Dick Whittington: Truth or Legend?

Dick Whittington and His Cat, from "Peeps into the Past," Published circa 1900 Giclee Print
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This is the legend of Dick Whittington and his cat.

Once upon a time, there was a poor country boy, Dick Whittington, who came to London with his cat seeking his fortune. When he reached Highgate Hill, he lost heart and turned to go back home. Then he heard the bells of London ringing out saying "Turn again, Dick Whittington, three times Lord Mayor of London."

The traditional rhyme recited by generations of children is:

Turn again, Whittington,
Once Mayor of London!
Turn again, Whittington,
Twice Mayor of London!
Turn again, Whittington,
Thrice Mayor of London!

He goes on into London and, after a variety of adventures, depending on which version of the tale you have, he prospers and indeed becomes Lord Mayor of London three times and, of course, lives happily ever after.

Picture below is copyright BikoBikoBiko and used under a Creative Commons Licence.

Dick Whittington's cat immortalised on the wall of the walkway
of the Aldersgate/London Wall roundabout.
Copyright steve_w used under a Creative Commons Licence.

Now here is the real story of Richard Whitttington, four times Mayor of London....

He was born in Pauntley, Gloucestershire, sometime around 1350, and was the youngest son of a local landowner, Sir William Whittington, Lord of the Manor. He really did leave his home to go to London but, as far as we know, he didn't take a cat and he certainly didn't come from a poor family.

He was apprenticed as a Mercer - a dealer in cloth. When he had served his apprenticeship, he became a member of the Mercers' Company (a medieval guild of merchants). He prospered and was wealthy and successful, selling luxurious fabrics like cloth of gold to the king.

He lived and traded in London during the turbulent days of Richard II's reign when the king was often at odds with Londoners. The relationship deteriorated to such an extent that a corporate fine of £100,000 (an enormous sum at the time) was levied on the city and the mayor and sheriffs were dismissed, leaving London under direct royal control. Eventually some control was returned to Londoners although the king imposed Richard Whittington as mayor in 1397.

Newgate Prison, rebuilt in the 15th century, paid for by a bequest from Sir
Richard Whittington.

When Richard II was deposed and replaced by Henry IV, Whittington, surprisingly did not suffer too. He was elected mayor for a further three terms, 1397-8, 1406-7 and 1419-20. He also lent King Henry considerable sums of money and, in return, sat on many Royal Commissions. Loans to the king were usually repaid by the king assigning a royal income source to the creditor who could then collect the income until the loan and interest were repaid.

Richard Whittington died in March 1423. His wife had already died and the couple had no children. His estate of £5000 (an amount equivalent to several million now) was used for charitable purposes. These included rebuilding Newgate Prison, the building of the first library in Guildhall, work on St Bartholomew's Hospital and establishing almshouses for poor people.

Amazingly, Sir Richard Whittington's charitable bequests are still benefiting people today. The almshouses were entrusted to the management of the Mercers Company who still administers them.

Originally they were built on College Hill in the City of London. In the 19th century they were moved to Highgate and then in 1966, the almhouses were rebuilt in Felbridge, West Sussex. Sixty elderly women and a few married couples live in them.

The charitable bequest has grown so much over the centuries that, in 1822, the work of the trust was extended to cover paying an allowance to people on very low incomes. The beneficiaries of these out-pensions, as they are known, now number 300.

Even if the legend of Dick Whittington is false, perhaps the truth is even more amazing. Richard Whittington survived as a prominent City merchant through turbulent times. Even more astounding, the charitable trust he created nearly 600 years ago is still helping people today.

Picture below is the copyright of Dave Cross used under a Creative Commons Licence.