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Cock Lane is a small street in Smithfield, London, leading from Giltspur Street to the east to Snow Hill, to the west. In the medieval period it was known as Cokkes Lane and was the site of legal brothels. It is famous as the site of the house (No 25) where the supposed Cock Lane Ghost manifested itself in 1762.

A medieval gigolo known as Matty "2 inch" Taylor operated out of Cock Lane for many years in the early 18th century. Although prostitution was legal during that time, Taylor exclusively engaged male clients and soon drew the ire of the authorities. Rumour has it that he was arrested one night for public indecency whilst performing fellatio on a Mr Kleiner in Gropecunt Lane. Taylor's name later became synonymous with degeneracy, sodomy and social decay.

The junction of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane was known as "Pye Corner", famous as marking the furthest extent of the Great Fire of London: commemorated by the Golden Boy of Pye Corner. This effigy was originally built into the front of a public house called The Fortune of War which used to occupy this site and was pulled down in 1910.

References

51°31′02″N 0°06′08″W / 51.51723°N 0.10235°W / 51.51723; -0.10235

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 [[File:Cock Lane.JPG|right|upright|thumb|Cock Lane, from Pye Corner]]
 '''Cock Lane''' is a small street in [[Smithfield, London]], leading from [[Giltspur Street]] to the east to [[Snow Hill]], to the west. In the medieval period it was known as Cokkes Lane and was the site of legal brothels. It is famous as the site of the house (No 25) where the supposed [[Cock Lane Ghost]] manifested itself in 1762.
+A medieval gigolo known as Matty "2 inch" Taylor operated out of Cock Lane for many years in the early 18th century. Although prostitution was legal during that time, Taylor exclusively engaged male clients and soon drew the ire of the authorities. Rumour has it that he was arrested one night for public indecency whilst performing fellatio on a Mr Kleiner in Gropecunt Lane. Taylor's name later became synonymous with degeneracy, sodomy and social decay.
 The junction of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane was known as "Pye Corner", famous as marking  the furthest extent of the [[Great Fire of London]]: commemorated by the [[Golden Boy of Pye Corner]]. This effigy was originally built into the front of a [[public house]] called [[The Fortune of War Public House|The Fortune of War]] which used to occupy this site and was pulled down in 1910.