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# The History of London

London's history

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Discover](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/discover/)
- [St. Margaret Lothbury](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-margaret-lothbury/) - St. Mary Lothbury is a small church in the shadow of the Bank of England. It was rebuilt following the Great Fire and escaped bombing in the Second World War. It thus has a fine collection of 17th century furnishings, many brought from City churches that no longer exist.
- [St. Magnus the Martyr](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-magnus-the-martyr/) - For 700 years St. Magnus the Martyr church stood at the northern end of the old London Bridge. During most of that time the bridge was the only crossing over the Thames and thus anyone travelling across the river would have passed the entrance of the church.
- [St. Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-lawrence-jewry-next-guildhall/) - St. Lawrence Jewry was destroyed in both the Great Fire and the Second World War. Separated from the Guildhall by only Guildhall Yard, since being rebuilt after the war it has been the official church of the City of London Corporation.
- [St. Katharine Cree](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-katharine-cree/) - St. Katharine’s was rebuilt in the early 17th century but incorporating a Tudor-period tower. It survived the Great Fire and the Second World War and is thus is an unusual hybrid between Gothic Perpendicular and Classical. The church remains loyal to King Charles I and Archbishop William Laud, both of whom were beheaded by opposing forces in the 1640s.
- [St. James Garlickhythe](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-james-garlickhythe/) - The very name of St. James Garlickhythe reminds us of the ancient establishment of this church. It contains the tallest nave of any of Wren’s churches. St. James remains a parish church, incorporating other former surrounding parishes.
- [St. Helen's Bishopsgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-helens-bishopsgate/) - St. Helen’s survived both the Great Fire and the Blitz is therefore one of the few remaining medieval City churches. It is unusual in being two churches joined into one. Its collection of monuments is unequalled in any City church. St. Helen’s continues as a very active parish church, attended by City workers and worshippers from far and wide.
- [St. Giles Cripplegate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-giles-cripplegate/)
- [St. Edmund King and Martyr](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-edmund-king-and-martyr/)
- [St. Dunstan in the West](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-dunstan-in-the-west/) - The imposing tower of St. Dunstan-in-the-West dominates the centre of Fleet Street on the west side of the City of London. The interesting exterior, unique amongst City churches, belies the unusual church within.
- [St. Clement Eastcheap](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-clement-eastcheap/)
- [St. Bride's church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-brides-church/) - St. Bride’s is one of the more famous City of London churches due to its wedding cake steeple and connections with Fleet Street journalism.
- [St. Botolph Bishopsgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-botolph-bishopsgate/) - The area around Bishopsgate was one of the most prosperous in the City and in the 18th century its parish church of St. Botolph was rebuilt at great expense.
- [St. Botolph without Aldgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-botolph-without-aldgate/) - St. Botolph’s without Aldgate, which was located outside of the old Roman gate on the east side of London, is one of four City churches that were dedicated to the patron saint of travellers.
- [St. Botolph Aldersgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-botolph-aldersgate/) - St. Botolph Aldersgate is one of four churches in London that were dedicated to the patron saint of travellers, each located adjacent to one of the old gates of London.
- [St. Benet Paul's Wharf church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-benet-pauls-wharf-church/) - The attractive St. Benet’s is unique in the City of London in holding services in the Welsh language.
- [St. Bartholomew the Less church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-bartholomew-the-less-church/) - The small but charming 12th century St. Barthlomew the Less at Smithfield is the chapel of Bart’s Hospital.
- [St. Bartholomew the Great church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-bartholomew-the-great-church/) - The Norman-era St. Barthlomew the Great was one of the monasteries that dominated London throughout the Middle Ages, and the medieval building is the oldest continuous place of worship in London. Its choir is perhaps the most substantial 12th-century structure in London.
- [St. Anne & St. Agness church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-anne-st-agness-church/) - The ancient St. Anne and St. Agnes is the only City church with a double dedication of saints. It was rebuilt following the Great Fire, and again after the Blitz.
- [St. Andrew Undershaft](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-andrew-undershaft/) - St. Andrew Undershaft takes its name from the giant maypole that once stood in front of the church. It is now surrounded by the tall modern buildings of the City’s financial district.
- [St. Andrew by the Wardrobe](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-andrew-by-the-wardrobe/) - St. Andrew by the Wardrobe church near Blackfriars was established in the medieval period. It is now the parish church of that part of the City of London.
- [All Hallows by-the-Tower church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/all-hallows-by-the-tower-church/) - The church of All Hallows by-the-Tower stands beside the Tower of London. Dating back to the introduction of Christianity into Britain during the Saxon period it can claim to be the oldest church in the City and one of the earliest in London. It was heavily bombed during the Second World War but rebuilt and reopened in the 1950s.
- [Holy Sepulchre without Newgate church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/holy-sepulchre-without-newgate-church/) - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is named after the church of the same name in Jerusalem. It had a long association with the nearby Newgate Prison. Holy Sepulchre is the largest of the post-Great Fire City parish churches.
- [All Hallows London Wall](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/all-hallows-london-wall/) - All Hallows was built in medieval times abutting the old city wall. It escaped the Great Fire, was rebuilt in the 18th century, destroyed in the Blitz, and rebuilt again in the 1960s.
- [St. Stephen Walbrook](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-stephen-walbrook/) - St. Stephen Walbrook is often cited as Sir Christopher Wren’s greatest City of London church, one of his masterpieces, with a perfectly-proportioned interior. It is particularly notable for its magnificent dome, used by Wren in his experimentation, leading to that of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The church as a whole exemplifies Wren’s genius as an architect and mathematician.
- [St. Ethelburga](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-ethelburga/) - St. Ethelburga’s is the smallest church in the City of London, sandwiched between larger office buildings, and the only one in the country dedicated to that saint. It is now the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.
- [St. Martin Ludgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-martin-ludgate/) - Looking up Ludgate Hill from Ludgate Circus towards St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the classic views of London, which has appeared in numerous paintings and photographs. Therefore, the spire of St. Martin’s, halfway up the hill on the left has often been represented. It largely remains as it was at the time it was rebuilt in the late 17th century.
- [City of London Churches](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/city-of-london-churches/) - During the Saxon and medieval periods many churches were established within the City of London. They eventually numbered around 120, each serving a tiny parish of just several blocks. Most were destroyed in 1666 during the Great Fire of London and not all rebuilt. Others were demolished in the 19th century as the City became less residential. Some were not rebuilt after destruction in the Second World War. Here we look at those City churches that remain today.
- [St. Mary Moorfields](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-mary-moorfields/) - St. Mary Moorfields, close to Finsbury Circus, is the only Roman Catholic church in the City of London. The current building, which opened in 1903, is also relatively new compared with the other City churches.
- [St.Peter upon Cornhill](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-peter-upon-cornhill/) - St. Peter upon Cornhill is one of two churches standing almost back-to-back at Cornhill. It is no longer used for regular services, and the pews have been removed, but its Wren-era interior still contains some fine and interesting features.
- [St. Olave Hart Street](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-olave-hart-street/) - The small church of St. Olave Hart Street on the eastern side of the City of London is of Saxon origin. It is one of only eight churches in the City that remain from before the Great Fire of London, but was carefully restored after much destruction during the Second World War.
- [Gabriel's Wharf](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/gabriels-wharf/) - Gabriel’s Wharf is a small market of independent traders on the South Bank, in a space that had been a timber yard. It seems likely that the market will close in September 2026.
- [St. Nicholas Cole Abbey](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-nicholas-cole-abbey/) - During medieval times the parishioners of St. Nicholas were primarily fishmongers. It was destroyed or badly damaged in both the Great Fire and Second World War but has been well-restored.
- [St. Michael Cornhill](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-michael-cornhill/) - Although rebuilt after the Great Fire, it is unlikely that Wren had much involvement. The 17th century interior was anyway greatly altered during the 19th century. The individually-carved pew benches are particularly noteworthy.
- [St. Michael Paternoster Royal](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-michael-paternoster-royal/) - St. Michael Paternoster Royal was rebuilt by local resident Sir Richard Whittington in the 15th century, and it is where he and his wife were buried. It is a fine Wren-era church, restored after being badly damaged in the Second World War. Sadly, it is currently closed and for sale.
- [St. Mary Woolnoth](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-mary-woolnoth/) - St. Mary Woolnoth is the only church in the City designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the former assistant of Christopher Wren. It stands across from Mansion House, the official home of the Lord Mayor, and thus is the Lord Mayor’s church.
