Myddelton Square in Clerkenwell is one of the prime locations in the new film Suffragette.

Lise Colyer, a spokesperson for Filmfixer which managed filming access, said: “The houses and street-lighting in the square were perfect for the scene and it’s very rare to get access to appropriate period architecture.”

It is the only one featuring Meryl Streep as Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, who gives a four-minute speech from a balcony to assembled suffragettes.

Barbara Riddell, 63, whose balcony was used for the scene, said: “Meryl Streep was completely charming and delightful. I remember one of the younger, less well-known actresses came into the kitchen one day and said ‘Meryl keeps remembering my name!’ which shows how courteous and interested in others Meryl Streep is.”

During the filming, which spanned over three evenings in March 2014, Mrs Riddell also provided food for the cast and crew.

“Meryl was very complimentary about my chicken soup,” she said. “Unfortunately Carey Mulligan [who stars as Maud Watts] couldn’t eat my biscuits as she was going to do the force-feeding scene the next day.”