Cannon Street

Cannon Street

Looking west towards St. Paul's Cathedral, close to the entrance to Cannon Street station (2006)
Former name(s)	Candelwrichstrete Street, Candlewick Street, Canwick Street, Cannik Street, Cannin Street
Length	0.5 mi (0.8 km)
Location	London, United Kingdom
East end	King William Street
West end	St. Paul's Churchyard

Cannon Street is a road in the City of London, the historic nucleus of London and its modern financial centre. It runs roughly parallel with the River Thames, about 250 metres (820 ft) north of it, in the south of the City.

It is the site of the ancient London Stone and gave its name to Cannon Street station, a mainline railway terminus and connected London Underground station.

The area around Cannon Street was initially the place of residence of the candle-makers. The name first appears as 'Candelwrichstrete Street' in 1190. The name was shortened over 60 times as a result of the local cockney dialect and settled on Cannon Street in the 17th century, and is therefore not related to the firearms.

A Cannon Street in Birmingham, according to the archives of Birmingham Central Library, is named after the London street.

In the west, Cannon Street starts at St. Paul's Churchyard outside St Paul's Cathedral; running east it meets Queen Victoria Street near Mansion House tube station, passing Cannon Street station, and finally meets King William Street and Gracechurch Street near Monument tube station.

In the late 19th century Cannon Street was occupied by large wholesale warehouses, especially of cotton goods and other fabrics.

The London Stone, from which it has been suggested distances were measured in Roman times, was originally situated in the middle of Cannon Street. It was later set into the wall of St. Swithin's Church, and now rests in a case to the side of the street.