The Pearly King

The Crypt at St Matin-in-the-fields

If you head to Trafalgar Square whilst on your tours of London, head to the St Martin-in-the-Fields Church adjacent to the square.

In the 18^th century crypt you’ll find a delightful cafè where both Londoners and visitors hang out at all times of the day. Whereas if you take a stroll around the crypt, you’ll come across a statue of a man by the name of Henry Croft.

The Cafè in the crypt

Henry Croft was the first Pearly King of London. You may be asking yourself what the devil is a Pearly anything. Well, it’s a tradition that goes back to 1875 and Henry Croft, who at the time was a very little lad. Henry Croft was an orphan living in a London orphanage who at the age of 13 started to work in London markets to earn a living. That’s where he met the ‘Costermongers’ ( a fairly tough breed of market trader) who were kind, caring and generous with their fellow traders. They distinguished themselves by wearing clothes with sewn on smoke pearl buttons.

Henry Croft was so fascinated by them and their way of helping one another that he took to the cause of using this generosity to try and make some money for the orphanage and those in need. He raised money by getting the attention of passers-by. As he swept the streets, he collected all the pearl buttons he found and sewed them onto the likes of his cap, waistcoat and everywhere until his outfit (the first smother suit) was completely covered in pearl buttons.

Statue of Henry Croft in the crypt

Henry Croft became his own charity, and was very highly demanded in many of London’s hospitals, workhouses and orphanages. He was so much in demand that his fellow Costermonger friends joined him in his cause.

This tradition has carried on right through to this very day, and is a registered charity operating under the London Pearly Kings and Queens society.

Enter the pearlies home page at http://www.pearlysociety.co.uk/index.html 

Visit St. Martin-in-the-fields at http://www.smitf.org/page/cafe2010/cafe.html