- [St. Mary at Hill church](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-mary-at-hill-church/) - St. Mary at Hill is an odd juxtaposition of two styles from different eras: a Wren building with a 15th century tower. Until the late 20th century it could be described as having a “gorgeous” interior but the church has been vulnerable to fires. Nevertheless, it remains a very attractive church and still contains much of interest, sitting in a very atmospheric part of the City.
- [St. Margaret Pattens](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-margaret-pattens/) - St. Margaret Pattens was rebuilt in the 17th century and largely unharmed during the Second World War. It therefore contains many late 17th century features.
- [St. Mary-le-Bow](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/stmarylebow/) - The term ‘cockney’ has long been associated with Londoners. Since the 17th century it has been used to describe those born within the sound of ‘Bow Bells’, that is the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church in Cheapside. Legend has it that the bells persuaded Dick Whittington to turn back to London. St. Mary-le-Bow is one of the oldest and most important churches in the City of London.
- [St. Mary Aldermary](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-mary-aldermary/) - St. Mary Aldermary is an oddity as the only one of the churches rebuilt after the Great Fire – and the only one of Wren’s churches – in the Gothic style.
- [St. Mary Abchurch](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-mary-abchurch/) - St. Mary Abchurch was rebuilt under Christopher Wren. The interior is breathtaking due to the unique and beautifully painted interior dome. It was one of the few City churches that was not badly damaged during the Blitz and therefore contains some exquisite late 17th century furnishings, especially that by Grinling Gibbons.
- [St. Andrew Holborn](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-andrew-holborn/) - The large church of St. Andrew Holborn once stood in a prominent position on the side of the Fleet Valley. Since the creation of Holborn Viaduct in the 19th century it has sat instead on a busy road junction. It escaped the Great Fire but was anyway rebuilt by Wren on ancient foundations.
- [St. Vedast alias Foster](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-vedast-alias-foster/) - St. Vedast is a small but handsome parish church, on the corner of Foster Lane and Cheapside, and close to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Its parish consists of many smaller City parishes of former parochial churches.
- [John Evelyn](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/john-evelyn-2/) - John Evelyn was a 17th century intellectual, writer and gardener who, like his friend and contemporary, Samuel Pepys, kept a diary that gives us much information about the momentous events in English and London history that he witnessed. He was also an enthusiastic correspondent, many of his letters having been preserved. Evelyn associated himself with
- [Samuel Pepys](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/samuel-pepys/) - Some of the most interesting records of mid-17th century London are the diaries written by Samuel Pepys during the years 1660 to 1669. He was born into humble circumstances in the city yet rose to become one of the country’s most senior, able and unusually conscientious civil servants who helped create the modern navy. A
- [Christopher Wren Part 2 - 1665-1732](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/christopher-wren-part-2/) - Sir Christopher Wren is primarily remembered for his work to rebuild St. Paul’s Cathedral and numerous churches in the City of London following their destruction in the Great Fire of London. His achievements in the late 17th and early 18th centuries were numerous.
- [Christopher Wren Part 1 - 1632-1664](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/christopher-wren-part-1/) - Sir Christopher Wren is primarily remembered as the great architect of the rebuilding of London following the Great Fire of 1666, but he was also one of the most remarkable scholars and scientists of his age who could have been equally prominent as a surgeon or astronomer.
- [Robert Hooke](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/robert-hooke/) - The name most closely associated with the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666 is that of Christopher Wren, yet someone who had as great an involvement is Wren’s lesser-known friend and associate Robert Hooke. “Mr.Hooke, who is the most, and promises the least, of any man in the world that ever I saw,” recorded Samuel Pepys in his diary in 1665. “Doctor Robert Hook, a man of genius,” wrote the visiting Italian Count Lorenzo Magalotti in 1669.
- [The Fifty New Churches Act](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-fifty-new-churches-act/) - Non-conformist chapels around London were overflowing with worshipers. In 1710 the Anglican-supporting Tories returned to power after more than two decades in opposition. They resolved to strengthen the Church of England by building magnificent new churches. It resulted in some of the finest London churches since those of Sir Christopher Wren a generation earlier. Throughout
- [Dissolution of the London monasteries](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/dissolution-of-the-london-monasteries/) - For hundreds of years throughout the Middle Ages London’s various monasteries and convents played a significant part in the daily life of the capital. Some of them were large, covering a lot of land, and their monastic churches were a great fixture on the skyline. Several of them acted as London’s hospitals. Many of London’s
- [Early Christianity in London and Westminster](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/early-christianity-in-london-and-westminster/) - Christianity came to Britain during the Roman period but was not firmly established until the 9th century. St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey were founded during the Saxon period, as well as several churches in the City of London. In 314AD three bishops from Britain – London, York and Lincoln – attended the first Council
- [The origins of Westminster Abbey](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-origins-of-westminster-abbey/) - Monasticism was an important part of medieval life in England and many monasteries and convents were founded in and around London. The modern-day Westminster Abbey building was largely the inspiration of King Henry III in the mid-13th century but its origins go far back into Saxon times when Westminster was quite distant from London. As
- [The medieval Westminster Abbey](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-medieval-westminster-abbey/) - Westminster Abbey had been transformed in the 11th century from a minor Benedictine monastery into a major Romanesque building, of the type observed by Edward the Confessor in France. Two centuries later Henry III was to begin yet another transformation of the abbey based on the then fashionable style. It has left us with a
- [Westminster Abbey in the Middle Ages](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/westminster-abbey-in-the-middle-ages/) - The Benedictine monastery of St. Peter, what we know as Westminster Abbey, has been the venue for coronations of English monarchs since 1066. Work to transform the abbey into a Gothic masterpiece began in the 13th century and continued for over two hundred years. Unlike most cathedrals, it answered directly to the popes. The earliest
- [Westminster Abbey in the Tudor period](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/westminster-abbey-in-the-tudor-period/) - The Tudor period, from the coronation of Henry VII to the funeral of Elizabeth I, was a tumultuous time for religion in England, and particularly so for Westminster Abbey. It began with the addition of a magnificent new chapel that remains one of the highlights of the abbey. It continued with a roller-coaster period during
- [St.Paul's Cathedral in the early Middle Ages](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-pauls-cathedral-in-the-early-middle-ages/) - The traditional Romanesque-style St. Paul’s Cathedral of the Middle Ages was once one of the largest buildings in Europe, towering high above everything else in London. Its construction created the pre-metric length of a ‘foot’. While Westminster Abbey continued as the principle church of English royalty, St. Paul’s became the stage for national events. At
- [St.Paul's Cathedral during the Reformation](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-pauls-cathedral-during-the-reformation/) - During the years of religious turmoil that led to the Reformation in England, Paul’s Cross in the churchyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral became a focus of national theological debate. Sermons were given by both those who sought reform and their conservative opponents. Like all other religious institutions in the country, the cathedral went through a
- [St. Paul's Cathedral during the reign of Elizabeth I](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-pauls-cathedral-during-the-reign-of-elizabeth-i/) - The Tudor period, during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, was one of great convulsions in religious worship, known as the Reformation. England lurched from Catholic to Protestant, briefly back to Catholic during the reign of Queen Mary, and finally returning to Protestant under Queen Elizabeth. St. Paul’s Cathedral
- [St. Paul's Cathedral in the early Stuart period](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-pauls-cathedral-in-the-early-stuart-period/) - The mighty St. Paul’s Cathedral stood tall over the City of London. Yet at the start of the 17th century its fabric was in poor condition so major work began that significantly changed its appearance. Before the transformation was complete it was interrupted by the maelstrom of national religious and political events. In the early
- [The rebuilding of St.Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-rebuilding-of-st-pauls-cathedral-after-the-great-fire-of-london/) - The mighty St. Paul’s Cathedral, the mother church of London and the seat of the Bishop of London, was severely damaged in the Great Fire of London of 1666. Lacking in funds and man-power to rebuild the cathedral, services continued in the ruins and some repairs took place. In the spring of 1668 part of
- [The founding of St.Paul's Cathedral](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-founding-of-st-pauls-cathedral/) - St. Paul’s, the great Anglican cathedral church of London, had humble beginnings in the 7th century Saxon period as a small building in an almost deserted city. After the Roman period Christianity waned in Britain. Augustine arrived in 597, sent by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the Saxons, and he was followed in 601
- [Historic London pubs](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/historic-london-pubs/) - For some of us, one of the joys of London is visiting the city's many historic and characterful pubs. Here are just a few of my favourite London pubs.
- [London's horse-drawn trams](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-horse-drawn-trams/) - Omnibuses became a common sight on London’s streets during the 1830s and allowed workers who could afford the ticket prices to travel from suburbs into their place of work in the City or Westminster. During the 1870s numerous tram lines were created along London’s streets, competing with the many omnibuses on the same routes.
