ancestral thoughts

As i walk each morning from Blackfriars through to Ludgate Hill past St Andrews by the Wardrobe (a wonderful name) and i cross Carter Lane, i'm frequently reminded that direct ancestors on my father's side lived here in the 19th century and elsewhere in the City, east end, north and south London. In fact since the mid 18th century my direct ancestors have lived in various parts of London.On occasions i've looked for the specific house numbers they lived in but the overwhelming majority no longer exist not unsurprisingly.I often think this very long association explains my deep passion for London, warts and all. It's as though it has seeped into my bones. I would love to come full circle and live back in the City. One day perhaps.I try to imagine my ancestors lives of scrimping and saving, with a few exceptions they were unskilled labourers, although one brother, in the mid 19th century, of my direct ancestor somehow managed to marry into a family owning wool warehouses in the Minories and left over £50, 000 in the 1850s but none of it came my family's way!My own birth by Waterloo Bridge, i think technically qualifies me as being born within the sounds of Bow Bells!