The Whalebone was an eatery on Lothbury[1] in the City of London that was a meeting place for the Leveller movement in the mid 17th century.[2] The Levellers described themselves as "whaleboners" in an early printed declaration, and their leader John Lilburne would read various declarations and lead meetings there.[2][3] Henry Ireton, Oliver Cromwell's son-in-law, sent spies to the Whalebone to observe the Levellers. It was referred to as one of the Levellers' 'Houses of Parliament', along with the Mouth Inn in Aldersgate.[2] The Windmill Tavern was similarly associated with the Levellers.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Radical politics in the 1640s: locating the Whalebone", Dorian Gerhold, London Topographical Society Newsletter, No. 84 (May 2017), pp. 8-10.
- ^ a b c Rees, John (2016). The Leveller Revolution : Radical Political Organisation in England, 1640-1650. London: Verso. p. 56. ISBN 9781784783884. OCLC 958469760.
- ^ a b Wood, Andy (12 November 2001). Riot, Rebellion and Popular Politics in Early Modern England. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-13568-1.