- [St. James’s Park and Green Park – the making of the modern parks](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-jamess-park-and-green-park-the-making-of-the-modern-parks/) - During his reign in the 16th century Henry VIII created a large hunting park from different pieces of land. These evolved over the centuries into a series of large royal parks that are open to the public, which dominate the west side of Central London. The modern St. James’s Park and Green Parks were largely
- [Locals - An Illustrated Ode to London's Pubs (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/locals-an-illustrated-ode-to-londons-pubs/)
- [London's Ours! Images from the Greater London Council 1981-1986 (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-ours-images-from-the-greater-london-council-1981-1986-book-review/)
- [Lambeth Palace](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/lambeth-palace/) - Lambeth Palace, which stands on the opposite bank of the River Thames from the Palace of Westminster, has been the London residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury for almost 800 years. It has evolved over that period, with styles of architecture that range from medieval to 21st century. The palace has been the scene of various political and religious events of national importance.
- [The Great Stink](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-great-stink/) - One of London’s great improvements took place in the mid-Victorian period. To most people it was evident in the form of new embankments along the Thames, but much of the benefit to their health and well-being was out of sight below ground. Such was the ingenuity and quality of the Victorian sewer system created by the Metropolitan Board of Works that it still continues to service London.
- [Joseph Bazalgette](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/joseph-bazalgette/) - It could be said that Sir Joseph Bazalgette did more in his lifetime to change the fabric of London than almost any architect or engineer, ranking alongside those such as Sir Christopher Wren and John Nash. It has certainly been said that he saved more lives of Londoners than any other Victorian official.
- [The Metropolitan Board of Works](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-metropolitan-board-of-works/) - By the mid-19th century urban London had expanded far beyond the old City of London, yet was lacking an authority to address overall issues. It took pollution of the Thames, and a series of cholera outbreaks, for the government to form the Metropolitan Board of Works. It was the forerunner of the centralised London authorities of modern times.
- [The Thames at War (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-thames-at-war/) - Gustav Milne & The Thames Discovery Programme: ‘The Thames at War – Saving London from the Blitz’ – Review Pen & Sword History, ISBN 978-1-52676-802-5 The Thames Discovery Programme was formed in 2008 to continue the work of earlier such projects and is part of Museum of London Archaeology. TDP’s small army of volunteers, known
- [The Grand Surrey Canal](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-grand-surrey-canal/)
- [The Great Fire of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-great-fire-of-london/) - On Saturday 1st September 1666 around one hundred British warships gathered in the North Sea under the two most experienced commanders, the King’s cousin Prince Rupert and George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, heading towards the English Channel for what was hoped would be a decisive victory against the Dutch fleet. King Charles and his brother
- [The early history of East London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-early-history-of-east-london/) - During the Middle Ages what we now call the East End of London was entirely rural, with a small scattering of cottages and several mansions. The largest part consisted of the Manor of Stepney, held by the Bishops of London. From ancient times, before London existed, a chariot track ran east-west, through what would later
- [The City of London's boundary Bars](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/city-of-london-boundary-bars/) - In the medieval period the boundary and jurisdiction of the City of London expanded in several places beyond the ancient city wall. To mark the new boundaries, ‘bars’ were placed at strategic places.
- [The New River - Bringing fresh water to London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-new-river-bringing-fresh-water-to-london/) - The population of London was increasing in the time of Queen Elizabeth I so it was necessary to look for new sources of water supply. An answer was found in the creation of the New River, bringing fresh water from springs in the Hertfordshire countryside, far to the north of the city. Over 400 years
- [Dr. Samuel Johnson](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/dr-samuel-johnson/) - In September 1777 Samuel Johnson was discussing with James Boswell (who was later to become his biographer) whether the latter, a Scotsman, would tire of London should he move to the city. Johnson replied with the most famous of his many quotes: “No sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of
- [Aldgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/aldgate/) - Aldgate was the original London gate on the road towards Essex.
- [London's postern gates](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-postern-gates/) - As the conurbation of the City expanded beyond the walls, for residential, commercial or recreational use, the location of the road gates became inconvenient for many Londoners. For that reason, over time several postern gates were opened in the wall that allowed pedestrians to pass through.
- [England's First Slave-Trading Company](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/englands-first-slave-trading-company/) - The Guinea Company was originally founded in London in the early 17th century to trade with Africa. It evolved into England’s first slave-trading company.
- [Victorian passenger steamboats on the Thames](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/victorian-passenger-steamboats-on-the-thames/) - The introduction of steamboat services on the River Thames in the early 19th century made it possible to commute to London from as far as Gravesend. They also gave ordinary Londoners their first opportunity to take day or weekend trips to Estuary and coastal resorts such as Southend, Margate, and Ramsgate. The earliest steam-powered boats
- [London's first underground railway](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-first-underground-railway/) - The idea of creating a railway under London was revolutionary, risky, and expensive. To operate under a city on the scale of London’s first underground railway had never been considered anywhere in the world. Even after its evident success it took a long time for any other city to attempt it: the Paris Metro was
- [Little Italy](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/little-italy/) - A significant number of Italians arrived in London during the 19th century. They formed a largely self-sufficient community in the Clerkenwell area, where a closely-packed network of streets around Saffron Hill became known as ‘Little Italy’. Many worked as street traders and street musicians around London.
- [Millwall Dock](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/millwall-dock/) - The large peninsula on the east side of London that forms a great southward loop of the Thames is the Isle of Dogs. It is today dominated by the vast gleaming towers of the financial district that is generally known as Canary Wharf. In the shadow of those skyscrapers, at the centre of the ‘Island’,
- [Hyde Park (Part 2) - The lungs of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/hyde-park-the-lungs-of-london/) - The west side of Central London is dominated by a series of parks – Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St. James’s Park, and Green Park. They were all created by Henry VIII as a large hunting ground stretching west from his Whitehall Palace in the 16th century. Each park was gradually opened to the public but they still remain as royal land.
- [The Port of London in the Age of Steam](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-port-of-london-in-the-age-of-steam/) - The major London docks of the early 19th century were created for sailing ships. Their developers could not foresee that within a few decades steam-powered, iron-hulled vessels would be built so large they were unable to enter those docks. The result was that massive new basins were opened further downriver as the Port of London
- [Kensington Palace and Gardens](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/kensington-palace-and-gardens/) - For over 70 years Kensington Palace was the London residence of successive kings and queens, from William and Mary until George II. It has continued to be the London home of many members of the royal family until today. It was where Diana, Princess of Wales lived, and where thousands of people came to lay
- [Hyde Park (Part 1) - Playground of Tudor and Stuart monarchs](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/hyde-park-playground-of-tudor-and-stuart-monarchs/) - Hyde Park is one of a group of parks on the west side of Central London. They have been royal land since their seizure by Henry VIII in the 16th century to form a large private, rural hunting ground. For a long time entry was limited to the royal family, courtiers, and the upper echelons
- [Lighting up London: the introduction of gas lamps](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/gas-lamps/) - From the beginning of the 19th century London’s streets began to be illuminated, thanks to the invention of the gas lamp. During the course of the century street lighting spread to streets across the capital.
- [The Clapham Sect and the campaign to end the slave trade](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-clapham-sect-and-the-campaign-to-end-the-slave-trade/) - During the latter part of the 18th century a small group of people formed bonds of friendship. They set out to change Britain and the wider world with their evangelical Protestant ideas. Clapham, a village to the south of London, became the centre of their activities, giving them the name ‘the Clapham Sect’. Their greatest contribution to change was the end of slavery in the British colonies.
- [Westminster Abbey in the early Stuart period](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/westminster-abbey-in-the-early-stuart-period/) - Westminster Abbey was at the centre of events during the Reformation of the 16th century. The institution again underwent great turbulence in the following century during the period of Civil War and Interregnum.
- [The South Sea Bubble](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-south-sea-bubble/) - The South Sea Bubble was Britain’s first financial stock market crash and a major event of the early Georgian period. A lucky few made their fortune, while others were financially ruined. Owning shares in a company was still relatively new and there was much misunderstanding and suspicion about the causes of the great and sudden rise and fall of the share price.
