Hercules Road runs north from Lambeth Road near Lambeth Palace, on the site of Penlington Place, in the London Borough of Lambeth, south London, England.
The road is named after Hercules Hall, which was built by and was the home of Philip Astley (1742–1814), riding instructor, horse-trainer, and acknowledged as the inventor of the modern circus. Performing nearby in an open field behind the present site of St John's Church, Waterloo, Astley realised the advantages of riding in a circle, and thus invented the circus ring. He was a principal among the many performers who made Lambeth a popular entertainment resort at that time.
Historically, Hercules Road is most well known for a former resident, the poet and visionary artist William Blake (1757–1827), who lived in a large house 13, Hercules Buildings and his address was Mr Blake Engraver, Hercules Buildings, Westminster Bridge.. There is a series of mosaics inspired by Blake in a tunnel nearby. The site is marked with a plaque.
Hercules Road was a location for the film Passport to Pimlico.
The Pineapple public house is located at 53–55 Hercules Road.
Famous quotes containing the words hercules and/or road:
“How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars,
Who, inward searched, have livers white as milk!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“There is no road to wealth so easy and respectable as that of matrimony; that is, of course, provided that the aspirant declines the slow course of honest work.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)