw 21 teams racing around the Guildhall yard at noon on Shrove Tuesday. Event  was organised by the Poulters' Company, who supply the eggs,  with the support of the The Cook & The Butler. The Gunmakers start each heat with a bang, the Clockmakers are responsible for the accuracy of the timing, the Fruiterers provide lemons, the Cutlers plastic forks and the Glovers the white gloves worn by each runner.

Also were teams from the Mansion House,  Guildhall and The Old Bailey.