John Stow's 'Survey of London' notes that the Curtain and Theatre are built near the former site of the priory of St John the Baptist at Holywell: 'neare thereunto are builded two publique houses for the acting and shewe of Comedies, Tragedies, and Histories, for recreation. Whereof the one is called the Courtein, the other the Theatre: both standing on the Southwest side towards the field.'