The Whalebone was an eatery on

Lothbury Lothbury is a short street in the City of London. It runs east–west with traffic flow in both directions, from Gresham Street's junction with Moorgate to the west, and Bartholomew Lane's junction with Throgmorton Street to the east. History ...

"Radical politics in the 1640s: locating the Whalebone", Dorian Gerhold, '' London Topographical Society Newsletter'', No. 84 (May 2017), pp. 8-10. in the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London f ...

that was a meeting place for the

Leveller The Levellers were a political movement active during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms who were committed to popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious tolerance. The hallmark of Leveller thought was its popul ...

movement in the mid 17th century. The Levellers described themselves as "whaleboners" in an early printed declaration, and their leader

John Lilburne John Lilburne (c. 161429 August 1657), also known as Freeborn John, was an English political Leveller before, during and after the English Civil Wars 1642–1650. He coined the term "'' freeborn rights''", defining them as rights with which eve ...

would read various declarations and lead meetings there. Henry Ireton,

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...

'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. The Windmill Tavern was similarly associated with the Levellers.

References

{{Coord, 51, 30, 52.98, N, 0, 5, 16.48, W, scale:1563_region:GB, display=title Demolished buildings and structures in London Former buildings and structures in the City of London Levellers