- [The development of Soho](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-development-of-soho/) - Until the 17th century Soho – now one of the busiest areas of Central London – was still a series of open fields. Aristocrat land-owners and property developers gradually transformed it into a suburb that mixed grand homes for the gentry with workshops for artisans. The development of Soho into a densely-packed suburb occurred between
- [The Regent's Canal](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-regents-canal/) - The latter decades of the 18th century were the golden age of England’s canals and a network was created across the industrial heartland of the English Midlands. It finally reached the London area, at Paddington, in 1801. It would be another 19 years before a new canal was created to bring goods directly to the City of London, one of the last of the canal age.
- [Gates of London Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-bridge-gates/) - Until the 18th century London Bridge was the main entrance into the City of London from the south. It therefore had two sets of gates for defensive purposes and the collection of tolls.
- [Bishopsgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/bishopsgate/) - Bishopsgate was the original gate of London on the road heading in the direction of Lincoln and the north-east of England.
- [In Brief – Roman London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-roman-london/) - London was founded by the Romans at the point where they could easily construct a bridge over the River Thames. The earliest settlement lasted only a few years but thereafter grew into a major town and the capital of the Roman province of Britannia.
- [Moorgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/moorgate/) - Moorgate was a gate on the north side of London’s city wall. It was not one of the original Roman gates but was created in the 15th century.
- [Cripplegate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/cripplegate/) - Cripplegate originated as an entrance to the fort in the north-west corner of the Roman city of Londinium. During the medieval period it became a main gate of the city.
- [Aldersgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/aldersgate/) - Aldersgate was a London gate on the north-west of the city that originated in the Roman period.
- [Newgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/newgate/) - Newgate was the original London gate on the west side of the city.
- [Ludgate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/ludgate/) - Ludgate was the original London gate in the south-west of the city.
- [The city wall and gates of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-wall-and-gates/) - For around 1,700 years the City of London was surrounded by a defensive wall. It contained gates at important points through which pedestrians and traffic could pass.
- [The Blackwall Tunnel](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-blackwall-tunnel/) - During the 19th century the districts to the east of the City of London, on both sides of the river, became highly industrialized and densely populated, yet there was no dry crossing that linked each side of the Thames. Plans evolved in the 1880s for a road tunnel to carry traffic between each side of
- [London during the Protectorate (1653 - 1660)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-during-the-protectorate-1653-1660/) - Following the execution of Charles I, the Rump Parliament declared the country as ‘the Commonwealth and Free State of England’. Successive Parliaments frustrated Oliver Cromwell and the army, leading to the Protectorate style of government that looked increasingly like the old monarchy that had been abolished.
- [The Trial and Execution of King Charles I](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-trial-and-execution-of-king-charles-i/) - The actions of Charles I had divided political and religious opinion in the country leading to the Civil War that pitted King against Parliament. Charles was eventually defeated and held captive by the Parliamentarians, during which time his followers continued to rise up. After much debate, the King was brought to trial in January 1649.
- [London during the Commonwealth (1649-1653)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-during-the-commonwealth-1649-1653/) - Following the Civil War between Royalists and Parliamentarians and the imprisonment of Charles I, the King was executed outside his palace at Whitehall. During the years of interregnum the country was governed as a republic, or ‘Commonwealth’ as it was initially known.
- [Coffee houses, taverns, tea and chocolate](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/coffee-houses/) - In the latter 17th century and throughout the 18th century a major impact on London life was made by the introduction of coffee houses, which became numerous throughout the city. The forerunner of the modern café, they were used in a similar way to pubs of the 20th century, with many having a particular type
- [The New River](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-new-river/) - A castle that’s not a castle; a river that’s not a river (and is hardly new) I have the good fortune to enjoy a view from my home across to one of London’s most unusually-designed industrial buildings. My street name is not generally-known to taxi-drivers but I need only say: “opposite the castle at Stoke
- [In Brief - Civil War & Restoration](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-civil-war-restoration/) - King Charles I lacked the diplomacy, political sensibility, and flexibility of his father, James I, often taking extreme positions without compromise. His was a very insular royal court that became detached from the realities of government and politics. When the King stormed Parliament it was the spark that led to civil war.
- [Towards Civil War](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/towards-civil-war/) - It was the belief of King James I that the monarch ruled the country and that Parliament was merely a court for passing occasional laws. That led to conflict whenever Parliament obstructed his plans or would not approve his requests for funding. On occasions, when he failed to achieve his aims, and out of frustration,
- [The Festival of Britain - A Tonic To The Nation](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-festival-of-britain/) - In 1951 the Festival of Britain was held to give the country a boost in a period of hardship following the Second World War. Although conceived as a national event, its main focus was a site beside the Thames at Lambeth, what has subsequently become known as the ‘South Bank’. London has a history of
- [Thames watermen and ferries](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/thames-watermen-and-ferries/) - For centuries, the quickest and most convenient way to travel within the City, or cross the river, or east or west from London, was by water. London Bridge was the only dry crossing over the River Thames in the immediate London area until the early 18th century but it was narrow and congested. The roads
- [London’s water supply monopolies in the early 19th century](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-water-supply-monopolies-in-the-early-19th-century/) - In the Middle Ages Londoners relied on communal conduits and wells to obtain their water. It took centuries before private companies gradually connected most individual premises. Over time water supply went from a utility provided free by the city to one that had to be paid for, if you could afford it.
- [London's Jewish Community in the 19th century. Part 2 - Their lives](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-jewish-community-in-the-19th-century-part-2-their-lives/) - < Back to London's Jewish community in the 19th century. Part 1 - Their arrival There had been a small population of Sephardic Jews in London since the 17th century but persecution and massacres in Russia and Poland in the 19th century brought waves of poverty-stricken Ashkenazi Jewish refugees to London. Many toiled long hours
- [The original Vauxhall Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-vauxhall-bridge/) - By the end of the 18th century there were three crossings over the Thames in the London and Westminster area. London Bridge, Westminster and Blackfriars had all been built as public works. It is therefore remarkable that in the second decade of the 19th century three new bridges were constructed in quick succession between 1816
- [The London & Blackwall Railway – one of the capital’s strangest railways](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-london-blackwall-railway/) - The London & Blackwall Railway was one of the earliest lines in London. It was the first to enter the City of London, creating its terminus at Fenchurch Street and - literally - laid the foundations for today’s Dockland Light Railway. It worked using an extraordinary method by today’s standards, with trains hauled by cable
- [Whitehall Palace in the Stuart period](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/whitehall-palace-in-the-stuart-period/) - For almost 160 years Whitehall Palace was the centre of royal life in England, from where Tudor and Stuart monarchs, from Henry VIII in the 16th century to William and Mary in the 18th century, governed the country. In Henry’s reign it was the largest palace in Europe, yet it was never a single grand
- [Buckingham Palace](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/buckingham-palace/) - Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of British monarchs. Yet it has only been so since the beginning of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1837 making it the most recent of the great European royal palaces. Nevertheless, it can trace its history back to the 17th century when it began as a relatively
- [Alexandra Palace and Park](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/alexandra-palace/) - The imposing Alexandra Palace, with its surrounding park, sitting high on a hill in North London, has been a major leisure attraction since Victorian times. It was there that the world’s first regular television broadcasts were made in the 1930s. Unlike its rival, the Crystal Palace, the building is a great survivor, having been gutted
- [London Docks In The 1960s (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londondocksinthe1960s/) - London Docks of the 1960s – Mark Lee Inman Amberley Publishing When the imminent publication of this new book was first brought to my attention a plan was put in place to write a review for the London Historians blog based on my interest in the Port of London. I eagerly awaited its delivery from
- [William Hogarth - Amusing His Audience](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/hogarth-london-historians/) - William Hogarth – Amusing His Audience There, staring out at me from the front cover of The Times newspaper’s glossy weekend supplement, is the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, inventor (together with her then husband Malcolm McLaren) of 1970s punk fashion. What has really caught my eye is the design of the t-shirt she is modeling.
