Who were the Crutched Friars?

_{1 mins to read | January 21st, 2026}

In the Eastern cluster of the city behind Fenchurch St station in a street called Crutched Friars. It is possibly one of the strangest street names in the city.

But who were these Friars?

They were Roman Catholic monks from the Order of the Holy Cross who arrived from Europe in 1249 and founded their friary here.

They didn't use crutches as name suggests but carried a cross on the end of a staff. Also known as the 'Crossed Friars'.

Sadly they didn't survive dissolution of monasteries under King Henry VIII and were dissolved in 1549 but their name lives on in this street and there's even a pub named after them.

If you want to find out more about the history of the City, please join us on a walking tour at London City Mouse tours.