Perilous Pond

Perilous Pond once existed as an ancient spring in Clerkenwell that had overflowed to form a natural, muddy swimming hole. Its name originated in the late sixteenth century because its deep waters and tangled reeds frequently claimed the lives of young swimmers. The historian John Stow famously recorded its reputation, noting that many local youths had drowned in its murky depths. Today, this history is hidden beneath modern streets, leaving behind only the nearby Peerless Street and Bath Street as silent indicators of the water that once dominated this spot.