Bleeding Heart Yard is a cobbled courtyard off Greville Street in the Farringdon area of the City of London. The courtyard is probably named after a 16th century inn sign dating back to the Reformation that was displayed on a pub called the Bleeding Heart in nearby Charles Street. The sign showed the heart of the Virgin Mary pierced by five swords.
Urban legend has it that the courtyard's name commemorates the murder of Lady Elizabeth Hatton, the second wife of Sir William Hatton, whose family formerly owned the area around Hatton Garden. It is said that her body was found here on 27 January 1626, "torn limb from limb, but with her heart still pumping blood."
Read more about Bleeding Heart Yard: In Little Dorrit, The Ingoldsby Legends, The Yard Today
Famous quotes containing the words bleeding heart, bleeding, heart and/or yard:
“Love in fantastic triumph sat,
Whilst bleeding hearts around him flowed,”
—Aphra Behn (1640–1689)
“Love in fantastic triumph sat,
Whilst bleeding hearts around him flowed,”
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“Then sounds the voice of One who like the heart of man
Was once a child who among beasts has lain—
‘Still do I love, still shed my innocent light, my Blood, for thee.’”
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