- [The Life & Times of Moll Flanders (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/moll-flanders/) - Moll – The Life and Times of Moll Flanders, Siân Rees (Chatto & Windus) When a writer of crime fiction was recently asked in an interview on Radio 4 why she created only women as the main characters in her books she answered it was because there had been so few previous examples. In fact
- [Stepney - Profile of a London Borough (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/stepney/) - Stepney – Profile of a London Borough from the Outbreak of the First World War to the Festival of Britain, 1914-1951 Samantha L.Bird. Cambridge Scholars Publishing There has been a centuries-old divide within London – only being rebalanced in recent times – that consigned the East End to remain to this day an area of
- [London during the English Civil War (January 1642 – April 1646)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-during-the-civil-war/) - In January 1642 King Charles I stormed into the Parliament building at Westminster attempting to arrest six members of Parliament. Not finding them there he sought them at the Guildhall in the City of London. After his failure he feared reprisals, so the royal family fled from Whitehall Palace. Charles went north to raise an
- [Towards the second Civil War (May 1646 – January 1649)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/towardsthesecondcivilwar/) - After a long series of battles, Charles I and his Royalist forces were finally beaten in 1646 and the King held prisoner. Yet at that stage most hoped for negotiations with the monarch in which he would agree to political and religious change and return to the throne as the head of the country. While
- [The Marine Police Establishment, London's first police force](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/marine-police-establishment/) - In the days before the creation of London’s dock system ships waited for lengthy periods to be unloaded on the open and crowded River Thames. During that time their valuable cargoes, brought from around the world, were prey to theft. That led to the creation of the country’s first organized police force. By the late
- [Horses and carriages in the Victorian era](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/horses-and-carriages-in-the-victorian-era/) - The main form of transport in London and elsewhere until the early part of the 20th century was by horse, or was horse-drawn. Individuals owned horses; more affluent house-holds owned or hired carriages; and goods were delivered by wagon and cart. Hackney carriages were superseded by the faster hansom cabs in the mid-century. From the
- [Hansom cabs and horse-drawn omnibuses](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/hansom-cabs-and-horse-drawn-omnibuses/) - At the beginning of the 19th century the most common way to travel around London was on foot, or by wherry or ferry on the Thames for those who could afford it. It was only the wealthy few who could afford to own a horse and carriage. Therefore, most people worked close to their home,
- [London's earliest long-distance railway](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-earliest-long-distance-railway/) - The development of the steam locomotive in the 1830s led to a period of ‘railway mania’ in Britain. Privately financed railways soon linked every town in the country. People could rapidly travel from one place to a distant other. No longer was it necessary to journey in slow and uncomfortable stagecoaches over poorly maintained roads.
- [The Metropolitan District railway - the creation of the Circle Line](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-metropolitan-district-railway/) - What we now know as the Circle Line that forms an underground loop around Central London was originally two separate railways, the Metropolitan and the District. The story of what was first known as the ‘inner circuit’ is one of both cooperation and conflict between the two railway companies. The Metropolitan Railway opened in January
- [London's first railway](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-first-railway/) - The great invention of the Victorian era was the railway. The main stimulus for its earliest development was the ability to move freight, particularly coal, so it was late to arrive in London compared with the industrial North of England. Most of the first passenger railways departing from the capital were created to carry people
- [St. James's Park - from leper hospital to royal park](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-jamess-park-from-leper-hospital-to-royal-park/) - St. James’s Park is one of several royal parks that dominate the western side of Central London, all of which were once part of the hunting grounds of Henry VIII. In the 17th century Charles II had the park landscaped and opened to the public. In the Middle Ages leprosy was a common and contagious
- [The Tudor Whitehall Palace](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-tudor-whitehall-palace/) - There had been a royal palace at Westminster since King Cnut in the early 11th century but a disastrous fire in 1512 led Henry VIII to abandon it as a royal residence. The fall from grace of Cardinal Wolsey, and the creation of St. James’s Park as a new hunting ground, gave Henry the opportunity
- [The Great Exhibition and the Crystal Palace](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-great-exhibition-and-the-crystal-palace/) - In the 19th century London was the capital of the world's greatest empire, on which the British boasted "the sun never sets". The country could celebrate Pax Britannica. Britain had fathered the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era was a time of rapid progress in engineering and inventions. Manufacturing by machinery was still new and
- [When London was a whaling port](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/when-london-was-a-whaling-port/) - In past times petroleum was yet to be available as a fuel, and plastic still to be invented. Oil derived from whale blubber, and materials created from whale bone, were used instead. Sailing ships were sent out into the Atlantic to bring back the mammals for processing. For about a hundred years, from the early
- [The Port of London Authority](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-port-of-london-authority/) - The Port of London Authority has been the guardian of the tidal River Thames for over a century, although in recent decades its role has changed substantially from that for which it was originally conceived. In the late 18th century the main issue at the Port of London had been the lack of facilities for
- [The East India Docks](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-east-india-docks/) - For 150 years the East India Docks were one of London’s main Thames dock complexes. They were originally created at the start of the 19th century for the loading and unloading of the East India Company ships trading with the Far East. The East India Company was formed by London merchants at the very end
- [The Bishops of London and Fulham Palace](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-bishops-of-london-and-fulham-palace/) - The Bishop of London is the most senior bishop in the Church of England after the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and is a member of the House of Lords. Fulham Palace, beside the Thames, was the manor house and home of the bishops for almost 1,300 years until 1973. The earliest record of a
- [The first and second bridges at Kew](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-first-and-second-bridges-at-kew/) - Until the 18th century there was no dry crossing over the Thames between London Bridge and Kingston Bridge. Within the space of fifty years six new bridges were constructed, starting with Fulham Bridge in 1729 and Westminster in 1750. The third of those six bridges was at Kew. For many centuries, possibly as far back
- [The original Putney Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/putney-bridge/) - One thousand seven hundred years after the Romans constructed the original London Bridge it remained the only dry crossing over the Thames between the city and the old medieval structure upriver at Kingston. Finally, in the mid-18th century a new bridge was created to carry traffic between the city and the South-West of England. Despite
- [Winston Churchill and the Cabinet War Rooms](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/winston-churchill-and-the-cabinet-war-rooms/) - During the Second World War a series of underground rooms were created below government offices at Whitehall. It was from there that the Prime Minister, his Cabinet, and military leaders could meet in safety to direct the war effort while London was being bombed. The facility was known as the War Rooms.
- [The Virginia Company of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-virginia-company-of-london/) - The Virginia Company was in operation for less than 20 years but was an important step in the growth of the British Empire, and it set the foundation for the English colonisation of the American mainland.
- [The East India Company](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-east-india-company/) - In the 18th century the world’s greatest commercial business was based in London, with its grand headquarters in Leadenhall Street in the City. During its 270-year history the East India Company brought spices from the Far East that changed Britain’s cuisine, refashioned the nation’s use of fabrics from wool to cotton, then introduced tea as
- [The new London docks of the early 19th century](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-new-london-docks-of-the-early-19th-century/) - During the Tudor period the unloading of goods arriving in London was restricted to a few wharves within the City of London on the north bank of the Thames. As trade increased throughout the 18th century the river increasingly became clogged with ships. Cargoes sat unprotected on quaysides waiting to be processed by Customs and
- [Harland & Wolff on the Thames](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/harland-wolff-on-the-thames/) - This article is based on a talk I gave to the Royal Docks History Club as part of the Thames Festival 2022. Harland & Wolff is best-known as one of Britain’s premier ship-building companies, with a long history stretching back to the middle of the 19th century. From the 1920s until the 1970s the company
- [Henry FitzAilwin - the first Mayor of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/henry-fitzailwin-the-first-mayor-of-london/) - The City of London has had a mayor for over 800 years. The first mayor was Henry FitzAilwin. In modern times a new Lord Mayor is elected annually, is head of the City of London Corporation, and acts as an international ambassador for the City. The role of the Mayor of the City of London
- [The History of The Port of London: A Vast Emporium of All Nations (book)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-history-of-the-port-of-london-a-vast-emporium-of-all-nations/) - "Peter Stone and the publisher are to be congratulated on producing a book, which covers the history of the Port of London from the Romans to the present day, in a great amount of detail and for a very reasonable price... this book can be thoroughly recommended to anyone wanting an up to date history
- [Ben Jonson](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/ben-jonson/) - Ben Jonson is primarily remembered as a London playwright who came to prominence during the latter years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Yet he also excelled in other forms of writing, including poetry, philosophy and history. His folio of work paved the way for that of his better-known fellow thespian, William Shakespeare, with whom
- [The re-establishment of London by Alfred the Great](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-re-establishment-of-london-by-alfred-the-great/) - The Roman army departed from Britannia in the 5th century. There is only fragmentary evidence of any occupation of the old walled city of London during the following four centuries and we must assume it was largely deserted. A settlement known as Lundenwic developed around what is now Charing Cross under the early Saxons but
