London’s Alleys: Alderman Stairs, Wapping, E1

Tucked away just east of the Tower of London, a narrow alley slips quietly between buildings and down towards the Thames. Today it’s easy to miss, but Alderman Stairs has been guiding people to and from the river for centuries.The story of this corner of London runs deep. The roots of settlement here stretch back to the 10th century, when King Edgar granted 13 acres of riverside land to 13 knights (yes, an acre per knight), with permission to use it for trading along the river. By 1125, th