Little Britain, London

Little Britain is a street in the City of London running from St. Martin's Le Grand in the east to West Smithfield in the west. It forms the northern boundary of St Bartholomew's Hospital and is situated in the Aldersgate and Farringdon Within wards. Postman's Park is also bounded by Little Britain.Historically, Little Britain referred to a small district in the City just north of London Wall, including this street. It is mentioned in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations as the location of Jaggers' office. It is also mentioned in Waverley by Sir Walter Scott in connection with the publication of a manuscript. It is not correct, as often said, that the name comes from a medieval Breton enclave, or a possession of the Dukes of Brittany.Washington Irving described this district in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., published in 1820. The opening paragraph reads:Booksellers dominated the street from the mid-16th century, followed by goldsmiths and clothing trades from the mid-18th to the 20th centuries.