- [Trinity House](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/trinity-house/) - The Thames and its estuary hold numerous dangers for navigation. In the reign of Henry VIII a group of master mariners formed what has become known as Trinity House to ensure safety on the river. Five hundred years later the organisation continues to play an important role in maritime navigation. Many vessels have run aground
- [Tower Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/tower-bridge/) - For over a century Tower Bridge, along with Big Ben, has been one of London’s great icons, its popularity due to the unique neo-Gothic design. It is so familiar as a symbol of the capital that many people not familiar with the city confuse it with its older neighbour London Bridge. In 1819 Southwark Bridge
- [The Jews of Medieval London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-jews-of-medieval-london/) - There were Jews living in London for two centuries during the Middle Ages. They were a valuable source of finance for the monarchs, nobles, sheriffs, and merchants and an essential part of the economy. Their money helped build castles, cathedrals, monasteries and abbeys (including Westminster Abbey), and pay for armies, wars and crusades. But they
- [London's Jewish Community in the 19th century. Part 1 - Their arrival](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-jewish-community-in-the-19th-century-part-1-their-arrival/) - The two largest groups of foreign immigrants into London during the second half of the 19th century were German Lutheran Christians and East European Ashkenazi Jews. The majority arrived without money or possessions and unable to speak English. They needed to urgently seek accommodation, and also work, however low the income. Each group had to
- [A Dark History of Sugar (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/a-dark-history-of-sugar-book-review/) - Book review: A Dark History of Sugar, Neil Buttery (Pen & Sword Publishing) When the Spanish arrived in the Americas they enslaved the local people to dig for gold. African slaves were then imported when the native labourers died from exhaustion or of European infections from which they were not immune. The Portuguese did likewise
- [The Port of London in the Tudor period](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-port-of-london-in-the-tudor-period/) - Throughout the Middle Ages London’s import and export trade was with the near Continent. During the Tudor period the transformation began in which the city and its environs were to become the country’s leader in shipbuilding and the world’s premier financial centre. Trade difficulties with Continental neighbours led to voyages of discovery. In the following
- [The development of Mayfair](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-development-of-mayfair/) - The signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 put an end to years of war. The succession of George I and the defeat of the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 brought about a certainty and stability in both monarchy and religion. The coinciding of these events created a new sense of confidence in the country
- [The development of St.James's](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-development-of-st-jamess-2/) - During the 17th century several new developments and large mansions were established to the west of the old City of London, where aristocrats and the wealthy could be near to the royal palaces. One of those developments was the new suburb of St. James’s. The areas of land to the north and west of Charing Cross
- [The Gunpowder Plot](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-gunpowder-plot/) - Probably the best-known attempt to assassinate a British monarch is the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ conspiracy of 1605. It is still celebrated in England every 5th November as ‘Guy Fawkes Night’. During the latter decades of the 16th century and throughout the next there was a general intolerance of Catholics by many of the Protestant majority in
- [In brief – Tudor London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-tudor-london-2/) - London had grown throughout the Middle Ages, from being a busy port to become the country’s most important city; the nation’s greatest trading centre; and location of the vast St. Paul’s Cathedral. A short distance to the west lay Westminster, where stood the country’s most important royal palace; the monastic church where every English king
- [The creation of the St.Katharine Docks](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/st-katharines-docks/) - The ending of monopolies in the 1820s, granted to the early 19th century London docks, brought an opportunity to create the St. Katharine Docks beside the Tower of London. Yet their arrival signaled the beginning of a new competitive era for the docks and lower profits for their owners. It was the workers who were
- [Daniel Defoe](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/daniel-defoe/) - Since the 19th century Daniel Defoe has primarily been remembered as an author, in particular for his novels Robinson Crusoe, Moll Flanders and Roxana. His original ambition was to be a businessman but following bankruptcy, imprisonment and the pillory he transformed to a lonely and secretive writer of pamphlets and novels and a government spy.
- [William Caxton and the introduction of printing to London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/william-caxton/) - Until the latter part of the 15th century all books had to be written by hand. In earlier centuries parchment was used but by the end of the 14th century paper was being imported, some from Genoa and later from France and the Rhine region. The printing press is thought to have been invented in
- [Samuel Pepys and the Strange Wrecking of the Gloucester (book review)](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/samuel-pepys-and-the-strange-wrecking-of-the-gloucester/) - Book Review: Samuel Pepys and the Strange Wrecking of the Gloucester, Nigel Pickford (The History Press) In the 17th century England was deeply, and occasionally violently, divided by religion. Indeed, earlier in the century religious differences, in part, led to the Civil War and the beheading of King Charles I, the exile of his sons
- [London and Westminster during the Norman period](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-and-westminster-during-the-norman-period/) - Following the Norman Conquest of 1066 London continued much as before, except with a new French ruling class. It was still not the most important town in the kingdom but was important enough that the King granted the town’s commune important rights. The nearby Palace of Westminster was starting to be the base of the
- [Waltham Abbey](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/waltham-abbey/) - King Harold, who ascended the English throne upon the death of Edward the Confessor in January 1066, was famously killed at the Battle of Hastings just ten months later. Around a decade earlier he had founded a collegiate church at Waltham, close to the River Lea to the north of London. It was where his
- [The Norman Conquest and coronation of King William at Westminster](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-norman-conquest-and-coronation-of-king-william-at-westminster/) - The conquest of the country by William of Normandy in 1066 is one of the most famous events in English history. Having won the Battle of Hastings it took somewhat longer to capture London before being crowned at Westminster Abbey. The Saxon King Edward (the Confessor) of Wessex and his wife Edith failed to produce
- [Africans in London in the 16th century and the early slave trade](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/africans-in-london-in-the-16th-century-and-the-early-slave-trade/) - European nations primarily used slaves for working on plantations in their colonies in the Americas. The English only created colonies in North America and the West Indies in the 17th century, long after the Spanish and Portuguese. That did not prevent English privateers of the Elizabethan period becoming interlopers in the African slave trade. Yet,
- [Saxons and Vikings: Before the Norman Conquest](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/saxons-and-vikings-before-the-norman-conquest/) - In the 10th century King Alfred the Great re-occupied what had been for the previous four centuries a largely abandoned town. Despite Alfred’s efforts, London continued to be under constant threat from Vikings until it eventually succumbed to the Danish King Cnut. King Alfred took control of London from the Vikings in the 870s but
- [Vauxhall Gardens and Jonathan Tyers](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/vauxhall-gardens-and-jonathan-tyers/) - To anyone in 18th century Britain the name ‘Vauxhall’ meant the fashionable public garden. This was due to the vision of one man, working in partnership with some of the most talented musicians, artists, and designers of his generation. It played an important part in the flowering of the arts of Georgian London. 18th century
- [The Bow Street Runners – the emergence of policing in London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-bow-street-runners-the-emergence-of-policing-in-london/) - London, home to a tenth of the country’s population in the 18th century living in quite a small area, and with overcrowded pockets of squalor, faced unique social problems. Crime was rampant, yet there was little effective organisation to combat it. Each of the separate and overlapping authorities responsible for the governance of the metropolis
- [The Thames Tunnel](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-thames-tunnel/) - As London expanded eastwards in the early 19th century, with the opening of new docks on both sides of the Thames, a means of crossing the river was badly needed downriver of London Bridge. A bridge was out of the question because it would need to be of enormous height for ships’ mast to pass
- [The early Saxon settlers and the town of Lundenwic](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-early-saxon-settlers-and-the-town-of-lundenwic/) - The Roman city of Londinium went into a long, slow decline from the 3rd century AD and was eventually abandoned. The new Saxon settlers had no need for a walled city. In time they created a new town of Lundenwic outside of the city walls. London was founded by the Romans in around 43AD and
- [The original Hammersmith Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-hammersmith-bridge/) - Hammersmith Bridge was the first suspension bridge over the Thames and the longest suspension crossing in the world at the time of its opening. Unlike many other London toll bridges it proved to be profitable for its investors. Its existence provided a stimulus for the growth of Hammersmith into a more important town to the
- [The decline of Londinium](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-decline-of-londinium/) - Londinium was established relatively late in the history of the Roman Empire. It continued to prosper while other parts of the empire came under attack and went into decline. As the more northerly Continental provinces were overrun by barbarians Londinium was unable to survive alone. Roman civilisation reached its zenith during the mid-1st century, at
- [Before the Romans](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/before-the-romans/) - The first Roman invasion of Britain was by Julius Caesar. At that time the south-east of England was occupied by various tribes that had arrived earlier from Continental Europe. London sits in the Thames Basin, a bowl of chalk about two hundred metres thick. This chalk layer was formed from tiny algal skeletons about ninety
- [Londinium, the capital of Britannia](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londinium-the-capital-of-britannia/) - The Roman towns of Camulodunum (Colchester), Verulamium (St. Albans) and Londinium were all destroyed during Boudicca’s rebellion of 60AD. Camulodunum was the original Roman capital of Britannia but it was inconveniently situated. By contrast, Londinium was strategically sited: a network of roads spread out in all directions from either end of its bridge over the
- [The creation of Covent Garden](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-creation-of-covent-garden/) - The streets of London had developed by a largely organic and disorderly process over many centuries, with little in the way of any kind of plan or uniformity. King Charles I was interested in creating areas and buildings in the capital that would rival those of the major cities of the Continent. Covent Garden became
