THE MAN WHO ENRICHED LONDON

Next year (2023) marks the 600th anniversary of the death of Richard Whittington (1358-1423), best known by many by his pantomime name of ‘Dick’, and yet the real man was one of medieval England’s most successful entrepreneurs and social reformers, who often had a king in his pocket.

Born in the year of his outlawed father’s death (1358-9), Whittington arrived in London around 1369-70, aged 10-11 under the guardianship of Sir Ivo Fitzwarin – the two families were distant relatives but were closely linked by service during the Hundred Years’ War.

Fitzwarin would prove instrumental in Whittington’s advancement, facilitating introductions to his family’s high-level military connections and enabling his protégé