Step into the whimsical world of The Crooked House of Windsor! Also known as the Market Cross House, an architectural marvel and the oldest teahouse in England. This charming house boasts a fascinating history intertwined with legal controversies, royal mistresses, and even whispers of a hidden passage leading to Windsor Castle.
Dating back to 1592, this enchanting abode, originally known as 'Market Cross House,' was nestled on the edge of Windsor's bustling market square, near Windsor Castle. But its tale truly took a twist in 1687 when the council, in a bid to make space for the neighboring Guildhall, ordered its demolition. What followed was a riveting saga of seventeenth-century legal wrangling, with the council ultimately instructed to rebuild Market Cross House exactly as it stood.
Yet, in a rush to move past the debacle, the council opted for a speedy and economical reconstruction, giving rise to the infamous lean that characterizes The Crooked House today. Crafted from unseasoned green oak which was the cheapest possible wood the council could find, the structure's wood dried and contorted over time, resulting in its charmingly skewed appearance.
Throughout its storied existence, The Crooked House has worn many hats - from a butcher's shop to a brewery, an antique emporium to a cherished tea house. Today, it stands as the London outpost of the esteemed jewellery retailer, Jersey Pearl, continuing its legacy as a beacon of intrigue and charm.
But what truly sets this quirky residence apart is its basement lore. Legend has it that a clandestine passage once connected it to Windsor Castle, whispered to have been frequented by none other than Charles II himself, in pursuit of clandestine trysts with his beloved mistress, Nell Gwynn. While skeptics posit it was merely a route for market goods, the romantic in us prefers to believe in the allure of forbidden love.
To the Harry Potter fans, the building can remind of the shops on display at Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films which are also old and crooked. The secret passage story adds to it, reminding of the secret passageway that can take people from Hogwarts to the nearby village of Hogsmeade.
So next time you wander through Windsor's historic streets, be sure to pay homage to The Crooked House, where every lean tells a tale, and every corner holds a secret waiting to be discovered.
Photo: DeFacto (licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)