- [The German Hanse in London and the Steelyard](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-german-hanse-in-london-and-the-steelyard/) - The most important group of traders in northern Europe during the Middle Ages was the Hanse, often referred to as the Hanseatic League. Their London base was known as the Steelyard and they were crucial to the city’s economy for several hundred years. The Hanse began as a trading association – ‘confederatio’ or alliance –
- [John Rennie's London Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/john-rennies-london-bridge/) - The medieval London Bridge had stood for centuries as the only dry Thames crossing in or around the city. The opening of Westminster Bridge in 1749 highlighted the restrictions and limitations of the ancient structure and the City Corporation decided to modernize it on its old foundations. Old London Bridge contained many shops and houses,
- [The medieval London Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-medieval-london-bridge/) - A bridge stood across the Thames at London from the time of the Romans and was subsequently replaced several times during Saxon times. London Bridge remained the only crossing over the Thames in the London area until the construction of Westminster Bridge in 1750. One of the earliest records that mentions the bridge was a
- [Sir Thomas Gresham](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/sir-thomas-gresham/) - Maritime commerce and voyages of discovery required finance, and Antwerp had by the 16th century become Europe’s major money market. It was largely through the efforts of Thomas Gresham that a new financial market was established in London that would eventually supersede its Continental rival, laying the foundation for the City to become the world’s
- [The original Southwark Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-southwark-bridge/) - Southwark Bridge was the third of three toll-crossings over the Thames opened in quick succession between 1816 and 1819. The engineer John Rennie was associated with all three. All were good examples of engineering art and science, but none proved to be a commercial success. Nevertheless, Southwark Bridge was a remarkable achievement for its time,
- [Crime and policing in Georgian London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/crime-and-policing-in-georgian-london/) - Crime increased in 18th century London as the population grew and the old social orders changed. There was little infrastructure to prevent crime or fight against it. What existed had been created at the time when the metropolis was smaller and the population lower. Multiple, fragmented bodies were responsible in bringing criminals to justice. Many
- [Huguenots](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/huguenots/) - Religious divisions in France and persecution of Protestants led to waves of foreign immigrants to London. The Huguenots who made England their new home introduced the word ‘refugee’ (from the French réfugié) into the English language. From the second half of the 15th century there was a growing movement across Europe that questioned the theology,
- [The rise and fall of the first Roman town of Londinium](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-first-roman-town-of-londinium/) - The Roman town began as a small settlement to protect and maintain the bridge over the Thames. It soon grew into a busy town, but it was to last just 13 years before being destroyed in a major rebellion by an army of British tribes. London began with a bridge, which we now call London
- [The original Waterloo Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-waterloo-bridge/) - The Napoleonic Wars were a time of uncertainty. Yet, as always in times of war, there were some businessmen who were making good profits from the conflict and wished to invest their finances into safe ventures. To them toll bridges over the Thames seemed a safe bet, whatever the outcome of the war. The result
- [The Silvertown Explosion](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-silvertown-explosion/) - During the First World War TNT was being purified at a factory in East London, close to the Royal Victoria Dock, to use in munitions for combat use. The disaster that occurred there in January 1917 holds the record of being the largest single explosion in London. Silvertown and North Woolwich is an area three
- [East of the City wall](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/east-of-the-city-wall/) - During the Middle Ages many wealthy citizens of London provided endowments to create the numerous religious institutions in and around London. On the eastern side of London, both within and outside of the city wall, large monasteries and convents were established. Although long gone, their locations are still remembered in names such as Spitalfields, the
- [London Bridge during the Tudor period](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/london-bridge-during-the-tudor-period/) - London Bridge was the only dry crossing over the Thames in London until the mid-18th century. The first wooden bridge was built by the Romans, followed later by others by the Saxons and Normans. At the very beginning of the 13th century the last of those was replaced by a stone bridge that was to
- [London's Restoration pleasure gardens](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/londons-restoration-pleasure-gardens/) - From the 1640s, during the puritanical years of the Interregnum, various forms of enjoyment were prohibited. Following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 theatres reopened and flourished. At the same time, other forms of entertainment and relaxation came into existence, including pleasure gardens. Prior to the 19th century London was still quite small, so
- [The original Westminster Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-westminster-bridge/) - Until the early 18th century the only way to cross the River Thames downstream of Kingston was to pay to pass over London Bridge, or take a ferry or a water taxi. Any proposal to build a new bridge was immediately and vociferously opposed by the powerful forces of the City of London Corporation, which
- [Thomas Coram and the Foundling Hospital](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/thomas-coram-and-the-foundling-hospital/) - When shipbuilder Captain Thomas Coram returned from America he was horrified by the poverty of London. Many young children were living rough on the streets, often surviving through begging or by petty crime. Parents often had no choice but to abandon new-born babies because and were so poor they were unable to afford basic food,
- [Wenceslaus Hollar](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/wenceslaus-hollar/) - It is relatively easy to have a good understanding of certain aspects of 17th century London, partly thanks to the artist Wenceslaus Hollar. His pictures or their derivatives are more famous these days than the man himself, often seen on printed material depicting ‘old London’ of the time. Wenceslaus (or Vaclav) Hollar was born in
- [In brief – Early-Stuart London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-early-stuart-period/) - Without a successor at the death of Queen Elizabeth, King James of Scotland was invited to take the English throne. It united England and Scotland and ensured the continuation of a Protestant monarchy. James survived the Gunpowder Plot and went on to rule over a largely peaceful country. The population of London continued to grow
- [The original Blackfriars Bridge](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-blackfriars-bridge/) - Two new bridges were built over the Thames in the first half of the 18th century upstream of the City of London, at Fulham and Westminster, yet the old London Bridge remained the only one giving access into the City from the south, and it was highly congested. Few civic changes had been undertaken by
- [East of London riverside hamlets prior to the 19th century](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/east-of-london-riverside-hamlets-prior-to-the-19th-century/) - Downriver of London the Thameside hamlets on the north bank were quite isolated from the City and surrounding districts until at least the 16th century. They were most easily reached by boat and evolved into communities employed in maritime industries. On the south bank the fishing village of Deptford developed into a major naval shipbuilding
- [The German Community in London during the 19th century](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-german-community-in-london-during-the-19th-century/) - Until the great wave of Jewish immigrants, the largest group of foreigners in London during the 19th century were Germans. It was estimated that at a certain point they accounted for six-sevenths of foreigners in the metropolis. They ranged from the very wealthy to the destitute, with many of them carrying out the toughest of
- [Custom House](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/custom-house/) - At each major English port the officials responsible for collecting duties on imports and exports on behalf of the monarch were based at a building known as Custom House. For centuries Custom House in London played a central part in the working of the commercial Thames and was a major source of income for the
- [David Garrick - master of tragedy and comedy](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/david-garrick/) - David Garrick, actor, playwright, producer and manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane was one of the most influential figures in the history of British theatre. During his long career he transformed and modernized the style of acting, production, methods of rehearsal, and even the attitude of audiences, which had previously been rather unruly. Plays
- [William Hogarth](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/william-hogarth-1697-1764/) - London-based William Hogarth was possibly the first great artist of note to create an individual style that was uniquely English, without a large measure of reference to earlier Continental schools. In an age when other artists followed rules, codes and styles created in antiquity he was bold enough to go in his own direction. In
- [The Port of Roman London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-port-of-roman-london/) - The Thames was of great importance to Roman London. It was a 300-kilometre long highway to the west and the east, it brought drinking water for the town’s inhabitants and their animals, and it provided abundant fish and other seafood. Barges carried grain from upriver, while ships brought goods from other parts of the empire
- [Elizabethan theatre](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/elizabethan-theatre/) - The late 16th century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was the first great blossoming of London theatre, providing a platform for the talents of playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. Yet the playhouses of the time were located outside of the City in the expanding suburbs. The dominant theatrical tradition in England
- [In brief – London during the mid-19th century](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-mid-19th-century/) - London grew rapidly in the first half of the 19th century. Omnibuses, and then railways, allowed people to live further than walking distance from their home. The middle-classes moved out of the centre to the expanding suburbs, leaving behind them the very rich and the very poor. The writer and MP William Cobbett described London
- [Lord Nelson and his Lasting Legacy in London Part 1](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/nelson-part-1/) - Note: This article was written in August 2011 Part 1. The funeral and the tomb I am far from London, standing below a lighthouse on a naturally-formed sandbar that juts out to sea in the south of Spain. The strong winds coming in off the Atlantic, combined with hot temperatures and fine beaches make the
- [Lord Nelson and his Lasting Legacy in London Part 2](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/nelson-part-2/) - Note: This article was written in August 2011 Part 2. The creation of Trafalgar Square Following the grand funeral in 1806 of Lord Nelson after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar – the first state funeral ever held for a commoner – London was otherwise quite slow to honour the national hero. The wealthy
- [In brief – London in the late-Middle Ages](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-late-middle-ages/) - By the 14th century London was England’s leading commercial centre, and Westminster the royal and political capital. The population was decimated by the Black Death, which brought about fundamental changes to society. After a century of oppression, England’s Jews were expelled from the country. The printing press arrived in London, which would lead to the
- [In brief – Late-20th century London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-late-20th-century/) - It took decades for London to recover from the Second World War. New satellite towns were established away from the city and government policies transferred employment to other parts of the country. For the first time in centuries London’s population decreased. The capital had long been Britain’s leading manufacturing centre but many businesses departed during
- [In brief – Early-20th century London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-early-20th-century/) - In the first half of the 20th century London was still expanding outwards, with new suburbs for the middle-classes. In a period of just twenty years it doubled in size. The London County Council created new estates of affordable housing and took control of education. Road transport changed from horse-drawn to motorized and new arterial
- [In brief – Late-Victorian London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-late-victorian-london/) - As the railway network around London expanded in the 19th century so too did the metropolis. The growth of London was unprecedented at that time anywhere or at any time in history. In 1851 the population stood at just over two million. At the end of the century it had swollen to over six and
- [In brief – London in the Age of Improvement](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-the-age-of-improvement/) - The Regency period brought great changes to the west side of London. The town expanded north and west with a series of new squares. The introduction of omnibuses, and later railways, allowed people to live further than walking distance from their place of work. The introduction of gas lighting illuminated the streets at night. The
- [In brief – London in the Georgian Golden Age](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-the-georgian-golden-age/) - Growing wealth in London fuelled a flowering of the arts, philosophy, and architecture. There were further developments to the north of Oxford Street that expanded the conurbation. Catholic emancipation provoked the anti-Papist Gordon Riots in London. The Peace Treaty of Paris in 1763 ended the Seven Years War, leaving Britain as the world’s dominant colonial
- [In brief – Early-Georgian London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-early-georgian-london/) - In 1714 Britain entered the Georgian period. London had grown into the largest city and most prominent manufacturing centre in Europe. It was the capital of a growing empire. Queen Anne had given birth to seventeen children even before she had come to the throne, none of whom survived beyond childhood. It was clear that
- [In brief – Late-Stuart London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-late-stuart-london/) - It took many years to restore London after the Great Fire of 1666 but by the end of the century London the rebuilt city was one of the most magnificent, and the largest, in Europe. It was expanding, with fashionable new suburbs to the west of the old City. Charles II died suddenly and unexpectedly
- [In brief – Restoration London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-restoration-london/) - The interregnum period, when the country was governed by Parliamentarians, ended when in 1660 Charles II was invited back to England from exile in the Netherlands. He took a great interest in science and during his reign the Royal Society was established to advance scientific experimentation and debate. An observatory was created at Greenwich to
- [In brief – Plague and Fire](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-plague-and-fire/) - London had gradually developed over hundreds of years, with little planning. Irregular-shaped buildings almost touched each other across narrow streets and alleyways. Most premises were constructed of wood, heated by open fires. There was an inefficient system of sewage and rubbish collection. It was a perfect combination for a plague and fire. With an ever-growing
- [In Brief – Saxons, Vikings and Normans](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-saxons-vikings-normans/) - London was abandoned after England was separated from the Roman Empire in the 5th century and left as a ruin for 400 years. Control of the area then alternated between Saxons and Vikings. London was occupied once again during the reign of King Alfred of Wessex and by the time of the Norman conquest was
- [In Brief – London in the early-Middle Ages](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/in-brief-early-middle-ages-2/) - The first Mayor of London was appointed in the early Plantagenet period, representing the people of the city in dealings with the King. Parliament, as well the administration of government at Westminster, was established at the Royal Palace of Westminster. The old London Bridge was replaced with a new structure that would last for six
- [Battlebridge Basin, Kings Cross](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/battlebridge-basin-kings-cross/) - This article was published in The Wooden Canal Craft Society Autumn/Winter 2018 newsletter and reprinted in the Historic Narrow Boat Club 2018/4 magazine. Claire and I took ownership of Hazel in 1975 and lived aboard for the next twelve years. Our final two years were spent based at Battlebridge Basin, behind Kings Cross station in
- [The westward growth of London in the 17th century](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-aristocratic-growth-of-london-in-the-late-17th-century/) - The creation of the suburb of Covent Garden in the early 17th century started a trend of fashionable housing for aristocrats and the wealthy on the west side of London. Development was interrupted by the Civil War but began apace following the Restoration of 1660. Until the Great Fire, the old City of London, contained within

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/) - Exploring London’s rich history, 2,000 years in the life of a city. In-depth articles, video and more all dedicated to the history of London.
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/privacy-policy/) - Learn more about what personal information our website collects and how it is used.
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- [_Dev Testing](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/dev-testing/)
- [Videos](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/videos/) - I am now producing video documentaries about London’s history you can watch on YouTube.
- [About](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/about-me/) - I have a fascination with the story of London's development over a period of almost two millennia. Having spent many years collecting information about London's history my aim here is to share it with you.
- [Talks](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/talks/) - I regularly give talks to societies and other organisations on the following topics. If you are interested in having one of these talks please get in contact.
- [Library](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/library/) - A short selection from my bookshelves that have been used as source material for this website.
- [Contact](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/contact/) - If you want to contact me about this website or any other aspects of my work please do so here. I welcome your feedback.
- [Book](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/book/) - The fascinating story of the rise, fall and revival of the commercial river. The only book to tell the whole story of the Port of London, bringing it right up to date.

## Categories

- [Brief History](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/brief-history/) - These are the main Brief History articles that form the backbone of the site.
- [History of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/) - In this section you can read many aspects of London’s history by chronological period.
- [London People](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/london-people/) - Here are just a few of the people who have made their mark on London over the centuries.
- [Roman London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/roman-london/)
- [Saxons, Vikings and Normans](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/saxons-vikings-normans/)
- [London in the Early Middle Ages](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/london-early-middle-ages/)
- [London in the Late Middle Ages](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/london-late-middle-ages/)
- [Tudor London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/tudor-london/)
- [Early-Stuart London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/early-stuart-london/)
- [Civil War and Restoration](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/civil-war-and-restoration/)
- [Plague and Fire](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/plague-and-fire/)
- [Restoration London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/restoration-london/)
- [Late-Stuart London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/late-stuart-london/)
- [Early-Georgian London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/early-georgian-london/)
- [London in the Georgian Golden Age](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/london-the-georgian-golden-age/)
- [London during the Age of Improvement](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/london-age-of-improvement/)
- [London during the mid-19th Century](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/london-mid-19th-century/)
- [Late-Victorian London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/late-victorian-london/)
- [Early-20th Century London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/early-20th-century-london/)
- [Late-20th Century London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/history/late-20th-century-london/)
- [Other Articles](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/previous-articles/) - This section contains book reviews and articles written for various publications.
- [Bridges & Tunnels](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/bridges-and-tunnels/) - From its foundation there has been a need to cross the River Thames, by bridge, boat, or tunnel.
- [The Port of London](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/port-of-london/) - London has always been a busy port, from the Romans until the present day. Read about it here.
- [Religion and Churches](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/religion-and-churches/) - Religion has always played an important part in London’s history.
- [Transport](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/transport/) - As London grew in size, and as technology became available, new forms of transport were created to link parts of the capital, as well as with other towns around the country.
- [Royal Parks & Palaces](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/royal-parks-palaces/) - There have been royal palaces in the London area for over a thousand years. King Henry VIII’s love of hunting provided the capital with a series of huge royal parks.
- [London's Wall and Gates](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/londons-wall-and-gates/)
- [Historic London pubs](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/historic-london-pubs/)
- [St. Paul’s Cathedral](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/religion-and-churches/st-pauls-cathedral/)
- [Westminster Abbey](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/religion-and-churches/westminster-abbey/)
- [City of London Churches](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/religion-and-churches/city-of-london-churches/)
- [Other Articles](https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/category/religion-and-churches/other-articles/)